How I Work

 

As a trauma-informed psychologist and somatic psychotherapist, I have trained in a number of body-centred and trauma-focused therapies, and draw from these different approaches in my work. Rather than applying a single approach to everyone, I integrate these therapies according to each person’s needs, circumstances and goals.

Working with Trauma, the Body and the Nervous System

 

Our understanding of trauma has expanded considerably through advances in neuroscience and attachment theory. We now know that traumatic experiences can affect the way the brain and nervous system respond to stress, influencing emotion regulation, memory, relationships, our sense of safety and our experience of being in our bodies.

For many people who have experienced trauma, it can be difficult to feel safe enough to inhabit their bodies, tolerate strong emotions, or remain connected to themselves when they become overwhelmed. Healing therefore involves more than simply understanding what has happened. It can also involve developing a greater capacity to notice and tolerate bodily sensations, emotions and impulses, and to gradually develop a greater sense of safety and regulation.

This is why my work incorporates a bottom-up, somatic approach alongside psychological and cognitive approaches. While cognitive strategies can provide valuable perspective and help us understand our patterns and coping options, trauma is also experienced through the body. Working with the body’s own language of sensation can help us become more aware of what is happening internally and develop new ways of responding.

The Importance of Regulation and Relationship

 

The capacity to regulate our nervous system is an important foundation of emotional health and wellbeing. Our ability to regulate develops within relationships, beginning in infancy through the process of co-regulation with our caregivers.

A warm, responsive and emotionally safe therapeutic relationship can provide opportunities for new relational experiences. Through this relationship, I aim to provide a secure and supportive environment in which you can develop greater awareness, self-regulation and trust, and begin to experience yourself and your relationships differently.

My approach is therefore both somatic and relational. We work not only with thoughts and beliefs, but also with sensations, emotions, nervous-system responses, attachment patterns and the ways these may influence how you experience yourself and others.

The Therapies I Incorporate

 

I draw from a number of specialised approaches in my work, including:

  • Radix Somatic Psychotherapy — a body-centred approach that works with physical sensation, emotion and patterns of holding or expression.
  • EMDR — a trauma-focused therapy that can help process distressing experiences and memories.
  • Gottman Couples Therapy — an evidence-based approach to helping couples understand relationship patterns, strengthen their connection and develop more effective ways of relating.

You can learn more about each of these approaches on the individual therapy pages.