Trauma

Trauma involves experiencing a deeply distressing, frightening or stressful event, or series of events, over which we have little control.

Examples of traumatic experiences include:

  • being the victim of crime, especially violent crime
  • child abuse 
  • sexual assault
  • traffic accidents
  • war
  • natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis
  • witnessing or experiencing violence

A one-off event can be traumatic, as can repeated incidents over a long time. What is traumatic to one person might not be to another. Anyone can experience trauma, regardless of age, gender or culture.

It’s not the objective facts that determine whether an experience is traumatic, but the subjective emotional response of the person experiencing the event.

The symptoms of trauma can begin immediately following a traumatic experience or may surface much later. It can be very unsettling and confusing to suddenly experience symptoms years after the trauma.

What happens to us following traumatic experiences?

Traumatic experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, confused and afraid. In a state of trauma, our bodies can respond in ways they didn’t before. This can be unsettling and very frightening.

The symptoms of trauma include:

  • rage
  • flashbacks
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • nightmares or insomnia
  • panic attacks
  • disturbing thoughts
  • emotional detachment.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be diagnosed if symptoms are intense, sustained and affecting daily functioning. Most people who experience trauma don’t go on to suffer from PTSD.

Our clients have reported great results!

Mr K
“I was attending sessions at One Therapy practice for about 1 1/2 years. I am very happy with the result, sessions there really helped me. I am really grateful to my therapist. Someone recommended him to me as a high professional and it proved right, thank you.”
Mrs M
“I can only provide positive comments on my sessions with (my therapist). This was my first experience with a therapist, and she managed to make me feel comfortable. And I must say that the sessions were helpful and efficient.”
Mrs E
“My therapist was extremely helpful, considerate and understanding. I felt she properly understood what the issues I had were, and their underlying causes, and I feel I benefited considerably from the sessions with her.”
Mrs N
“I immediately felt completely at ease as they were very professional while showing genuine care and interest in helping me. I was able to confront many issues which I had so far chosen to ignore despite their negative effects on my personal relationships and happiness. I would have no hesitation in recommending (One Therapy) to anyone looking to improve their relationships and self-esteem.”
Mrs L
“I learned a lot about myself and about the relationships I make with other people. I was able to see where I was going wrong and I now make better personal choices. Thank you, again.”
Mrs R
“I can’t thank you enough for the help and support I got from my appointments. I would highly recommend therapy to anyone now. Therapy helped me in more ways than I could have imagined. Please tell (my therapist) how grateful I am for her help.”

Trauma counselling can help

Some trauma survivors feel they have lost their sense of security. The world may feel more frightening or more dangerous than it did before. They may have problems trusting themselves or others and they may feel unsafe even in places that felt safe before.

Counselling can help untangle the complex emotions that trauma survivors often describe and help them to feel safe in the world again.

For many survivors, the thought of therapy can be daunting. They may fear that discussing their trauma will be like reliving the original experience, or that it might trigger feelings they have been keeping at bay. 

Our competent, experienced therapists support trauma survivors with great care and compassion. We don’t push our clients to discuss anything they are not ready to. We facilitate a process that helps restore a sense of safety and control in the trauma survivor’s life.

If you think that could be helpful, book an initial consultation or contact us to start the process.

What to expect in counselling

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What do I talk about in counselling?

One of the most common worries I hear expressed by people starting counselling is that they won’t know what to talk about. Some people think their problems aren’t significant enough. Others fear they have too much to say, that they might overwhelm the therapist…

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Counselling for individuals

Personal counselling can be about anything that is on your mind.

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Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find solutions.

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Our therapists

We have over 30 qualified and experienced therapists to choose from.

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One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Jasmine Behbahani - Therapist
Jasmine Behbahani

Jasmine is a qualified counsellor specialising in couples therapy and relationship dynamics She believes that each partner brings unique experiences and insights to their relationship and aims to create a space where both voices are heard and valued By fostering authentic connection, Jasmine helps couples explore their relational patterns, deepen their understanding of...

Bloomsbury

Damla Ciftcioglu - Therapist
Berrak Damla Çiftcioğlu

Damla offers psychodynamic psychotherapy in a supportive and confidential environment where you can explore the emotions, behaviours and challenges shaping your life Her approach focuses on understanding the deeper, often unconscious factors influencing your thoughts and experiences Whether you’re navigating a specific situation or grappling with long-standing personal...

Oxford Circus

Lara Vasey

Lara is an integrative therapist who offers short- and longer-term therapy to individuals Starting therapy can feel daunting, but Lara’s warm demeanour helps her clients feel more comfortable She creates a confidential and non-judgemental environment, which enables her clients to open up about their thoughts, feelings and experiences With empathy and curiosity, her...

Kensington

Aaron McGuinness - Therapist
Aaron McGuinness

Aaron offers a psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy which emphasises the unconscious mind and its influence on clients’ behaviour It often involves exploring past experiences and their impact on present-day thoughts and feelings Aaron creates a safe and supportive environment where clients can express themselves freely without fear of judgment Aaron is open to...

Kensington

Gregory Hamlin - Therapist
Gregory Hamlin

Gregory is a psychodynamic therapist offering both short-term and long -term therapy to individuals He appreciates how difficult it can be to seek help and therefore places great importance on creating a warm, empathic and safe space for clients to explore whatever is on their minds Gregory helps individuals uncover and understand the underlying patterns that shape...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Ben Brackenbury
Ben Brackenbury

Ben believes that at times we all struggle with the challenges life has to offer and therapy provides a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space to explore this Ben works with individuals to make sense of who they are and how they respond to the world today, and to explore new ways of being Ben is also sensitive to how difficult it might be for a client to talk to a...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Amrita Athwal
Amrita Athwal

Amrita works with adults in an integrative way, drawing on various therapeutic approaches tailored to meet the needs of each client She provides a safe space to help clients better understand themselves She offers short term and long term therapy Amrita has experience of working with clients on issues such as trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, relationship...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Tom Deitch
Tom Deitch

Tom is a popular and approachable psychotherapist who has extensive experience working with people from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds He brings a wealth of life experience, training and understanding to his work, offering help with depression, trauma, anxiety, abuse, sexual problems, addiction, relationship difficulties and many of the other obstacles life...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Shelly Klein
Shelley Klein

As a psychodynamic therapist Shelley brings a wealth of experience to her work and supports her patients to talk about those aspects of their lives they are finding painful, upsetting or difficult to deal with, in a confidential, non-judgmental and peaceful setting Shelley is particularly interested in working with those who are experiencing depression, bereavement, high...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Antonella Bonetti
Antonella Bonetti

Antonella is a psychodynamic therapist offering short- and long-term therapy to adults She also sees couples facing issues within their relationship Since obtaining her Master’s degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, Antonella has worked in different organisational settings (charities, NHS and university counselling services) helping people from...

Bloomsbury