Jane Belinda Therapy
Trauma Therapy
"It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to.” Aretha Franklin
Flexible appointment times - Surbiton In Person Clinic - Secure Online Sessions - Confidential Support
What is Trauma and Complex Trauma?
Trauma is our mind and body’s response to an experience that feels overwhelming, frightening or deeply distressing. It can happen after a single event, such as a car accident, a medical emergency, a sudden bereavement or an assault. While the event has ended, your nervous system may continue to respond as though you are still in danger.
Complex trauma develops when someone experiences repeated or ongoing trauma, often during childhood or within important relationships where they should have felt safe. Rather than being linked to one event, complex trauma can shape how we see ourselves, others and the world. It can affect self-esteem, relationships, emotions and the ability to feel safe or trust others.
When the past is impacting the present
You may understand why you feel the way you do, but still find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships, struggling with anxiety, shame or self-worth, or feeling as though you’re constantly in survival mode.
Perhaps you are confused when you experience a strong reaction to someone or an event, and struggle to know why this happened.
Trauma therapy can help you understand these patterns and hidden parts, process what is keeping you stuck and create greater freedom in how you respond to yourself and your life.
Why understanding isn't always enough
You may already understand your past. You may know where your patterns come from and have talked about them many times.
But insight doesn’t always change the way an experience is held emotionally or physically.
You can know you’re safe and still feel unsafe. You can know you deserve boundaries and still feel guilty setting them.
Trauma therapy can help bridge that gap between understanding something intellectually and actually experiencing change.
Bridging the gap requires an experienced and trained trauma professional.
You question if you've experienced trauma
Repeat negative relationship patterns, over give, fear rejection or lose yourself in others.
Low self worth and feel not good enough, no matter what you do.
Anxious, on edge, overthink and like to stay in control.
Poor boundaries, struggle to say no and feel guilty when you do.
Up and down intense emotions that don't fit the situation.
Shutdown or disconnect, feeling numb and detached.
Carry a sense of deep shame there is something wrong with you.
“Do I have to talk about everything that happened?”
No. Therapy doesn’t mean being pushed to recount every painful experience. We’ll work at a pace that feels manageable and pay attention to your emotional and physical responses throughout.
My approach is
Relational, attachment and compassion-focused
- To understand your wounds and adaptations that helped you survive difficult experiences but are now causing suffering and limiting your life
Body & nervous-system informed work
- Because trauma isn’t experienced only through thoughts. It can also show up in the body, emotions and automatic responses.
Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing
- For experiences and memories that continue to trigger distress in the present. If EMDR is appropriate, preparation and safety are an important part of the process before trauma processing begins.
Types of Trauma I Support
Child and Developmental Trauma
Early experiences that shaped your sense of safety, worth and relationships.
Complex Trauma and CPTSD
The lasting impact of repeated or ongoing experiences such as emotional neglect, abuse, criticism, instability or growing up having to meet the emotional needs of others.
Attachment Trauma
When early relationships taught you that love, safety or acceptance depended on meeting other people’s needs or hiding parts of yourself.
Single Incident Trauma
Experiences such as accidents, assaults, medical trauma, sudden loss or other overwhelming events.
Relationship Trauma
Recovering from emotionally abusive relationships, betrayal, manipulation or coercive dynamics.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Any traumatic experience where symptoms have been prolonged, consistent and haven't faded with time.
What might change is...
- More self-trust
- Healthier boundaries
- Less shame
- More secure relationships
- Greater emotional freedom
- More capacity for joy
Trauma therapy isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about having more freedom to be yourself.
Testimonial
"Thank you so much Jane for being my life line and support during a very difficult time. Your guidance, reassurance and ability for me to accept the challenges I was facing was really really helpful. Thank you!" A.K