Trauma & PTSD Support

When the past keeps showing up in the present — through anxiety, shutdown, hypervigilance, or overwhelm — it can feel like you’re living on alert. You don’t have to carry this alone.

Trauma doesn’t only live in the mind — it lives in the body, in memory, and in the nervous system. Our work is about helping you feel safe again, process what’s stuck, and reclaim your story so the past doesn’t control your present.

Start here

Free 15-minute consult to choose the best next step.

How trauma can show up

Trauma can affect your body, mind, and relationships in many different ways:

Flashbacks or intrusive memories

Hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge

Sleep issues, nightmares, or waking alert

Avoiding places, people, or situations

 

Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions

 

Emotional numbness or feeling “shut down”

 

Sudden mood changes or emotional overwhelm

 

Physical symptoms like headaches, tension, or tightness

 

Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe

 

If any of this is familiar, it doesn’t mean you’re broken — it means your system adapted to survive.

A short overview of how I work with trauma and PTSD — safely, steadily, and at your pace.

How I help with trauma & PTSD

Trauma doesn’t just live in the brain — it lives in the body, in memory, and in the nervous system. That’s why you can “know” you’re safe, but still feel on edge… or like you’re back in the moment.

Often it’s not only the event that sticks — it’s the story your system formed around it, and the protection strategies that followed.

In our work, the goal is to help you process the trauma so it becomes something that happened to you — not something that still controls you.

We move through three steady layers:

Safety and stabilisation first (so you don’t get overwhelmed)

Processing what’s stuck so it doesn’t feel like it’s happening now

Reclaiming your story so the past doesn’t define who you are moving forward

A three-stage approach to trauma healing

Holistic, trauma-informed support that recognises trauma lives in the body, brain, and memory.

Understanding your story

We explore how trauma is living in your system: triggers, patterns, beliefs, and the narrative you’ve carried. Understanding creates steadiness.

Processing and rewriting

We work to reduce the “here and now” feeling of trauma responses and shift the trauma-based story from “this defines me” to “this happened to me.”

Reclaiming your future

Integration and empowerment: applying your new story, building capacity, and moving forward with more agency, safety, and trust in yourself.

How it works...

If you’re not sure where to start, book a free 15-minute consult. If you’re ready, you can jump straight into a full session.

Option 1: Free 15-minute consult

A quick chat to understand what’s going on, answer questions, and recommend the best next step.

Option 2: Book a session

If you already know what you want support with, you can jump straight into a full session and we’ll start building momentum.

The story we tell ourselves

Trauma can create powerful internal narratives that keep us stuck, like

“It was my fault.”

“I’m not safe in the world.”

“I can’t trust anyone.”

“I’m broken or damaged.”

“I should have been stronger.”

“I’ll never get over this.”

These are understandable survival stories — but they don’t have to be your future.

FAQs

A few common questions — and simple answers.

Will we have to go into the trauma in detail?

Not unless it’s helpful — and never before you’re ready. We prioritise safety, stabilisation, and pacing. You stay in control of what we explore.

What if I’m not sure where to start?

Book the free 15-minute consult and we’ll choose the best next step together.

What if I get overwhelmed or shut down?

That’s a common trauma response. We work gently, use grounding tools, and build your capacity so you feel safer and more steady over time.

Is this online or in-person?

Sessions are online, so it’s private and easy to fit into real life — wherever you are in New Zealand

Is this the same as EMDR?

I use therapy-informed, body-aware approaches focused on regulation and processing. If you need or want EMDR specifically, we can talk about options and fit.

What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?

That’s common. We’ll look at what didn’t work last time and take a practical, client-centred approach that fits you.

What if I’m “not that bad” — is it still okay to reach out?

Yes. You don’t need to wait until it gets worse. Early support is often the most effective.

Is it confidential?

es. Your privacy is taken seriously, and sessions are held in a safe, respectful, confidential way.

Start where you are

You don’t need to wait until anxiety gets worse. If overthinking and worry are shrinking your life, the next step can be simple.