What is Somatic-Informed Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy is underpinned by a longer-term psychotherapeutic approach that gives clients the time and depth needed to process trauma safely.
Trauma therapists train in different approaches to trauma processing, such as Trauma-Focused CBT, EMDR, IFS, and Somatic Experiencing — each addressing different aspects of the experience, whether cognitive, emotional, or somatic. Because of this, therapists often train in one or more of these areas to work with specific elements of a client’s trauma.
Somatic-informed trauma therapy works with the body as well as the mind. Practitioners are trained to support clients in processing trauma using somatic experiencing. Inspired by pioneers like Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine, this approach recognises that trauma is held not only in memory but also in the body — shaping the nervous system, and our emotional and physical responses.
For more information on trauma: https://youtu.be/BJfmfkDQb14?si=TbJ5qAJDG-eVHEfB
Getting the Right Support.
Person Centered vs Trauma Therapy
People often seek support from a counsellor or a psychotherapist depending on the depth of work they’re looking for. Person-centred counselling tends to focus on current life challenges, relationship difficulties, and conscious processes, offering a supportive space to talk things through. Psychotherapeutic approaches go further, working with unconscious processes and deeper, often longer-held patterns. As a psychotherapeutic counsellor, I bridge both- offering the warmth and collaborative relationship of person-centred work alongside the depth needed to work with trauma.
Person-centred counselling on its own is immensely valuable for gaining insight into current life and relationship challenges through discussion. However, trauma can shape our behaviour and patterns in ways that talking alone cannot always fully address. For clients living with (C)PTSD or deeply held trauma, a psychodynamic, trauma-focused approach can offer a different kind of support; one that works with what’s happening beneath the surface, not just what’s being said.
Trauma can also leave lasting imprints on our physiology and ways of being, particularly where it began early or was repeated over time. A psychodynamic and somatic approach allows us to trace the less obvious signs of nervous system dysregulation and long-held patterns, and to gently sense where your nervous system’s tolerance sits, so the pace of our work stays safe for you.
Talking about past trauma without proper safety and stabilisation first can risk re-traumatisation, and trauma responses can be easy to miss or misread. A somatic, trauma-informed approach explores these hidden, below-the-surface patterns carefully; bringing somatic awareness to deeper psychodynamic layers so we can safely process complex trauma and CPTSD where it actually lives, always prioritising your safety and pacing
For more information on somatic experiencing: https://youtu.be/aDYRkLAAH2U?si=1gA0OT79Tr0rZs7z
What to Expect in Sessions
Guided by Polyvagal Theory, my practice follows a safe, structured, and phased approach:
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Phase 1: Stabilisation & Safety – We focus initially on grounding, building coping strategies, and regulating your nervous system. This is done using specific somatic-informed exercises and breathwork.
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Phase 2: Deeper Exploration – Only when you feel safe and ready do we begin gently exploring and processing deeper trauma.
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Phase 3: Integration & Reconnection – Moving beyond the trauma, we focus on rebuilding your life and reclaiming your sense of self.
As part of the work, we explore how past experiences show up in the present, trace limiting patterns, support nervous system regulation, and work within your window of tolerance. Psychoeducation is used throughout to help you understand your nervous system and trauma responses.
To support this process, I blend evidence-based techniques tailored to your pacing, including somatic methods, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and creative interventions. Our work together will always move at a pace that feels right for you; grounded in safety, guided by your needs, and paced by what your nervous system can hold.
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