Trauma Therapy

Trauma can affect people in many different ways.

Some people have experienced a single overwhelming event, while others have lived through years of adversity, abuse, neglect, violence, loss, or difficult relationships. Sometimes the impact of these experiences is obvious. Other times, people simply find themselves struggling in ways they don’t fully understand.

You may be experiencing trauma-related difficulties if you find yourself:

  • Feeling constantly on edge or unable to relax

  • Becoming easily overwhelmed or emotionally flooded

  • Avoiding reminders of difficult experiences

  • Struggling with anxiety, panic, or persistent worry

  • Feeling numb, disconnected, or detached from others

  • Experiencing intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks

  • Living with shame, self-criticism, or feelings of worthlessness

  • Having difficulty trusting others or maintaining relationships

  • Feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you

  • Reacting more strongly than you would like to situations in the present

Importantly, you do not need to have experienced a major traumatic event or have a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to benefit from trauma therapy.

Many people seek therapy because they are struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, low self-worth, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or a persistent sense that something is not quite right. Sometimes these difficulties can be understood in the context of earlier life experiences, significant stressors, or patterns that developed in response to adversity.

Trauma is not defined solely by what happened to you. It is also about how those experiences continue to affect your nervous system, relationships, sense of self, and ability to feel safe in the world.

Complex Trauma

Many of the people I work with have experienced what is often referred to as complex trauma.

Complex trauma can develop when difficult or overwhelming experiences occur repeatedly over time, particularly during childhood or within important relationships. These experiences may include emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, family violence, bullying, chronic instability, or other situations where a person felt unsafe, powerless, or alone.

The effects of complex trauma can continue long after the original experiences have ended and may impact:

  • Emotional regulation

  • Self-esteem and identity

  • Relationships and attachment

  • Trust and intimacy

  • Boundaries

  • Physical health and wellbeing

  • Feelings of safety and security

My Approach to Trauma Therapy

My interest in trauma has shaped much of my professional career. I completed my PhD in the field of trauma, researching how parents influence children’s recovery following traumatic events. Since then, I have worked extensively with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families impacted by trauma across both Australia and Cambodia.

Over the course of my career, I have worked with people who have experienced a wide range of traumatic experiences, including childhood abuse and neglect, child sexual abuse, family violence, sexual assault, exploitation, trafficking, institutional abuse, complex developmental trauma, and severe and repeated interpersonal trauma.

I also have experience supporting individuals who experience highly complex trauma presentations, including dissociation, trauma-related identity fragmentation, organised abuse, coercive control, and other forms of severe and chronic trauma. This work has reinforced the importance of approaching trauma treatment carefully, collaboratively, and at a pace that prioritises safety and stability.

I understand that trauma affects people in different ways. Some people experience symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress, while others struggle with anxiety, shame, self-criticism, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, dissociation, or a persistent sense of feeling unsafe.

As a Clinical Psychologist, I draw on a range of evidence-based trauma therapies, including:

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Attachment-informed approaches

  • Parts work and ego-state approaches

  • Structural dissociation-informed treatment

  • Compassion-focused approaches

While EMDR is one of the approaches I frequently use, I do not believe there is a single therapy that is right for everyone. Trauma therapy is most effective when it is tailored to the individual’s experiences, needs, strengths, and goals.

A Three-Phase Approach to Trauma Recovery

For many people, particularly those who have experienced complex trauma, childhood abuse, neglect, or repeated interpersonal trauma, therapy involves much more than processing memories.

I generally work within a three-phase model of trauma treatment.

Phase 1: Safety and Stabilisation

The first stage focuses on understanding your experiences, building emotional regulation skills, strengthening coping strategies, and developing a greater sense of safety and stability. This may include learning ways to manage overwhelming emotions, understanding trauma responses, working with dissociation, developing internal resources, and building a foundation for recovery.

Phase 2: Processing Traumatic Experiences

When appropriate, we may begin working directly with traumatic memories using approaches such as EMDR, CPT, TF-CBT, or other trauma-focused interventions. The goal is not to relive traumatic experiences, but to reduce their ongoing impact on your life and help the brain process experiences that have become “stuck.”

Phase 3: Integration and Reconnection

The final phase focuses on moving beyond survival. This may involve strengthening relationships, reconnecting with personal values, developing a more integrated sense of self, increasing self-compassion, and building the life you want to live moving forward.

Not everyone moves through these phases in a linear way, and therapy is always adapted to your individual needs.

My goal is to provide a safe, collaborative, and compassionate space where you can make sense of your experiences and move towards healing at a pace that feels manageable for you.

EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process experiences that have become “stuck” and continue to affect you in the present.

EMDR can be effective for:

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Childhood trauma

  • Sexual abuse

  • Anxiety and panic

  • Disturbing memories

  • Negative self-beliefs

  • Performance-related difficulties

  • Other experiences that continue to feel emotionally unresolved

Not every trauma-focused therapy session involves EMDR. Together, we will determine the approach that best fits your needs, goals, and stage of recovery.

Appointments

Trauma therapy appointments are available in-person in Frankston, Somerville on the Mornington Peninsula, as well as via telehealth across Australia.

If you would like to discuss whether trauma therapy may be right for you, please feel free to get in touch.

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