Trauma Treatment at The London Trauma Practice

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EMDR therapy allows the brain's information processing system to unblock traumatic memory and move towards healing using careful protocols and bilateral stimulation ( using sound, light or movement) to the right and left side of the body to activate the brain and lessen the emotionally disturbing memory so the client feels less stuck by the impact of the event.

Parts of our mind can become fragmented by traumatic experience. According to Richard Schwartz, these parts, stuck in the past shift from naturally valuable states to protecting the self in extreme and maybe damaging ways. The goal is to help them transform by unburdening  unhelpful beliefs and emotions back into their natural, curious, connected and creative states. Self is the core of us that holds wisdom and enables space to heal.

IFS is key to trauma recovery as this model enables growth and to understand all the aspects of our personality with compassion.

"Turns out in this inner world you can literally change the past" Richard Schwarz.

Our IFS model is based on the work of Richard Schwartz and Frank Anderson and training by Dr. Alexia Rothman.

Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr.Stephen Porges, describes how the vagus nervous in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) governs our responses to safety and threat through an evolutionary hierarchy of states: ventral vagal (social engagement/safety), sympathetic (fight/flight), and dorsal vagal (shutdown/freeze), impacting health, emotion, and behaviour. As clinicians we incorporate this  theory to create safety, connection, and resilience and  help clients understand how to build a better tolerance to stress responses.

We can also use the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)  a non-invasive, evidence-based listening therapy designed to help children and adults regulate their nervous system. Developed  Dr. Stephen Porges, it is based on his Polyvagal Theory, which focuses on how the body's sense of safety or danger impacts behaviour and emotional health. His protocol uses specially filtered music to "retune" the nervous system from a state of defense (fight, flight, or freeze) to a state of safety and social engagement.The music is algorithmically filtered to emphasise the mid-range frequencies of the human voice, which biological systems naturally recognise as safe.

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a body-centered therapy that integrates somatic  experiences with cognitive and emotional processing to treat trauma, and attachment issues, and focuses on how the body holds and manifests past traumatic memories. It uses mindfulness, movement, and grounding exercises to help clients become aware of their bodily sensations and release "stuck" trauma responses, transforming them into resources for healing, rather than just talking about the traumatic story. 

Mindfulness ( MBSR) and breath-work are also part of the safety net we use,  focusing on the work of Jon Kabat -Zinn, training by Linda Thai and Sensorimotor priniciples laid out by Pat Ogden. 

Janina Fisher's Structural Dissociation Model explains how complex trauma splits the personality into different parts, each with distinct roles, memories, and responses - including  fight, flight, freeze, submit, (fawn appease, please), and attach in order to survive overwhelming experiences, leading to symptoms like fragmentation, dissociation, and internal conflict. Therapy focuses on identifying, understanding, and integrating these parts (Apparently Normal Parts, Emotional Parts, Protectors) for healing, moving from fragmentation to a more integrated self. 

Neurofeedback helps trauma by training the brain to self-regulate, calming the persistent "fight-or-flight" state common in PTSD and rewiring neural pathways to reduce hyperarousal, intrusive memories, and emotional reactivity, allowing the brain to process trauma from a calmer, more balanced state rather than being stuck in threat mode. It works by providing real-time feedback (visual/auditory) on brainwave activity, rewarding healthier patterns and improving communication between brain regions like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, leading to better emotional regulation and focus. 

Attachment therapy is crucial because it heals emotional wounds from early caregiver relationships, helping people develop secure attachments for better emotional regulation, healthier adult relationships, and improved mental health by addressing issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma stemming from insecure bonds, ultimately transforming how individuals connect with themselves and others. It works by building trust in the therapeutic relationship, allowing individuals to explore past relational patterns and learn new, healthier ways to relate.