Trauma has many causes. It can arise as a result of a single overwhelming incident or situation or as a result of childhood abuse or neglect. The symptoms can seriously undermine a person’s ability to enjoy life and live it to the full.
People who have suffered trauma often experience a range of acute symptoms – both psychological and physical. These may include forms of dissociation (such as depersonalisation and derealisation), panic attacks, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts, numbness, hyper-vigilance and unexplained physical illness. In some cases trauma can result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or dissociative disorders such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Recent developments in neuroscience mean that psychotherapists understand better the psychological and physiological processes involved and have been able to develop new techniques to bring relief.
Catherine is a member of both the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) and the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD). She has completed the ISSTD’s training in working with dissociation and is also trained in administering the SCID-D, the tool used to diagnose dissociative disorders such as DID.
Catherine is currently undertaking Sensorimotor Therapy training with Janina Fisher of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute (SPI). This body-oriented therapy combines traditional talking therapy with simple and safe body-work that directly addresses the effects of trauma in the body.
If you are looking for help with symptoms of trauma, please contact Catherine Cox
