A calm place to begin
Counselling for relational trauma in Peterborough and online
I work with women who have spent years striving, adapting and putting others first. Beneath the coping and carrying on, something no longer feels quite right.
Developmental and relational trauma often drive these patterns. That doesn't always mean something dramatic happened. It can be much more subtle: learning early on that being easy, capable or useful was how you stayed safe or loved.
Therapy gives you the space to reconnect with yourself, trust your own needs and build a life and relationships that feel more like your own.
Trying harder isn't the answer anymore
From the outside, your life may look settled. You cope, achieve and keep going, even when things feel difficult.
Underneath, however, you may feel exhausted from always being the one who holds things together. You might find yourself putting others first, dismissing your own needs, or struggling to know what you actually want.
Perhaps you've spent years adapting to what was needed of you by being capable, dependable and self-sufficient. Those qualities may have helped you in many ways, but they can also leave you feeling disconnected from yourself and your emotions.
You might recognise yourself in some of these experiences:
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feeling disconnected from yourself or unsure what you need
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people-pleasing or losing yourself in relationships
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perfectionism and being highly critical of yourself (and maybe others)
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experiencing burnout or overwhelm, despite coping externally
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struggling to rest even when you're exhausted
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knowing what would help, but struggling to follow through
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being the one who looks after others, but finding it hard to receive support
You know something needs to change but you don’t know how.
How I Work
In our work together, we slow things down.
Rather than trying to fix or push past what you’re feeling, we begin to understand it; where it comes from, and why it makes sense.
Often, the patterns that feel difficult now were ways of coping with relational & developmental trauma. You adapted to stay safe or manage relationships. Over time, this can lead to feeling disconnected from your own needs and responses.
Therapy offers a space to reconnect.
We might explore:
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how earlier experiences have shaped the way you relate to yourself and others
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the patterns that keep you feeling stuck
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what your body is signalling, and how to begin listening to it
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how to respond to yourself with more understanding and compassion
This isn’t about becoming a different person.
It’s about feeling more like yourself; and having more choice in how you live and relate.
Contact Me
I offer therapy in Peterborough and online.
Sessions take place during the daytime; this can suit those who are self-employed, work flexibly, or have availability during the day.
If you’re wondering whether this might be right for you, you’re welcome to get in touch.
