Nicola Hockey Counselling & Psychotherapy

Not all therapists work in the same way — and if you've experienced trauma, the approach your therapist takes really matters.

A trauma-informed therapist:
→ Understands how trauma affects the brain, body, and nervous system
→ Prioritises safety and trust above all else
→ Never pushes you to share more than you're ready to
→ Recognises that many coping strategies that seem "problematic" were actually intelligent responses to difficult experiences
→ Works collaboratively with you — you are never just a passive recipient of treatment

I trained specifically to work with trauma and sexual violence, and I bring this approach to every session.
If you have questions about how I work, I'd love to hear from you.

Online or in person sessions available. Please message me or find my contact details in my bio

⚠️ CW: This post discusses trauma and nervous system responses

You might have heard therapists mention the "window of tolerance" — but what does it actually mean?

Imagine a zone where your nervous system feels regulated. Not too activated (anxious, overwhelmed, reactive) and not too shut down (numb, disconnected, empty). That middle space is called the window of tolerance.

After trauma, this window can become very narrow. Small things can tip us outside it — into hyperarousal (panic, rage, hypervigilance) or hypoarousal (freeze, collapse, dissociation).

One of the goals of trauma therapy is to gently widen that window — so you can experience more of life without feeling overwhelmed.

If you'd like to explore what this looks like in practice, feel free to get in touch.

Send me a message for more info

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CW - THIS POST DISCUSSES SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA

There are so many harmful myths about sexual violence that can make survivors feel doubt, shame, or self-blame. Let's address some of them.

MYTH: If you didn't fight back, it wasn't assault.

TRUTH: Freezing is one of the most common trauma responses. It does not mean consent.

MYTH: It only happens to certain types of people.

TRUTH: Sexual violence affects people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds.

MYTH: If you waited to report, it must not have been that bad.

TRUTH: There are countless reasons people don't report — fear, shame, disbelief. Delayed disclosure is completely normal. Your experience is valid. Full stop.

Taking the first step is hard; we're all here to help, whatever that helps looks like for you.

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