EMDR therapy and counselling for trauma and PTSD
Perhaps your life changed in an instant through a car accident, an assault or the loss of someone you loved. Or perhaps it wasn't one traumatic event, but years of difficult experiences that left you always bracing for the next blow, questioning your worth or believing you're not good enough.
Traumatic or deeply stressful events can leave you feeling chronically unsafe, overwhelmed, and disconnected from yourself and others.
You might experience:
Life can be lonely and isolating when you are alone with your experience of trauma. But you will not be alone in your journey of trauma recovery. I offer trauma-focused counselling and EMDR therapy to help you process what has happened, reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories and develop a greater sense of safety in the present.
It might feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But there is light, and I can help you find it.
Trauma isn't just something you remember. It can affect your nervous system and the way you respond to everyday situations. Even when you consciously know you're safe, your nervous system can continue to respond as though danger is still present. A particular tone of voice, crowded room, unexpected change or relationship difficulty can trigger a powerful emotional or physical reaction before you've had time to think. This can leave you wondering:
'Why can't I just get over it?'
'Why am I still reacting like this?'
'Why can't I stop feeling anxious when I know I'm safe?'
There is nothing wrong with you for responding this way. Your reactions may be your nervous system's attempt to protect you based on what it has learned from your experiences.
Therapy can help you understand these reactions and begin to change them.
EMDR is the primary way I help clients who are struggling with the effects of trauma. Unlike traditional talking therapy, you don't necessarily need to talk through every painful detail of what happened. EMDR helps your brain process traumatic memories so they become less distressing and no longer have the same hold over your life.
The aim isn't to erase your memories. It's to help you remember what happened without feeling as though it is still happening now.
As therapy progresses, you may begin to notice that triggers feel less powerful, your nervous system settles more quickly and you have greater freedom to respond rather than automatically react.
My belief in EMDR is both professional and personal. Following a significant life event, EMDR became part of my own healing journey and transformed the way I understood trauma and recovery.
That's why it's at the heart of my practice.
I don't just recommend EMDR because I'm trained in it, but because I've experienced it's potential to help people move beyond survival mode and start living again. You can read more about my journey into counselling on my About Me page.
Read my Complete Guide to EMDR therapy to learn how it works, what to expect and how it can help you move forward.
The effects of trauma, anxiety and depression rarely disappear on their own. Left untreated, they can begin to affect every part of your life - relationships, work, health, confidence and sense of self.
Counselling is prevention, not a last resort.
Counselling is an opportunity to take back control, understand what's happening, and begin healing before things become even harder.
If you're ready to move beyond the effects of trauma and start living life on your own terms, I'm here to help. Together, we'll work to calm the chaos, rebuild your confidence, and help you create a life that feels safer, calmer and more fulfilling.
Take the first step today. Get in touch to arrange your initial consultation and begin your journey towards healing.
You can choose to have your counselling via video or telephone. Online therapy sessions take place via Whereby; a straight forward, easy to access video call platform. I will send you a link to Whereby before your first therapy session.
Counselling over the phone or computer has all the benefits of home-based therapy, but you get to maintain the privacy of your home environment. There are no restrictions on location so you can take your therapy session anywhere that there is a reliable internet connection or phone reception. For confidentiality, you will need the use of a room or area where you will not be overheard or disturbed. Should the internet connection fail, we can move to phone-based applications such as Facetime or What’s App.
I offer therapy online and face to face from my ground-floor therapy room in North East Leeds.
Online sessions give you the flexibility to access therapy from the comfort of your own home, while face-to-face sessions offer a private, comfortable space away from the demands of everyday life.
You don't have to have everything figured out before you get in touch.
If you're tired of feeling on edge, overwhelmed or controlled by the past, EMDR therapy and counselling for trauma can help you understand what's happening and begin to feel different.
You don't have to navigate it alone.
Online and telephone counselling is £45 per 50 minutes.
Home-based counselling is £45 per 50 minutes plus travel and mileage expenses, and I cover all Leeds postcodes.
If you want a one-off single therapy session, the cost is £55 for 1 hour. You can choose to have this session online, by telephone or at home. A home-based single session counselling is £55 plus travel and mileage.
