Trauma Counselling near Frome and Bath | Somatic Trauma Therapy

If something feels off but you can’t put it into words, you’re not alone. You might be stuck in survival mode, emotionally overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself and the people around you. I offer trauma counselling for adults and teenagers (15+) in Chapmanslade (next to Frome) and online across the UK, supporting people who feel anxious, burnt out, shut down or unable to move forward.

Why people come to trauma counselling:

Ongoing anxiety or panic and feeling constantly on edge
Emotional overwhelm, shutdown or dissociation
Difficulty maintaining relationships or repeatedly losing a sense of self
People-pleasing, chronic exhaustion, or patterns that repeat despite trying to change them

You don’t need a single, obvious traumatic event for this work to help. Long-term stress, attachment wounds, relational harm, or repeated invalidation can all shape the nervous system and keep you stuck.

Trauma counselling supporting healing and recovery with the message: trauma changes you, but it doesn’t define you

A different approach to trauma counselling.

If you’ve tried talking counselling and it didn’t shift things enough, it’s not your fault.

My approach:

Starts by building safety and stability in the body and nervous system.
Moves slowly and at your pace, no pressure to dive into painful material before you’re ready.
Uses somatic, trauma-informed tools to help you feel steadier and more able to process difficult material.
Is collaborative and tailored to how you communicate, process and sense the world.

What we’ll work on

Understanding why your nervous system responds the way it does.
Learning to notice overwhelm before it becomes too much.
Building practical regulation skills for everyday life.
Working gently with memories and triggers when you're ready.
Feeling safer in yourself, your relationships and your daily life.

Not sure why previous counselling hasn't helped? Read my article on Why Hasn't Therapy Worked for Me? to learn more.

Somatic trauma counselling recognises that trauma can live in the body and nervous system as much as in words and memories

Trauma and neurodivergence.

I also work with neurodivergent adults and teens (Autism, ADHD, OCD). For many neurodivergent people, trauma and overwhelm show up differently, through masking, rapid shutdowns, sensory overwhelm, or difficulty naming emotions. We hold both the trauma and neurodivergent experience together, adapting pace, format and tools so therapy fits you rather than forcing you to fit therapy.

Is trauma counselling right for me?

Trauma counselling may be helpful whether you've experienced a single traumatic event, childhood trauma, emotionally immature parenting, emotional neglect, domestic abuse, bullying, grief, medical trauma, chronic stress, or simply feel you've been living in survival mode for a long time.

You don't need a diagnosis or to be able to explain exactly what happened. Many people come to therapy because they know something doesn't feel right, even if they can't yet put it into words.

Trauma doesn't always look like trauma

You may look like you're coping on the outside while feeling exhausted on the inside.

Perhaps you:

constantly scan for danger
find it difficult to relax
lose yourself in relationships
shut down when things become overwhelming
feel numb or disconnected
struggle to trust others
feel guilty for putting yourself first
live with a constant sense that something bad is about to happen

Many people don't realise these can all be ways the nervous system has adapted to keep them safe. If your body feels constantly alert or unable to switch off, you can read more about why the nervous system can struggle to rest.

What a session looks like

Sessions are paced to your needs and may include grounding, breath awareness, gentle body-based noticing and practical regulation tools.
There is no pressure to make eye contact, find the right words, or relive painful memories.
If you shut down during a session, we use that as information, not failure, and we work from there.

Why work with me?

My work is grounded in a Level 6 Postgraduate Diploma in Trauma Counselling and is informed by ongoing professional training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Trauma counselling and neurodivergent-affirming practice. I continue to develop my practice through specialist trauma training to ensure my work remains current, evidence-informed and responsive to the people I support.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, I adapt therapy to your nervous system, your pace and your individual needs.

Counselling isn't about making you relive painful experiences. We work at a pace that feels manageable, building safety first before exploring anything that feels overwhelming.

My role isn't to "fix" you

Trauma can leave people believing there is something wrong with them. In therapy, we don't start from the assumption that you're broken. Instead, we become curious about how your nervous system has adapted to keep you safe. Together, we work to build safety, choice and flexibility, so those protective responses no longer have to work quite so hard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting counselling can bring up lots of questions. Here are some of the ones I'm most commonly asked. If your question isn't answered here, please feel free to get in touch.

Q: What is trauma counselling?

A: Trauma counselling is a gentle, collaborative approach that helps you understand how past experiences may still be affecting your thoughts, emotions, relationships and nervous system today. Together, we'll work at a pace that feels safe and manageable, helping you make sense of your experiences while finding new ways to feel more settled, connected and in control.

Q: How is trauma counselling different from general counselling?

A: Trauma can affect both the mind and the body. While talking can be incredibly helpful, sometimes understanding why you feel the way you do isn't enough to create lasting change. Alongside conversation, I may draw on body-based approaches informed by Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and somatic trauma counselling to help you notice and gently work with your nervous system. There is never any pressure to revisit traumatic memories before you feel ready.

Q: Do I need to have experienced a major traumatic event?

A: Not at all. Many people seek trauma counselling because of experiences that may not seem "big enough" to be called trauma. Ongoing stress, difficult childhood experiences, emotional neglect, bullying, relationship difficulties, loss or living in survival mode for a long time can all affect the nervous system.

You don't need to compare your experiences to anyone else's to deserve support.

Q: Do I have to talk about what happened?

A: No. You are always in control of what you choose to share. Many people worry they will be expected to describe painful experiences in detail, but that isn't how I work.

We begin by helping you feel safe and supported. Therapy moves at your pace, and there is never any pressure to talk about anything before you feel ready.

Q: Can trauma counselling help with anxiety, panic or feeling overwhelmed?

A: Yes. Many people come to counselling because they feel anxious, overwhelmed, emotionally numb, stuck, constantly on edge or exhausted, without realising these can be connected to how their nervous system has adapted to cope with difficult experiences.

Together, we'll explore what is happening for you and develop ways of helping your nervous system feel safer and more regulated.

Q: Is trauma counselling suitable if I am autistic, have ADHD or OCD?

A: Yes. I have experience supporting autistic and ADHD clients, as well as people living with OCD. My approach is neurodivergent-affirming and adapted to your individual needs, recognising that everyone's nervous system and way of processing the world is different.

Q: Do you offer online trauma counselling?

A: Yes. I work with clients in person from my private counselling room in Chapmanslade, near Frome, Westbury and Warminster, and online across the UK.

Q: What happens in the first session?

A: The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another. We'll talk about what has brought you to therapy, what you hope to gain and any questions you may have.

There is no expectation to tell your whole story. My priority is helping you feel comfortable, understood and able to decide whether we're the right fit to work together.

Q: How do I get started?

A: I offer a free 15-minute introductory phone call where you can ask questions, tell me a little about what you're looking for and decide whether working together feels right for you. There is no obligation to book further sessions.

Trauma counselling near Frome, Westbury & Warminster

Fee: £75 per 50‑minute session for adults.
£95 per 50-minute session for teenagers (15+).
In-person: Chapmanslade, BA13
Online: UK-wide (Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or phone).

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. If you're wondering whether trauma counselling might help, you're welcome to book a free 15-minute introductory call below. We can talk about what's been happening and whether working together feels like the right fit.

I offer face-to-face trauma counselling from my private counselling room in Chapmanslade, around 3 miles from Frome, and within easy reach of Westbury, Warminster, Trowbridge and Bath. Online trauma counselling is also available across the UK.