Trauma, PTSD therapy in Horsham, West Sussex
When a traumatic event won't let you move on
Something happened. It may have been sudden and shocking — an accident, an assault, a medical emergency, witnessing something devastating, or an experience in the military or emergency services. Whatever it was, part of you hasn't been able to leave it behind. You might find yourself reliving it without warning, through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories that feel as vivid and overwhelming as the event itself.
You may be working hard to avoid anything that brings it back — places, people, sounds, smells, conversations. You might feel constantly on edge, easily startled, or unable to relax. Perhaps you feel numb or detached, struggling to connect with people you care about or to find pleasure in things you once enjoyed.
This is what PTSD looks like. And it is treatable.
Common signs of PTSD
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories that feel involuntary and overwhelming
- Nightmares or disturbed sleep related to the traumatic event
- Intense distress when reminded of what happened — through triggers that can feel unpredictable
- Avoiding people, places, or situations connected to the trauma
- Feeling emotionally numb, cut off, or detached from others
- Hypervigilance — a persistent sense of being on alert, waiting for something to go wrong
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling present in everyday life
- Irritability, anger outbursts, or feeling easily overwhelmed
PTSD can develop immediately after a traumatic event, or it can emerge weeks, months, or even years later. It can follow a single incident or a period of sustained exposure to traumatic events — the latter often referred to as Complex PTSD (CPTSD). If your trauma has roots in childhood or repeated experiences over time, you may find my childhood trauma and CPTSD page more relevant.
How I work with PTSD
Effective trauma therapy isn't about forcing you to relive what happened. It's about creating enough safety that your nervous system can gradually process what it wasn't able to at the time.
I work relationally, which means the quality of our therapeutic relationship is foundational. You can't do meaningful trauma work in a space that doesn't feel safe — so building that safety comes first. From there, we work at a pace that feels manageable, developing your capacity to stay grounded when difficult material arises, and gradually supporting your system to integrate what happened rather than remain stuck in it.
My approach draws on Relational Transactional Analysis and psychodynamic thinking, alongside a genuine respect for how the body and mind hold traumatic experience together.
I work with adults who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events, including road traffic accidents, assault, medical trauma, bereavement, and occupational exposure to trauma (including emergency services and military personnel).
I offer face-to-face PTSD therapy in Horsham, West Sussex, and online sessions across the UK.
I work with LGBTQ+ clients and my practice is fully affirming. Traumatic experiences rooted in homophobia, transphobia, or identity-based violence are taken seriously here, and treated with the care and specialist understanding they deserve.
Working with me
Individual sessions — £60
Sessions are 50 minutes, weekly, either face-to-face at my therapy room in Warnham near Horsham, or online via a secure video link.
Free initial consultation
I offer a free 20-minute phone or video call before we begin — a chance to talk through what's brought you here and get a feel for whether working together seems right, with no obligation to continue.
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