I-Therapy
Your trauma doesn't have to define your story
Professional trauma counselling in Christchurch using a holistic approach that addresses trauma in the body, brain, and memory to help you reclaim your narrative.
A Comprehensive Approach to Trauma
Working with past trauma and PTSD is another common theme in my work with people. What we know about PTSD and past trauma is that it doesn't just live in the brain - it lives in the body, in the memory.
Usually it's not the event that sticks with us, but it's the story that we tell ourselves around it. My work is changing that story and how we view it so it doesn't define who we are, but also processing it so it doesn't feel like you're back in the moment, like it's happening now.
It's about putting it to the back as an event or something that doesn't define who you are moving forward. The goal is to help you process the trauma so it becomes something that happened to you, not something that controls you.
What is Trauma?
Trauma occurs when we experience or witness something overwhelming that exceeds our ability to cope. It's not about what happened to you - it's about how your nervous system responded and continues to respond to those experiences.
How Trauma Shows Up
Trauma can manifest in many different ways, affecting your body, mind, and relationships:
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions
- Hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge
- Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
- Avoiding places, people, or situations
- Emotional numbness or feeling "shut down"
- Sudden mood changes or emotional overwhelm
- Physical symptoms like headaches or tension
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe
The Story We Tell Ourselves
Trauma often creates powerful internal narratives that can keep us stuck:
- "It was my fault"
- "I'm not safe in the world"
- "I can't trust anyone"
- "I'm broken or damaged"
- "I should have been stronger"
- "I'll never get over this"
These stories become the lens through which we see ourselves and the world, but they don't have to define your future.
How We Work Together
At I-Therapy, we follow a holistic three-stage approach to trauma healing that recognizes trauma lives in the body, brain, and memory. This method focuses on changing the story trauma tells about you, processing the stuck energy, and helping you reclaim your narrative so the past doesn't control your present.
Understanding Your Story
We begin by exploring how trauma has been living in your body, brain, and memory. Together, we'll examine the stories you've been telling yourself about what happened and how it's shaped your view of yourself and the world. This stage helps you understand that trauma isn't just a mental experience - it's stored physically and emotionally. We'll identify the patterns, triggers, and beliefs that keep you stuck, creating a foundation for healing based on understanding rather than just coping.
Processing and Rewriting
This is where we actively work to change the story trauma tells about you. Using evidence-based approaches, we'll help your nervous system process the stuck trauma energy so it doesn't feel like the event is happening now. We'll work on rewriting the narrative from "this defines who I am" to "this is something that happened to me." This stage involves both cognitive work to challenge trauma-based beliefs and somatic approaches to help your body release the stored trauma responses.
Reclaiming Your Future
The final stage focuses on integration and empowerment - taking your new understanding and story and applying it to create the life you want to live. We'll work on putting the trauma "to the back" where it belongs, as something that happened but doesn't define your future. You'll develop skills to maintain your healing, recognize your strength and resilience, and move forward with a sense of agency and hope. The goal is for you to feel like the author of your own story again.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Not quite ready to book a full session? No worries — you're welcome to book a free 15-minute consultation instead. It's a relaxed opportunity to ask any questions, get a feel for how things work, and see if we're a good fit for your journey.
A Comprehensive Approach to Trauma
Working with past trauma and PTSD is another common theme in my work with people. What we know about PTSD and past trauma is that it doesn't just live in the brain - it lives in the body, in the memory.
Usually it's not the event that sticks with us, but it's the story that we tell ourselves around it. My work is changing that story and how we view it so it doesn't define who we are, but also processing it so it doesn't feel like you're back in the moment, like it's happening now.
It's about putting it to the back as an event or something that doesn't define who you are moving forward. The goal is to help you process the trauma so it becomes something that happened to you, not something that controls you.
What is Trauma?
Trauma occurs when we experience or witness something overwhelming that exceeds our ability to cope. It's not about what happened to you - it's about how your nervous system responded and continues to respond to those experiences.
How Trauma Shows Up
Trauma can manifest in many different ways, affecting your body, mind, and relationships:
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions
- Hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge
- Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
- Avoiding places, people, or situations
- Emotional numbness or feeling "shut down"
- Sudden mood changes or emotional overwhelm
- Physical symptoms like headaches or tension
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe
The Story We Tell Ourselves
Trauma often creates powerful internal narratives that can keep us stuck:
- "It was my fault"
- "I'm not safe in the world"
- "I can't trust anyone"
- "I'm broken or damaged"
- "I should have been stronger"
- "I'll never get over this"
These stories become the lens through which we see ourselves and the world, but they don't have to define your future.
How We Work Together
At I-Therapy, we follow a holistic three-stage approach to trauma healing that recognizes trauma lives in the body, brain, and memory. This method focuses on changing the story trauma tells about you, processing the stuck energy, and helping you reclaim your narrative so the past doesn't control your present.
Understanding Your Story
We begin by exploring how trauma has been living in your body, brain, and memory. Together, we'll examine the stories you've been telling yourself about what happened and how it's shaped your view of yourself and the world. This stage helps you understand that trauma isn't just a mental experience - it's stored physically and emotionally. We'll identify the patterns, triggers, and beliefs that keep you stuck, creating a foundation for healing based on understanding rather than just coping.
Processing and Rewriting
This is where we actively work to change the story trauma tells about you. Using evidence-based approaches, we'll help your nervous system process the stuck trauma energy so it doesn't feel like the event is happening now. We'll work on rewriting the narrative from "this defines who I am" to "this is something that happened to me." This stage involves both cognitive work to challenge trauma-based beliefs and somatic approaches to help your body release the stored trauma responses.
Reclaiming Your Future
The final stage focuses on integration and empowerment - taking your new understanding and story and applying it to create the life you want to live. We'll work on putting the trauma "to the back" where it belongs, as something that happened but doesn't define your future. You'll develop skills to maintain your healing, recognize your strength and resilience, and move forward with a sense of agency and hope. The goal is for you to feel like the author of your own story again.
The goal isn't to forget what happened... it's to change how it lives in your body and memory.
Begin Your Healing JourneyReady to Take the First Step?
Not quite ready to book a full session? No worries — you're welcome to book a free 15-minute consultation instead. It's a relaxed opportunity to ask any questions, get a feel for how things work, and see if we're a good fit for your journey.