Trauma
Trauma Therapy in Sydney
The original meaning of the word trauma is wound. Any event that causes emotional or physical scars is traumatic. There are many ways that we become hurt, wounded and scarred and we explore these in trauma therapy in Sydney, including the lasting effects of childhood trauma.
- Abusive relationships
- Early childhood abuse and neglect – intentional and unintentional
- Sexual abuse
- Chronic abuse in the workplace
- Witnessing the unexpected
- A distressing experience like a car crash or the sudden death of a loved one
- Bullying
Trauma happens to us in three different ways – Overt, Developmental and Complex.
Types of Trauma
We delve into three types of trauma in trauma therapy in Sydney:
- Overt – means that something either something or an event or both was seen and experienced either physically or emotionally.
- Covert means that the event was either hidden or invisible. You know that something is wong even though you can’t quite put your finger on it. This is because you sense that something happened but you don’t know what it is.
- Chronic means that whatever disturbed you or whatever happened in the past continues to do so now.
Developmental Trauma
Childhood Trauma and Why It Can Last
Childhood experiences shape how we see ourselves and how we relate to others. When a child does not feel safe, seen or supported, the effects can follow them into adult life, even when the events are hard to name or were never meant to cause harm.
Some people come to trauma therapy in Sydney because of experiences they recognise clearly. Others come with a sense that something from childhood is still affecting them, without knowing what it is. Both are welcome, and you do not need to have the full story before you begin.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is not about weakness or an inability to cope. It is about injury. Just as a physical wound needs the right conditions to heal, emotional wounds need space, time, and careful attention.
Trauma comes in many forms, and not all of them are immediately obvious. Some wounds are caused by a single event. Others accumulate quietly over years, leaving a person with a vague but persistent sense that something is not quite right, without being able to name what it is.
'Big T' and 'Little T' Trauma
It can be helpful to think about trauma in two broad categories — what is sometimes called ‘Big T’ and ‘Little T’ trauma.
'Big T' Trauma
‘Big T’ trauma refers to events that are overtly distressing — experiences that most people would recognise as serious and difficult. These might include:
- A car crash or serious accident
- Witnessing a distressing or violent event
- Sexual assault or ongoing sexual abuse
- A terrorist attack or natural disaster
- The sudden death of someone close
'Little T' Trauma
‘Little T’ trauma is less visible, but no less real. Because it is harder to identify, it is often dismissed or overlooked. Little T trauma can include:
Unintentional neglect by parents or caregivers during childhood
- Repeated criticism, even when it was intended as encouragement or tough love
- Expectations and demands that consistently exceeded what you could manage
- Punishing or persecutory styles of relating that left you feeling unsafe or inadequate
These are generalised descriptions. Everyone has their own unique version of these experiences, and what matters most is not the category but the impact. This is the way it has shaped how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you move through the world.
Conditions that can have a History of Trauma
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal ideation
- Borderline personality Disorder
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Neurodiversity – ADHD, ADD, Austism, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia
Unbound woundedness waiting to be heard.
What Happens in Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy is not about revisiting painful experiences for their own sake. The aim is to create enough safety and understanding that the wound can, over time, be seen clearly — and in being seen, begin to lose some of its power.
Sessions move at your pace. There is no pressure to disclose more than you are ready to share. The work is collaborative, and the relationship between therapist and client is central to it.
Online trauma therapy is available to clients anywhere in Australia. Sessions are held via Zoom or a platform that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Big T trauma refers to overtly distressing events most people would recognise as serious like accidents, assault, sudden loss. Little T trauma is less visible but equally real: repeated criticism, unintentional neglect, or growing up in an environment where you felt chronically unsafe or inadequate. Both can have a lasting impact, and both are worked with in therapy.
Yes. Many people come to therapy with a sense that something is not right, without being able to point to a single cause. Little T trauma in particular can be difficult to identify because it builds gradually over time. You do not need to have a clear event or story to begin therapy.
Online trauma therapy follows the same therapeutic process as in-person work. The relationship between therapist and client remains central, and the depth of the work is not diminished by working via video. Many clients find that being in their own space actually helps them feel safer and more settled.
Trauma can underlie a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, borderline personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder, and neurodiversity including ADHD, ADD, autism, dyslexia, and dysgraphia.
Yes. Online trauma therapy sessions with Laura Wilson are available to clients in Sydney or anywhere in Australia. Sessions are held via Zoom or another agreed platform. You do not need to be based in Bowral or New South Wales.
If you find yourself affected by memories or feelings you cannot easily explain, if you feel stuck in patterns of relating that do not serve you, or if something from your past feels like it is still present in your day-to-day life, it may be worth exploring in therapy. A free 15-minute consultation with Laura is a good starting point.
The first session is simply a conversation. There is no pressure to share everything at once. The pace is gentle and unhurried, and you set it. You might talk about what has been going on recently, what brought you to therapy, or what you are hoping to feel differently about.
Trauma therapy can help you make sense of childhood experiences and how they have shaped you, whether they were clear events or a long pattern of neglect, criticism or feeling unsafe. Sessions move at your pace, and you are never pressed to share more than you are ready to.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re looking for trauma therapy in Sydney, Laura Wilson offers online sessions with a calm, conversational approach. You’re welcome just as you are. Reach out today to book a free 15 minute phone consultation.