Barbara Riddell

I help people who experienced trauma/abuse in their childhood, especially if it is still affecting them: 

• “I feel ashamed” 
• “I hate myself” 
• “I’m disgusting” 
• “Everyone leaves me”
•  “I’m useless”
•  “I would rather be dead”

These are typically the kind of thoughts of people who have experienced a traumatic/abusive childhood which can have a profound effect in adulthood.  Most of us associate ‘trauma’ with events such as war and describes something overwhelming, frightening, even life threatening.  When it is severe enough to affect your everyday functioning then it is called PTSD.   There is also something called Complex PTSD which occurs in people who have been subjected to violence, abuse or neglect in childhood resulting in problems in adulthood.  Examples include: 

Physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect:

Physical abuse: hitting, smacking, shaking, burning, choking or any psychical injury to the body

Sexual abuse: any unwanted act of a sexual nature inflicted on a child by an adult or another child

Emotional abuse: any behaviour where a child is constantly criticised, put down, threatened, bullied, dismissed, yelled at, etc 

Neglect: when food, clothing, warmth, housing, or medical care are deliberately withheld. Emotional neglect is when no love, support or attention is shown to the child by parents/caregivers.

Witnessing violence or abuse in the home: 

• Seeing or hearing parents shouting, arguing, being hit, choked, punched, etc
• Witnessing the aftereffects of domestic violence – seeing a parent with cuts, bruises and other physical injuries
• Feeling frightened, alone, ashamed, angry at the abusing or abused parent.

Having an alcoholic parent(s):

• Feeling the drinking was/is your fault
• Never knowing what mood the parent(s) will be 
• Tiptoeing around them, not wishing to upset them in a case they drink
• Buying alcohol for them, even when underage
• Clearing up after them
• Being invited to join in with their drinking

 These are just some examples, yours may be different.  Surviving abuse or trauma as a child has been linked with higher rates of depression, self-harm, anxiety, eating disorders, suicide, abuse of alcohol and drugs, relationship difficulties, problems with intimacy and trust, etc.  

It’s common for the impact of Complex PTSD to be felt many years, even decades, later.

But, you may think, was it 'that bad'?  If you're not living life to the fullest, then yes, maybe it was 'that bad'.  Symptoms of PTSD include nightmares and flashbacks of the event, feeling emotionally numb, or feeling constantly ‘on alert’ or being hypervigilant and Complex PTSD may include:

• feelings of shame or guilt
• being easily startled
• difficulty controlling your emotions
• dissociating – feeling as if you are ‘not there’, ‘spacing out’, ‘losing time’
• self-harm, destructive or risky behaviour - overdosing, cutting, alcohol or drug abuse
• feeling frightened of people shouting, confrontation, people in authority
• feeling suicidal 
• feeling distrustful of others
• feeling dirty, damaged or worthless
• feeling different to other people
• thinking nobody would believe you
• physical symptoms – headaches, stomach upsets, feeling anxious with a racing heart, etc.

How can counselling help you?

You can’t change the past but you can put an end to the emotional pain that has robbed you of living life to the fullest.  

Counselling is a talking therapy that helps you come to terms with your life experiences and find peace.  I will help you be free from the effects of the trauma so that you can take back control of your life and move from being a ‘victim of trauma’ to being a ‘trauma survivor’.  

One more thing – everything you say to me is confidential and NO ONE will be told that you are having counselling.  I do not contact your GP, place of work, family or anyone else.  

How I work: I hold counselling sessions online only.   I charge £55 per session.  I can see you in the daytime, evening and weekends.

About me: I am an experienced counsellor and an Accredited Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy).  I trained as an integrative counsellor, which means I can draw on different counselling models to help people.

• Addiction to alcohol/drugs/online gambling
• Anger management for men

I can occasionally offer concessions for students, unemployed people, those on benefits and pensioners. Proof will be required of your status.

Payment is via BACS

How do I book an appointment?
Email me (b.riddell@hotmail.co.uk) or phone/text/WhatsApp me on 07906 576167.  I know how frustrating it can be when you want help NOW but just get a voicemail message, but I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Please note - I only work with adults aged 18 and over.