Trauma Therapy in Wollongong
“Trauma is not what happens to you; it is what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you” - Dr. Gabor Maté
What is Trauma?
Many clients come to therapy wanting to work on struggles related to anxiety, low mood, self-criticism, or relationship difficulties.
Over time, it often becomes clear that these struggles are not simply symptoms to be managed, but expressions of deeper patterns that developed in response to early experiences.
Trauma does not always involve a single event. It does not have to be life-threatening, and it is not always about something that happened to you.
Sometimes, trauma can also arise from what didn't happen, but should have, like not feeling safe, understood, protected, or emotionally supported.
As Dr. Gabor Maté says, “Trauma is not simply what happens to us, but what happens inside us as a result of what happens to us.”
Signs of Trauma
Common signs of unresolved trauma include:
Feeling anxious, on edge, or unable to relax
Struggling with low self-esteem, shame, or chronic self-criticism
Repeating the same patterns in relationships despite wanting things to change
Finding it difficult to trust others or ask for help
Feeling responsible for other people's emotions or wellbeing
People-pleasing, avoiding conflict, and difficulty setting boundaries
Feeling disconnected from your emotions, needs, or sense of self
Emotional numbness or a persistent sense of emptiness
Understanding your difficulties intellectually, but still feeling stuck emotionally
These patterns are not signs that something is wrong with you. In many cases, they were understandable ways of coping with experiences that felt overwhelming, unsafe, or emotionally isolating.
My Approach
As a psychologist, I believe that meaningful trauma therapy begins with a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship.
Psychodynamic Therapy
My approach to trauma therapy is primarily psychodynamic and relational. Rather than focusing only on reducing symptoms, I aim to understand how your experiences have shaped the ways you relate to yourself, other people, and the world around you. Together, we work to understand patterns that may once have been adaptive, but no longer serve you.
EMDR
For some clients, I also integrate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). I've found that EMDR can be particularly helpful for processing traumatic memories that continue to feel emotionally "stuck", especially for people who tend to intellectualise their experiences or approach their difficulties in a highly analytical way. It can help access emotional and bodily experiences that are sometimes difficult to reach through talking alone.