Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD) can develop after experiencing prolonged or repeated trauma, often in childhood or through ongoing harmful relationships. Unlike single-event PTSD, which usually follows one traumatic incident, cPTSD arises from situations where escape was difficult or impossible, such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or captivity.
Living with cPTSD can feel exhausting and isolating. Many people describe a constant sense of being “on edge,” difficulties trusting others, or feeling disconnected from themselves. It is important to know: your reactions are not a personal failing, they are understandable responses to overwhelming experiences. Healing is possible, and therapy can provide a safe, supportive space to begin that journey.
Common Symptoms of cPTSD
cPTSD includes the core symptoms of PTSD (such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance) but also involves a wider range of difficulties, including:
- Emotional regulation difficulties – intense feelings of sadness, anger, or fear that may feel hard to control.
- Negative self-concept – deep feelings of shame, guilt, or worthlessness.
- Relationship difficulties – fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting others, or feeling disconnected and isolated.
- Flashbacks & intrusive memories – reliving aspects of the trauma in vivid, distressing ways.
- Hypervigilance – feeling constantly unsafe or on high alert.
- Avoidance – avoiding reminders of trauma, including people, places, or emotions.
- Dissociation – feeling numb, detached, or “not fully present.”
- Somatic symptoms – physical expressions of trauma, such as tension, pain, or chronic health issues.
These experiences are not “overreactions,” they are survival responses to trauma that once helped you cope. Therapy can help to gently unravel these patterns and create new, healthier ways of living.
How Therapy Helps
Healing from cPTSD takes time, compassion, and a safe therapeutic relationship. My approach integrates several evidence-based therapies, tailored to your needs and pace:
Schema Therapy
Many people with cPTSD carry deep-rooted patterns of self-blame, mistrust, or fear that stem from childhood experiences. Schema Therapy helps to uncover and heal these patterns, offering new ways of relating to yourself and others.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
EMDR is a powerful therapy that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity. For people with cPTSD, EMDR can ease the “stuck” feelings associated with trauma and allow space for healing.
TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
TF-CBT is a structured, evidence-based therapy specifically designed for trauma. It helps to gradually process traumatic memories while teaching tools to manage distress, reduce avoidance, and challenge unhelpful beliefs about yourself and the world. TF-CBT can be especially effective for reducing flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and overwhelming anxiety.
Integrative Psychotherapy
No two experiences of trauma are the same. I draw on different therapeutic approaches to create a pathway that feels right for you, flexible, compassionate, and centred around your healing.
A Compassionate Space for Healing
Complex PTSD can leave you feeling as though the past is still happening in the present. Therapy can help you begin to separate who you are from what you have lived through, allowing you to reconnect with a sense of safety, trust, and self-worth.
In our work together, you will find a safe and non-judgemental space where your experiences are met with understanding and care. Step by step, we will work towards helping you build resilience, regulate emotions, and develop healthier, more fulfilling relationships with yourself and others.
If you are living with cPTSD and feel ready to explore support, I invite you to reach out. Healing from trauma is possible, and you do not have to go through it alone.