At a Glance
This article explains how trauma-informed therapy supports adults in addressing the lasting effects of trauma through safety, trust, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. It outlines the core principles guiding effective therapy, emphasising collaboration, choice, and emotional safety, while showing how a trauma-informed approach enables sustainable healing without retraumatisation.
Do Not Let Trauma Define Your Life
Trauma can result from various experiences, such as losing a loved one, being in an accident, or enduring a difficult breakup. There is no clear definition of what constitutes trauma and how one reacts to it. One single event can have varied reactions from different people. The DSM-5 defines trauma as “exposure to actual or threatened events involving death, serious injury, or sexual violation in one (or more) way.”
Trauma-focused therapy for adults will help to address these underlying issues. It is not a direct intervention but a tailored intervention to the person’s individual situation. As a certified relational integrative therapist, I offer a nurturing and safe space to share your most intimate thoughts and feelings.
Please reach out to me by calling or visiting me at my clinics in Cardiff or Marylebone, London.
What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy?
Trauma-focused therapy for adults is a mental health approach and intervention that identifies and addresses the symptoms and behaviours that result from a traumatic event. During trauma-informed therapy interventions, I focus on your physical, psychological and emotional safety, while helping you rebuild trust, develop confidence, and move forward at your own pace.
Trauma can take different forms, such as an acute incident, chronic exposure, generational trauma and complex trauma. As a queer, autistic therapist with ADHD who underwent therapy during my early years, I am empathetic and culturally attuned to varied forms of trauma. My travels have taken me to Jerusalem, Paris and British Columbia, providing me with firsthand exposure to global crises and how they affect individuals.
During our sessions, I let your experiences and emotional state dictate the trauma-informed therapy activities we will pursue and when. I collaborate with you to create a path towards healing, happiness and hope.
8 Core Principles of a Trauma-Informed Approach
A trauma-informed care approach is based on key principles that acknowledge the impact of a negative incident on mental health. Here are the core principles that I use when creating our treatment sessions:
1. Prioritising Safety
I create a physically and emotionally safe environment. This helps you feel secure and confident during our therapy session, helping you gain trust and open up about your fears and traumas.
2. Trust and Transparency
For a successful session on trauma therapy, trust and transparency play an integral role in nurturing a healthy therapeutic relationship. I maintain open communication, which is based on the foundation of honesty and reliability. A successful session will depend on the mutual trust and loyalty in our therapeutic relationship.
3. Empowerment in Choice
One thing common among trauma survivors is the feeling of helplessness and lack of control over the situation. During trauma-informed therapy interventions, I will give you complete autonomy and control over how our session progresses and not rush or force you into things you don’t feel comfortable with.
4. Culturally Sensitive
All my sessions are highly attuned to cultural sensibilities. Generational traumas often stem from cultural stigmas and sensitivities, and not acknowledging them can lead to an unsuccessful therapy session.
5. Avoid Revisiting Traumatic Past
Trauma-informed therapy activities don’t include revisiting past trauma triggers unless you want to. I am highly aware and mindful of potential triggers which can make you revisit the trauma and impact your therapeutic progress.
6. Acknowledging the Impact of Trauma
During trauma-informed therapy for adults, I acknowledge the severe impact of trauma on your mental, emotional and physical health. For an effective therapeutic intervention, I will factor in all these facets to offer you a complete solution.
7. Collaboration and Co-ordination
A successful trauma therapy often requires collaboration and coordination among different professionals. For your physical symptoms, I may suggest visiting a healthcare professional; similarly, a GP or specialist doctor may refer you for therapeutic interventions.
8. Vicarious Trauma of Caregivers
Sometimes, trauma therapy isn’t limited to the victim but involves caregivers or close family members who are supporting the person directly impacted by the negative incident. Trauma-informed approaches may involve talking with loved ones such as partners, siblings or parents.
What This Looks Like in My Therapy Room
As a queer, neurodivergent individual who has undergone therapy during my early years, I offer empathetic and empowering therapy sessions, where you have complete autonomy. During my sessions, I let the patient dictate the pace while offering them a safe, confidential and nurturing space to share their stories and experiences.
We never revisit the incident (unless you want to) and refrain from triggers that can undo the progress we’ve made.
I have travelled extensively and am constantly undergoing reflective self-awareness to offer the best version of myself to my patients. I am attuned to cultural sensitivities and how they can determine the course of trauma reversal.
I actively work towards forming a healthy and trustworthy relationship with my therapy patients. We will work towards forming a secure attachment, and I will be emotionally available, making it easier to face your fears.
Why a Trauma-Informed Approach Helps
Trauma response is not just limited to fight, flight, freeze or fawn but can lead to varied stress responses and dysregulation. The understanding and acknowledgement of these reactions form the basis of the trauma-informed care approach.
Trauma-informed therapy acknowledges the trauma and offers a feeling of empathy and safety. People who’ve experienced trauma often feel isolated or alone, therapy creates space to begin unravelling those feelings and building connection again.
Traumatised individuals often feel unsafe, which is addressed during my session. I will work proactively with you to create an environment that helps you feel safe, making it easier to heal. During our session, you are in complete control of the situation and focusing on collaboration and the ability to self-advocate.
Book A Session with Me, Mark GR
Everyone deserves happiness, and if you find past traumas dictating your life’s trajectory, you need to change that narrative. I understand that trauma often stems from deep-rooted inequalities such as racism, gender discrimination or poverty, and by creating a safe and non-judgemental space, I will help you address the triggers while helping you heal.
Choosing the right therapist for trauma-focused therapy for adults can make the most difference. If you are based in London or Cardiff, we can have an in-person session or a complimentary discovery call to help you understand my approach and whether it meets your needs.
If you need support and guidance to reclaim your life, I am just a call or email away.
