About us
Trauma, PTSD & EMDR
Some experiences do not stay in the past in the way other memories do
They get stuck.
Months or years later, a smell, a phrase, or a particular kind of silence can return you to a moment you thought you had moved on from, heart racing, body tense, suddenly not quite in the present.
If that is part of what brought you here, what you are describing has a recognised psychological shape. The body and brain often hold overwhelming experiences differently from ordinary memory. Trauma, whether connected to a single event or a longer period of emotional distress or instability, is not a sign of weakness or a failure to “move on”. It is a human response to experiences that felt emotionally or psychologically overwhelming at the time they happened.
What trauma can sometimes look like
Many people assume trauma only relates to extreme experiences or obvious symptoms. In reality, trauma can affect people in very different ways.
Some people experience flashbacks or nightmares. Others notice anxiety, panic, emotional numbness, difficulty trusting people, emotional shutdown, hypervigilance, or constantly feeling on edge without fully understanding why.
Common experiences people sometimes describe include:
• feeling constantly alert or unable to properly relax
• intrusive memories or distressing thoughts
• panic attacks or heightened anxiety
• emotional numbness or detachment
• difficulty sleeping or recurring nightmares
• strong emotional reactions that feel difficult to control
• feeling unsafe even when there is no immediate danger
• relationship difficulties or fear of vulnerability
• avoiding reminders of difficult experiences
• feeling emotionally “stuck” in the past
Trauma responses can develop after a single overwhelming experience, but they can also emerge after longer periods of emotional distress, instability, neglect, bullying, abuse, difficult relationships, or ongoing emotional pressure.
What our trauma work can involve
One of the first things many people worry about when approaching trauma therapy is whether they will be expected to relive everything in detail.
Good trauma-informed therapy is not about forcing somebody back into the worst moments of their life before they are ready. The aim is usually to help difficult experiences feel less emotionally immediate and less overwhelming in day-to-day life.
Several therapeutic approaches can support this process. One approach we are often asked about is EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — a structured therapy used in trauma work and recommended by NICE for PTSD. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements or tapping, to support the processing of difficult memories and experiences.
It is not hypnosis or regression work. Many people find EMDR feels more structured and contained than approaches focused entirely on verbal discussion, although experiences differ from person to person.
Alongside EMDR, some therapists within Hope Therapy also work using trauma-informed CBT and relational approaches that recognise the long-term emotional impact difficult experiences can sometimes have on the nervous system, relationships, self-esteem, and emotional regulation.
Trauma work should never feel rushed. Therapy moves at a pace that feels manageable and emotionally safe for the individual involved.
We offer a range of trauma-informed therapeutic approaches including:
• One to One Counselling
• EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
• Trauma-Informed CBT
• Online Counselling & Therapy
• Relationship Counselling
• Mindfulness Based Therapy
• Longer-Term Relational Therapy
Rather than taking a one size fits all approach, we carefully match people with a therapist suited to what they are experiencing personally.
Who you may work with
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services works with a large team of qualified counsellors and therapists with experience across a wide range of emotional wellbeing difficulties and therapeutic approaches.
Some therapists within the team have additional training and experience in trauma, PTSD, emotional overwhelm, and EMDR-informed approaches.
You may work with therapists experienced in:
• PTSD and trauma responses
• childhood trauma and emotional neglect
• anxiety linked to trauma experiences
• emotional overwhelm and hypervigilance
• panic attacks and nervous system dysregulation
• relationship trauma and attachment difficulties
• burnout connected to prolonged stress or emotional strain
• low self-esteem and emotional safety work
All practitioners are registered with recognised professional bodies including the BACP or NCPS, and Hope Therapy is also an NCPS Organisational Member.
Matching matters in therapy, particularly with trauma work. Rather than allocating clients randomly, we try to consider the type of support somebody may be looking for, alongside personality, therapeutic approach, availability, and experience.
Online and face-to-face support
Many of our trauma-focused sessions, including EMDR, take place online. Some clients find online work helpful because it allows them to access support from an environment that already feels familiar and emotionally comfortable.
Face-to-face appointments are also available where suitable therapists are available.
Some people prefer the flexibility and accessibility of online counselling, while others feel more comfortable meeting somebody in person. Both options can provide meaningful therapeutic support depending on individual preference and circumstances.
How starting works
For many people, reaching out about trauma feels difficult in itself.
A free 15-minute consultation can provide an opportunity to ask questions, explain a little about what has been happening, and decide whether the service feels right for you. The conversation is informal, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue afterwards.
You do not need to arrive with everything clearly explained. You do not need a diagnosis or a perfectly organised version of your experiences before speaking to somebody.
Many people begin therapy simply knowing that something no longer feels manageable in the way it once did.
One important thing we will always say honestly
Trauma therapy cannot erase difficult experiences or remove the fact they happened.
What therapy can sometimes do is help those experiences feel less emotionally immediate, less consuming, and less connected to everyday life in the present. For some people, this creates more emotional space, greater self-understanding, and a stronger sense of stability over time.
Beginning trauma therapy can feel like a significant step. For many people, though, it is also the beginning of feeling less alone with what they have been carrying.
If you are currently in crisis or at immediate risk of harm, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123, your GP or 999 in an emergency.
When you feel ready, we are here.
Training, qualifications & experience
Our mental health and wellbeing support includes private clients looking for personal counselling (One to One, Couples & Families) through to Large County Councils, Charities and Companies where the organisation may be arranging or funding sessions, possibly through an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) arrangement.
We have access to counsellors covering a large number of areas throughout England, so you may well be able to see us face-to-face wherever you are. However, we all offer Skype, Zoom and telephone support, so wherever you are, we will be able to work with you. People work with us from literally all areas of the country and, in some cases, from abroad.
Member organisations *
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Areas of counselling we deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Standard sessional rate is £65 per session
- Couples Counselling is £85 per session
- Other prices are available on request
When we work
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