Trauma

Why does the past still feel so close?

Something happened. Time has passed. And a part of you is still carrying it. So much stress and tension in your body.

Maybe you can point to exactly what it was, or maybe you can't quite name it. It might have been one event or something that built up slowly. You may recognise yourself in thoughts like

"I can't move on,"

"I react in ways I can't explain," or

"I feel cut off from my own life."

You're not broken, you're not weak and you're not imagining it.

What actually is trauma?

Trauma is defined less by the event than by its lasting effect on your nervous system. Two people can go through something similar and respond very differently, and no response is more valid than another. It can follow a single event, such as an accident, assault, sudden loss or medical emergency, or it can come from experiences that accumulate, such as long-term neglect, a toxic relationship, an unsafe childhood or a draining workplace. Your nervous system may not separate then from now, which is why something can feel immediate years later.

What forms can it take?

•      Childhood trauma: neglect, abuse, instability or emotional unavailability

•      Relationship trauma: coercive control, emotional abuse or betrayal

•      Single-incident trauma: accidents, assault, medical emergencies or sudden loss

•      Workplace trauma: bullying, harassment or burnout that crossed a line

•      Complex trauma: repeated or prolonged distressing experiences

•      Birth trauma: a difficult birth of your own, or witnessing a partner's

•      Secondary trauma: repeated exposure to other people's distressing experiences

•      Collective or intergenerational trauma: carried through families or communities over time

What are the signs?

•      Unexpected flashbacks, intrusive memories or images

•      Being constantly on alert, or unable to relax

•      Emotional numbness, or feeling disconnected from yourself and others

•      Strong reactions to triggers that seem minor to everyone else

•      Difficulty trusting people or feeling safe in relationships

•      Shame, self-blame, or a sense that something is fundamentally wrong with you

•      Poor sleep, nightmares or waking with dread

•      Avoiding people, places or situations linked to what happened

•      Not being able to remember parts of it, or not being able to stop remembering

•      Persistent low mood, anxiety or a sense that life has lost its colour

•      Feeling that the person you used to be no longer exists

Why doesn't time just heal it?

Because time alone rarely settles a nervous system that's still on alert after the danger has passed. That protective response can end up causing harm itself. It's physiology, not a failure of willpower or resilience. The brain can change, and lasting healing is possible with the right support.

What does trauma therapy involve?

It helps your nervous system recognise that you're safe now, so the past can feel like the past. It isn't about reliving events. We work carefully, collaboratively and at your pace. You don't have to disclose more than you want to, and you're not expected to push through discomfort. Feeling safe in the therapeutic relationship comes first.

Where does BWRT come in?

BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT) works differently from many traditional methods. It targets the brain's threat response, the system that keeps fear, avoidance and hypervigilance going, without detailed revisiting of memories, exposure to triggers or prolonged distress. Many people notice significant shifts within a few sessions, including people who haven't found relief elsewhere, and it can ease shame, self-blame and loss of identity. Where it helps, I combine it with other approaches, drawing on many years of experience across a range of protocols, and tailor sessions to you.

Can I do this from somewhere familiar?

Yes. Sessions run online via Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp or Messenger, from any location and on any device, and working from a familiar space can help many trauma survivors.

How do I take a first step?

Email me or call 0409 254 500 to book a free, no-obligation consultation. You can simply get in touch and see how it feels.