Complex PTSD & Relational Trauma Therapy in Stourbridge & Online UK-wide

 

What C-PTSD and relational trauma are

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) typically follows prolonged or repeated trauma, often within caregiving or intimate relationships (e.g., chronic abuse/neglect, coercive control, exploitation). Alongside core PTSD features (intrusions, avoidance, hyperarousal), C-PTSD involves persistent difficulties with emotion regulation, self-concept (shame, defectiveness, a sense of a foreshortened future), and relationships (mistrust, push–pull dynamics, boundary problems).

Relational trauma emphasises the interpersonal context—injury usually occurs in relationships, so safety, trust and connection are the areas that most need repair.

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What this feels like (common presentations)

• Cycling between numbness/shut-down and overwhelm; dissociation or time-loss under stress.

• Chronic shame/defectiveness; harsh self-criticism; difficulty trusting positive feedback.

• Push–pull in relationships (longing for closeness / fear of being trapped or hurt); difficulty setting and keeping boundaries.

• Triggers that feel global or “out of the blue”; sleep problems, startle, irritability.

• Memories organised around themes (helplessness, betrayal, worthlessness) rather than a single incident.

• For some, shame-type beliefs (e.g., “I’m a bad person,” “I failed to protect someone”).

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Why it persists

Short-term strategies—avoidance, appeasement, perfectionism, over-functioning, emotional suppression—reduce distress now but keep the system sensitised and relationships fragile. Dissociation blocks learning; shame shuts down help-seeking; blurred boundaries maintain unsafe dynamics. Effective therapy builds capacity first, then updates stuck meanings via making active changes in the present, alongside the processing of traumatic memories that continue to unhelpfully impact the here ad now.

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What changes with therapy

• Greater emotional range with fewer shutdowns and less volatility.

• Triggers lose charge; improved sleep and concentration.

• Shame softens; increases in self-respect and agency.

• Clearer boundaries and steadier relationships.

• Progress measured by improved ability to function, greater emotional regulation, and connection with meaningful parts of your life, not by erasing the past.

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Fees & logistics

• Individual therapy: £125 per 60-minute session

• Location: Stourbridge (West Midlands) & online across the UK

• Availability: Daytime and limited early evenings​

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FAQs

• Do we have to go into all the memories?
  No. We target representative memories/themes that unlock the wider pattern. Completeness is not the goal; safety and integration are.

• What if I dissociate or get overwhelmed?
  We install stabilisation skills first. Processing is titrated to stay tolerable and effective.

• How long does therapy take?

As we might expect, the more complexity there is and the more incidents which have contributed towards it, the longer treatment may take. We would expect more time than with single incident traumas but the exact length will depend on your unique circumstances and goals. However we would expect to make see progress within 12-20 sessions, although treatment may extend further, depending on your particular formulation. We will include periodic reviews to ensure the pace remains right for you and we stay on track for your goals.

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Next Steps:

Enquire about availability for face to face appointments in Stourbridge.

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If you would prefer online sessions, you can learn more by clicking the button below