Qualified Integrative Psychotraumatologist
Based In East Grinstead
Welcome to Solace With Lydie, I am an accredited and regulated Integrative Psychotraumatologist (MNCIP) providing online trauma-focused Psychotraumatology and life coaching as well as in-person equine-assisted psychotraumatology and learning. My scope of practise is working to alleviate symptoms associated with PTSD and C-PTSD, with the combination of cognitive and somatic practises to provide long lasting recovery and change. Contact me if you’re interested in my services. Limited spaces are available for The Psychotraumatology Inclusivity Project, if you can’t afford support and are in need, please contact me for more information.
Call today and get the help you deserve
About You
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Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, tearfulness or numbness?
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Perhaps lots of bodily aches, pains and fatigue?
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Do you have some unexplained physical symptoms or often are taken ill?
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Does everything feel overwhelming or particularly underwhelming?
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Have you stopped doing your normal hobbies? Not enjoying things you used to?
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Do you feel like you are working especially hard to maintain your life, and relationships with others, as well as work and leisure activities?
Whatever it is that isn't feeling right, it might be that I am the right professional to support you. Whether you have a trauma related mental health diagnosis, you think you might have, or you're struggling in any way, I adapt my sessions to suit your needs.​ With so much to offer, and a wide scope of experience I can support you through your process.
Bespoke Service
Weekend Appointments Available
Nationwide Coverage
About Me
I am an accredited and regulated Psychotraumatologist specialising in the treatment of Psychological trauma. I work remotely online as well as offering in person sessions in East Sussex, UK. I operate under the professional board of NCIP and adhere to NICE, UKPTS and APA trauma treatment guidelines and protocols. I provide a combination of evidence-based cognitive and somatic therapies for embodied, powerful sessions. I also provide assistance and referrals to local mental health NHS and private clinics as a separate service.
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I also provide Life Coaching where people are supported through transformative development and growth, with the aim to shift stuck beliefs and narratives, which often hinder us to becoming the most authentic version of ourselves. Working directly on self esteem, confidence, boundaries with others and the ability to regulate our nervous systems seep into all aspects of our lives, creating a ripple effect of self development through your personal life, relationships with others and your relationship with the greater world.
I also offer in-person Equine Assisted Psychotraumatology and Learning, which is where horses help people to create embodied, long lasting change. This powerful, experiential approach provides a different spin to sessions, providing a powerful Integrative element, bridging the gap which most talk therapies fall short in - the gap between knowing the new belief systems from trauma treatment in a cognitive way and the felt sense of this. It is a safe space for clients to explore the new parts of selves.
My Qualifications
With the current unregulated psychotherapy and personal growth industry, it is vital to be clear on my qualifications. I hold a certified Level 6 training qualification of Equine Facilitated Psychotraumatology and a Level 5 in Equine Facilitated Human Development and Life Coaching with IFEEL Method Qualifications Ltd. I also hold a BSc in Psychology with an Erasmus year in Neuroscience. This provides me with the relevant knowledge and experience to become an Integrative Psychotraumatologist under the board of the NCIP. I adhere to the NICE, UKPTS and APA guidelines in trauma treatment protocol, as well as the new (2022) UK government definition of Trauma-Informed Practises. Please see link below for this report.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-definition-of-trauma-informed-practice/working-definition-of-trauma-informed-practice?fbclid=IwAR0FRnUuSRaoHwhSduc_ICtuhWWfArEhuwN85ECxrF8L_qaxiD9HkTZNk
I am also a professional member of the UK Psychological Trauma Society (UKPTS), the European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), Pink Therapy: Gender, sex and relationship diversities, Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI) and World Horse Welfare (WHW).
Contact Me To Discuss Your Needs Today
Benefits Of Traumatology
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Overcome Past Trauma.
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Improving mental health and physical health.
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Helping to understand your emotions and feelings.
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Develop coping skills and strategies.
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Change negative thought patterns and actions.
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Experience healthier relationships with others.
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Improved communication, self-awareness and self-esteem.
You can read more about the benefits of therapy by clicking here.
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How is the type of work I do is beneficial?
A combined approach of top-down (talk cognitive therapy) and bottom-up therapies (somatic therapies) is more effective than relying solely on talk therapies. This integrative method provides a deeper level of intervention, addressing aspects that talk therapies alone may not fully reach.
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Bottom-up therapies can often address issues that traditional talk therapies might miss, particularly those involving physical manifestations of trauma. While talk therapies primarily focus on mental processes, bottom-up approaches target physical responses and autonomic nervous system disruptions, which can be crucial for addressing deep-seated traumas that are stored in the body.
These methods help address core issues that may not be resolved through cognitive strategies alone.
Supporting Emotional Regulation
For individuals dealing with significant stress, anxiety, or trauma, bottom-up techniques can be particularly effective in aiding emotional regulation. Top-down therapies rely on the ability of clients to use rational thought to manage their emotions and behaviours. It is incredibly hard and not very effective to use a top-down approach when the client is unable to use rational thought to support themselves. They would have already done this by themselves. The rational thoughts are too powerful, too deep. Instead, bottom-up therapies directly work on the nervous system to help cultivate a sense of safety and calm, which balances the nervous system. Continuously working on the nervous system to remain in safety mode, rather than flight/fight/freeze/flop mode, it enables the effectiveness of cognitive, top-down approaches to actually work.
Enhancing The Body-Mind Connection
Bottom-up therapy underscores the interconnectedness of the mind and body. This way of viewing illnesses, diseases and mental health is slowly becoming part of mainstream culture. Rather than viewing the mind and body as separate entities, this approach recognizes that they function together, with the body being at the core of interest, rather than the mind. Trauma and mental health challenges can disrupt this connection, leading to a coping mechanism that distances the individual from their pain. By addressing what stuck traumas the body is holding, through somatic experiencing and other therapy approaches, bottom-up therapies can foster integration and healing between the brain and body, leading to more profound and enduring outcomes. Some major names in the work of current research on mental health implications are Bessel Van Der Kulk, Gabor Mate and Peter Levine. All of their material is well worth a look into for further information.
Accessible for Various Client Populations
Bottom-up therapies are often more accessible for individuals who may struggle to articulate their thoughts and feelings, such as those with language difficulties or sensory processing differences. This approach can be particularly beneficial for clients with heightened sensory sensitivities or autism, who may find it challenging to communicate their experiences through traditional means.
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For more information on how top-down, bottom-up treatment can address trauma, click here.
