How does therapy work?
Firstly. I always offer a free consultation. This is just a quick phone call, about 20-30 minutes, to help me get a better idea of what it is you are looking for and how I can best support you. During this call we ensure my expertise aligns with your specific needs and you get the opportunity to ask any questions you’d like to help you get a better understanding of the process (and to suss me out!). You can enquire about a consultation here.
From our first meeting, I prioritise building therapeutic rapport – this is woven throughout therapy but I set the stage from the first consultation call by establishing consent and confidentiality. Consent means that you have the right to decide what happens during your sessions. You can choose what to talk about (and what not to), set boundaries, and decide if you want to continue therapy or not. Confidentiality means that what you share with me stays between you and I, unless there’s a risk of harm to yourself or others. I won’t share your information with anyone else without your permission.
Now, let’s talk trauma therapy.
For trauma therapy, I adhere to the three phase model of trauma recovery:
Phase 1 – Safety and Stabilisation: This phase focuses on establishing a sense of safety and stability. It involves learning how to regulate your emotions, developing coping skills, and tapping into your inner strengths. We work together to create a safe environment both internally and externally.
Phase 2 – Trauma Processing: also known as “remembrance and mourning.” The focus shifts to processing and revisiting traumatic memories. This involves discussing and reviewing memories to lessen their emotional impact, revising their meanings, and working through feelings of grief and loss related to the traumatic experiences. Some therapeutic models, like EMDR, don’t require you to go into detail about your memories but still allow you to integrate the experience into your life story (which means that instead of it feeling like the threat is in the present, we are able to get your mind and body to recognise that these events were in the past). This phase builds upon the foundation of safety and stability established in the first phase of treatment.
Phase 3 – Reconnection: The final phase involves reconnecting with oneself and others in a healthy way. This includes rebuilding relationships, reclaiming a sense of identity, and finding meaning and purpose in life beyond the trauma. It’s about moving forward and creating a fulfilling life post-trauma. For some, this stage leads to personal growth and resilience, while others may find solace in advocacy or symbolic rituals to honour their journey.