Trauma and PTSD Counselling in Portsmouth
See all counsellors in Portsmouth
Maggie Alice Cole
I work as a high intensity therapist currently for the military and in private practice . I treat a lot of trauma , anxiety ,depression and phobias as well as panic disorder , generalised anxiety disorder , Post Traumatic Stress Disorder , childhood abuse , chronic fatigue syndrome and OCD. I have experience also in working with Psychosis. I work with people in a compassionate focussed way focussed on their goals for treatment . Therapy is always geared to the clients goals and what they want /need to be different , this is reviewed regularly in therapy to ensure we are still working towards the goals that the client identified.

Holly-Jane Thurgood, Optimism Therapy Services
Psychotherapist, MBABCP
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Optimism deliver online psychotherapy to teenagers & adults nationwide. I am the founder and lead therapist of Optimism. Energetic and enthusiastic, I will work with you to motivate and guide you through therapy. My approach is based on the latest evidence of successful therapy approaches. I am an experienced and highly trained mental health professional and accredited psychological therapist. I have over 15 years of military healthcare experience delivering care in the UK and whilst deployed on operations in Afghanistan and in maritime environments. I also work in community mental health within the NHS and Ministry of Defence.

Lana Kelleher Counselling
Psychotherapist, MBACP
Verified
Verified
My job is to help you look after your emotional and mental wellbeing in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment. We will work together to understand and clarify your concerns, explore your difficulties and identify meaningful and lasting changes you would like to make in order to improve your life. My job will not stop there as I will empower you to achieve your goals, find your own solutions to your problems, develop your own strengths and skills that you can use when dealing with life challenges.

Elizabeth Sakutukwa
Psychotherapist, PsychD, MBABCP
Verified
Verified
I am a BABCP registered Psychotherapist. It is my goal to facilitate and communicate with my clients as best as they can to uncover the essence of concerning issues and those that may arise. These issues can be challenging and overwhelming. My experience has shown that using a non-judgmental, open and honest approach enables clients to understand themselves and their lives better after understanding how to communicate. This skill begins on day one of therapy and can be applied to various life situations. I am honored to hear clients speak about what matters to them most, and to help them reach their full potential.

Joanna Carol Mead
Counsellor, MBACP
Verified
Verified
The approach I first trained in and like to use the most is an integrative model called the Relational approach. This approach incorporates both humanistic and psychodynamic elememts which means it retains the warmth of the humanistic models which focus on empathy and building trust, and the Freudian concepts of the unconcious mind and transference. I work best with clients who are willing to explore how they relate to people, by examining what is going on in our relationship during therapy. I really enjoy working with clients who have issues around relationships and attachment, and find this work both interesting and rewarding.

Fresh Start Psychological Services Ltd
Psychotherapist, MBABCP
Verified
Verified
With previous extensive NHS experience as a therapist, supervisor, and manager, I am a very passionate, compassionate, authentic, and experienced childhood trauma specialist. I specialize in early life trauma and any other forms of PSTD/trauma. I work with both adults & children (from 13 years old), struggling with all forms of anxiety and depression. Therapy can really help alleviate distressing symptoms and find a better way of managing difficult situations. It may be that anxiety has triggered difficult memories and caused depression symptoms. I use an individualized approach delivered with compassion and understanding
Waitlist for new clients

Del Atkins
Counsellor, MBACP Accred
Verified
Verified
Hi my name is Del Atkins and I'm a counsellor, offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing) and supervision, I offer face to face counselling and supervision to young people 16+ and adults in Fareham, Portsmouth and the surrounding area from rooms in Fareham. I have completed over 4500+ hours with clients since completing a BTEC Higher National Diploma in Person Centered Counselling in 2009. I have worked with clients on their journeys who are experiencing bereavement, depression, eating disorders, self confidence worries, sexuality, self image issues, trauma, rape & sexual assault etc....

Gaynor Williams
Counsellor, MBACP
Verified
Verified
I am a highly experienced counsellor and my aim is to create a positive, trusting environment in which I help you to help yourself. I provide a safe and caring professional counselling and psychotherapy service. I am an empathic and approachable person working in a non-judgemental and confidential way. By exploring your past, the causes of present day problems are often revealed. We can't change the past, but we can gain understanding allowing you to relate differently to yourself, others and problems in order to choose to make changes or find acceptance.

Greenleaves Psychological Services
Psychotherapist, MSc, MBABCP
Verified
Verified
Your past is something you desperately want to forget. You have done your utmost to push it all out of your mind and just get on with your life. But no matter how hard you try, those awful thoughts and feelings follow you wherever you go, catching you out when you least expect it. You feel trapped, powerless to change any of this. You feel out of control, unable to manage the stress in your body. And every time those images pop into your mind, you feel ashamed and guilty. There is this voice inside you telling you you should have done something more, something else. Then it would have all been different.
Not accepting new clients

Kim Hosier
Psychotherapist, MSc, MUKCP
Verified
Verified
I am a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist and supervisor. I have helped people with a wide range of issues including relationship difficulties, bereavement, childbirth and depression. I am also experienced in working with adult survivors of sexual and domestic abuse.

Catherine Jones
Counsellor, MBACP
Verified
Verified
I believe I know what matters in building a safe and trusting environment to enable personal change and growth. I have chosen to base my counselling ethos on a Humanistic modality which includes the belief each of us has the ability, drive and autonomy within ourselves to resolve emotional issues, conflicts and life changing events. I also recognise we all need a bit of help and support in times of distress.
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Raff Knight
Psychotherapist, PsychD, BACP
Verified
Verified
I am a warm, caring professional offering safe non judgemental space . I work with all aspects of complex trauma, abuse, relationships, anxiety, depression, bereavement, addictions and depression. I have many years experience and have accumulated many professional skills. This enables me to put together a therapeutic structure to suit your individual needs, which will help you to make sense of where you are and where you want to be. We all need help at some point in our lives, and have personal challenges which we may not understand. I am here to support you on your unique individual , transformational journey.

Shelley Lamprell-Josephs
Psychotherapist, MBACP
Verified
Verified
I have 30 years experience in trauma, loss, bereavement and chronic illness. I have my own counselling practice, I am also a Clinical Supervisor and lead an Adult Counselling Service for a large charity (trauma / abuse sector). I believe that every human being is unique, and deserves compassion and non-judgement at all times. I use an integrated approach, which means that I assess your individual needs and work with the right therapy for you. I offer short or long term therapy in a safe, caring environment. I am fully insured, hold a current DBS (Police Check), as well as being a registered member of BACP and accredited NCS member.

Louise Mahoney
Counsellor, MBACP Accred
Verified
Verified
I work with young people and adults. I have extensive experience of working with trauma and sexual and domestic abuse. The basis of my model is person-centred. I integrate other counselling approaches but always maintain a client-led process based on client need. I work relationally with clients to support them in their personal journey towards growth, understanding and hope. I am also a qualified clinical supervisor.

Shelley Bradley-Scholey
Psychotherapist, MSc, MBABCP
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Accredited CBT, EMDR or Integrated therapy or Counselling. I provide honest, approachable and down to earth therapy. If you have difficulties with a painful past or problems that are getting in the way of your life currently I can help you. You may want to change how you think and feel about yourself or understand difficult emotions. I have 20 years’ experience in helping people recover and reclaim their life. I know sometimes people can find the prospect of therapy unnerving, I try hard to make people feel at ease by delivering therapy in an open and common-sense way, I am friendly and kind. Fully professionally registered.
Office is near:
Portsmouth PO1 & Online
Not accepting new clients

Different Kinds of Minds
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified
Verified
Have you been diagnosed with Autism/ ADHD or wonder if you are 'wired' differently to others? Are social interactions anxiety-provoking or too effortful? Do you often feel anxious/ overwhelmed and/ or feel the need to withdraw from the demands of the world? Are you struggling to understand yourself? Are you finding work, relationships and coping with every day tasks difficult? These are often the experiences of my clients who are 'neurodiverse' and who want to find ways to be well, strong and value their unique temperament and strengths and get the support they need to fulfil their potential.

Natalia Hallam
Counsellor, MBACP Accred
Verified
Verified
Are you struggling with a difficulty in your life and need help to find a way forward? Hello I'm Natalia Hallam, I am committed to making a difference to my clients lives and offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental therapy service based in central Fareham. I have successfully worked with clients enabling them to overcome many issues, including; anxiety, bullying, bereavement and loss, depression, disordered eating, family and relationship issues, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and stress. I am also highly experienced in helping clients to recover from the emotional distress caused by abuse, rape and domestic violence.

Louisa Tait
Psychotherapist, MA, HCPC-Art Therap.
Verified
Verified
I am an Arts Psychotherapist and DDP practitioner with over 14 years experience. When life feels overwhelming or unmanageable therapy can provide a safe space in which feelings and thoughts can be shared confidentially and without judgement. By exploring concerns you have and working with words and creative exercises difficult feelings can be untangled, understood and healing can occur. This can give you the feeling of confidence, strength and freedom, feel more in control and restore a sense of balance in your life.

Your Counselling Path
Counsellor, DCounsPsych, MBACP
Verified
Verified
Hi. My name is Krystyna. I am a counsellor who helps people who have experienced traumatic life events to break free from fear (anxiety) and build happy, full of contentment lives. I am fluent in English and Polish and I am confident to work in either language. As a fully qualified and experienced counsellor I can work effectively in a short-term solution-based therapy, (up to twelve sessions) or open-ended counselling, whereby the sessions are paced in line with clients' need and readiness to embrace positive change.

Dr Kevin Scott
Psychologist, PsychD, CPsychol
Verified
Verified
Many people have had an experience of therapy in the past and it has not produced the results they wanted. This in part can be due to the person going to see a therapist who is trained in one specific therapeutic modality (approach), who then tries to make the client fit that one approach. Collaboratively, we will work together to help you feel better, happier, more in control and confident in who you are as a person. As you begin to understand yourself and why you do things more, this will open you up to greater awareness in all parts of your life; home, work and relationships.
See more therapy options for
Trauma and PTSD Counsellors
When should I seek treatment for trauma?
Not everyone who undergoes trauma needs therapy to heal, but many do. If, after experiencing a traumatic event, you find yourself struggling with symptoms such as nightmares, dissociation, irritability, or emotional numbness—especially if these symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with your daily functioning—you may benefit from seeking out therapy with a trauma-informed provider.
How long does trauma therapy take?
Different types of therapy for trauma unfold on different timelines. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, for example, each take about three months, while trauma-informed CBT may last anywhere from 8 to 25 sessions. Other approaches, especially those that are less structured or that incorporate elements from multiple modalities, may be more open-ended, though many patients report feeling better within the first few months of treatment.
What happens if trauma is left untreated?
Unaddressed trauma can have serious—even devastating—effects on relationships, career, and day-to-day functioning. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can lead people to distrust or lash out at others, making it difficult to maintain intimate relationships; it can also trigger symptoms such as flashbacks or hyperreactivity that can interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively, personally and/or professionally. Some sufferers turn to drugs to find relief. Symptoms may lessen on their own with time, but there is no guarantee that PTSD will resolve on its own.
Can PTSD come back after treatment?
It is possible for PTSD symptoms to recur months or years after successful treatment. This is because, like most mental health disorders, it is not possible to “cure” PTSD, and stressful life events may cause symptoms to recur in even the most resilient individuals. There is no shame in re-experiencing PTSD symptoms nor in returning to therapy when such relapses occur; indeed, many forms of trauma therapy explicitly encourage periodic “maintenance sessions” to reinforce coping skills and ensure that symptoms stay manageable.