Understanding trauma-informed therapy

Some experiences change the way a person moves through the world long after they happen. When they are painful, the emotional consequences can affect the body, mind and our relationships. Trauma-informed therapy is more than a technique; it is a guiding approach that shapes every aspect of therapy to ensure recovery is safe and sustainable.

At NextGen Psychology, we specialise in mental health support and therapies for youth, adults over 25 and defence personnel, whether serving or retired. Our approach draws on strong expertise in trauma-informed therapy and advanced training in EMDR, with particular experience in anxiety and trauma-related conditions.

Trauma-informed therapy is a way of working that guides everything a psychologist does. It is not tied to one technique but influences how sessions are started, how quickly things move, and what strategies are chosen. The point is to make sure the impact of trauma is understood and responded to with empathy, giving each person the safety and choice they need to rebuild trust and regain control.

This approach is built on a few key principles. The first is safety, because people can only talk openly when they feel secure. From there comes trust, and with it the chance to make choices about what to share and when. Collaboration means decisions are made together, and empowerment comes as people see themselves gradually regaining a sense of control.

The effects of trauma are not limited to thoughts or memories. The brain’s alarm system can stay switched on (think fight or flight response), leaving someone feeling on edge or easily unsettled. The body often carries it too, through tension, poor sleep or other physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue. Therapy that considers both mind and body can ease this state of constant alert and support a more peaceful life.

Trauma and its effects do not look the same for everyone. Young people are still building emotional and social skills, which means trauma can interrupt key stages of development. This might be seen in sudden changes in friendships, intense mood swings, struggles with trust, or feeling disconnected from school and family. Left unaddressed, these patterns can shape how a teenager sees themselves and their future.

For adults, trauma is often layered onto years of lived experience. It can emerge as persistent stress reactions, difficulties maintaining healthy relationships, or physical health complaints linked to long-term strain on the body. Adults may also carry unresolved experiences from earlier life, which influence their responses to current challenges.

A trauma-informed approach adapts to context and is highly personalised. This could mean focusing on stability and grounding for someone in acute distress or looking at long-term patterns for those who are ready to explore them more deeply.

Another reason we need to be mindful of trauma is that it affects how a person sees themself. It can leave someone feeling shame or blaming themselves for what they’ve been through. By creating safety, offering choice and fostering collaboration, trauma-informed therapy can ease those feelings and help build resilience. This allows the person to see their responses as understandable and to believe that recovery is possible.

Trauma-informed therapy can include a range of evidence-based methods. These are adapted so they are introduced safely and at a pace that feels manageable.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): helps people notice the way their thoughts, feelings and actions connect, and gives practical tools for handling stress and worry.
• Schema Therapy: takes a closer look at long-standing patterns, often linked to early life experiences, and works on finding healthier ways of relating to self and others.
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): a structured, evidence-based psychological therapy designed to help people process and recover from traumatic or distressing experiences. EMDR helps the brain reprocess trauma memories so they lose their overwhelming emotional charge and become more like any other memory — part of the past, not something that dominates the present.

Another key element is integration. Therapy does not stay within the session; it often includes strategies a person can practise in daily life, such as grounding exercises to reduce anxiety or techniques to manage intrusive thoughts. These tools give people something reliable to use outside the room.

The process is also reviewed regularly. As a person begins to feel safer or their needs change, the focus of therapy is adjusted. This flexibility ensures that the support stays relevant and continues to meet the individual where they are.

Life experience is foundational to the NextGen approach. As a clinical psychologist who has spent time as a reservist in the ADF, worked in school settings, community health and private practice, I have unique insight into the many different ways that trauma affects individuals and families.

The first requirement is always listening. Instead of moving straight into techniques or trying to fix things, a psychologist who understands trauma will take the time to hear the person’s story and what really matters to them. This is an essential foundation and helps ensure that when strategies are introduced, they are the ones that fit.

The environment matters just as much as the therapy itself. At NextGen Psychology, we work to create a space that feels calm and respectful, where people know they can set boundaries and guide the direction of the work. That sense of control is central to trauma-informed care and makes it possible for recovery to move forward safely.

Trauma can come from many places. For some, it may follow a single event, while for others it builds slowly through repeated stress or difficult experiences. No two people respond in the same way, but what does remain the same is that with the right support, healing is possible. And no one is ever alone.

At NextGen Psychology, we help teenagers, adults and defence personnel recover from life’s difficult moments with a trauma-informed approach that is always tailored to the individual.

To book a confidential consultation or learn more about trauma-informed care, contact us today. Reaching out is an important step, and a sign of strength and courage