William Fley

Individual Counselling for Trauma 

Do you find yourself struggling to trust others and are holding back from meaningful connections? These concerns may be the result of unresolved trauma.

What is Trauma?

Trauma occurs precisely when an event is overwhelming to a point where a person is unable to rationalize, defend, process or accept what is happening to them or someone close to them. Trauma fragments the brain’s ability to make sense and therefore move on from the onslaught. The event when it occurs overwhelms and drives us to our basic survival responses.

When the traumatic incident occurred did you find yourself unable to move? You may even find yourself tensing up or being easily startled throughout your day. After a traumatic event, you may develop an exaggerated stress response. It involves a recurrent pattern of reactions related to the initial event. You aren’t alone in experiencing this, it is actually one of the most common signs of having been traumatized.

Other signs include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Panic Attacks
• Numbing
• Insomnia
• Flashbacks
• Hopelessness
• Loss of a sense of self
   

What is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma arises from exposure to multiple traumatic events which often occur during childhood. Emotional, physical and sexual abuse, exploitation or bullying, and multiple losses, are the most common root causes. Sometimes a parent or person caring for a child has their own trauma experiences, and their child inevitably is adversely affected.

Complex trauma is not always the result of childhood trauma. It can also occur as a result of adults’ experience of violence in the home, university, neighbourhood and workplace. The abuse could be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, financial or spiritual-PTSD, which if left untreated can develop into Complex Trauma. The long-term effects of this exposure should be assessed by a mental health professional as soon as possible.

Some indications that may be experiencing complex trauma are:

• Persistent unresolved guilt
• Constant feelings of shame and worthlessness
• Trouble feeling “safe” within your own body
• Deep distrust of authority figures
• Anxiety around intimacy/ aversion to close relationships
• Being easily startled
• Self-harming behaviours
• Chronic pain
• Using food or substances to cope with strong emotions
   

Healing is Possible

While these “symptoms” may become the focus of treatment, it is also important to consider the root cause and address the whole person and the experiences that brought up these concerns. A trauma sensitive approach to therapy allows you to explore your current difficulties while keeping in mind that we are complex beings with histories that impact us. We look to understand how we survived our most difficult experiences and how to utilize those strengths while learning new tools to continue to thrive.

The world of therapy has come a long way in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. There is a greater understanding of how trauma is held within the body and manifests symptoms. Through trauma-focused therapy, you can learn to understand not only the circumstances that led to the trauma but also uncover your strengths and utilize them to shift the patterns that are keeping you stuck.

Sessions structure.

Body-centered (somatic) therapy links the healing elements of verbal sharing with the power of bodily relief. It allows you to work through not only the thoughts and underlying beliefs that have resulted from the trauma, but accesses the healing capacity of the brain and body to develop a deeper, more felt sense of internal safety. The goal of somatic therapy is not only to cultivate a deep level of healing, but to bring forward your intuition and inner capacity to better manage stress and maintain a healthy mind-body connection. A commitment to trauma sensitive counselling leads to a renewed commitment to yourself through which you can master methods to self-soothe, feel grounded, and connect with your spiritual self as well.

I prioritize creating a safe, inclusive space that provides culturally competent and trauma informed counselling. I utilize somatic modalities of therapy to harness the body’s innate wisdom and movement towards healing and growth. Our diverse team of therapists strive to create an authentic relationship with every client and believe in the holistic nature of the mind, body, and soul. We recognize the challenges and hesitations of our clients as part of the process of growth and do not view people as needing to be fixed

I am an experienced psychotherapist of 20 years, including the NHS, emergency services, universities, and private practice, employment assistance programs, providing training and specializing in grief, bereavement, childhood trauma and relationship issues, those moving through difficult transitions in life. I work with individuals, couples and groups. I live in west Sussex and provide both online and face-to-face sessions.

I work with the navigation and complexity around identity and belonging, and life transitions to integrate those neglected parts of ourselves into awareness through choice, expression and growth. Therapy is a way to re-discover and develop new pathways which are less compromised by past patterns and traumatic incidences. And sometimes we are triggered by a current situation which indicates we have internal work which must be carried out. 

Sometimes, we might experience early development, an attachment issue with one or both parents. This may have involved neglect, abuse, or absence. This can predispose vulnerabilities throughout our lifespan. Therapy helps us gain tools to manage crises, relationship difficulties, self-esteem and resilience to help us find validation and a sense of agency and resilience.

I empower people to find solutions to their situations and challenges on their journey through life and to undergo positive life transformations.  I support them through difficult stages in their lives such as divorce and separation, loss and bereavement, midlife crises, identity and belonging, and early childhood trauma. In addition to working with issues of Equality and diversity and oppression.

It's never too late to begin to re-write your narratives and explore how to make the most of your life, live life to the full and begin to put the past to rest.  

I run a private practice in the South Downs (Chichester) and work face-to-face and online. I'm happy to have a free initial phone call or Zoom for 30 minutes. 

Extra services:   

• Issues in relation to Belonging & Identity    
• Bereavement and loss, and transgenerational trauma
• Absent fathers: The effects of abandonment, masculinity and intimacy.
• Life's transitions and Midlife crisis 
• Relationship issues and couples counseling 

Thank you,

Have a nice day,

William Fley 

www.honouringrief.com 

Services include:

Please note there maybe a 2-3 week waiting list 

• Individual therapy sessions: £70 - 45 minute sessions 
• £90 - 60 minutes  
• Couples are £120
• Family Therapy £150

Please ask about concessions.