Therapy for Childhood Trauma in Chester, Wirral & Online
Counselling for Childhood Trauma & Abuse
Childhood trauma can come from many painful experiences, including emotional, sexual, and physical abuse.
These experiences can leave deep scars that may affect how you feel about yourself, your relationships, and your life as an adult. But it’s important to know that healing is possible.
Counselling for childhood trauma offers a safe, supportive space where you can begin to process what happened and find ways to move forward.
It’s not about erasing the past — it’s about learning how to live with it in a way that feels manageable and empowering.
What is Childhood Abuse?
Childhood abuse can take many forms, and each one can leave lasting effects.
Emotional abuse might involve being constantly criticised, rejected, or manipulated, leaving you feeling unworthy or invisible.
Sexual abuse includes any inappropriate sexual behaviour towards a child, which can lead to feelings of shame, confusion, or fear.
Physical abuse involves harm to your body, but it can also deeply affect your sense of safety and trust.
If you’ve experienced any of these, you’re not alone — and it’s not your fault. Counselling for childhood abuse, whether it’s emotional, sexual, or physical, can help you understand how these experiences have shaped you and support you in finding ways to heal.
Signs You May Benefit From Therapy
If you experience any of the following, it may be time to consider therapy:
Persistent feelings of anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness
Difficulty trusting others or forming healthy relationships
Frequent flashbacks, intrusive memories, or recurring nightmares
Low self-esteem, self-worth, or persistent feelings of shame and guilt
Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger trauma-related memories
Engaging in self-destructive behaviours or substance misuse
Therapy provides a safe space to address these issues, supporting you to heal, regain control, and improve your quality of life.
How Counselling For Childhood Trauma Can Help
Counselling for childhood trauma is about creating a space where you feel safe to explore your feelings and experiences at your own pace. It’s a chance to understand how your past is affecting your present and to find ways to manage those effects.
Whether you’re dealing with the impact of emotional, sexual, or physical abuse, therapy can help you feel more in control of your life.
Through counselling, you can work on building resilience, confidence, and a sense of safety. It’s not about changing who you are — it’s about helping you reconnect with the parts of yourself that feel strong and capable, even after everything you’ve been through.
What to Expect in Therapy Sessions
When you start counselling, we’ll take things at your pace. There’s no pressure to talk about anything you’re not ready for. Instead, we’ll focus on what feels most important to you right now. Over time, we’ll work on:
Understanding how PTSD or trauma is affecting your life.
Finding ways to manage symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, or feeling on edge.
Processing the trauma in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Building confidence and resilience so you can move forward.
It’s not about “fixing” you — because you’re not broken. It’s about helping you feel more in control and finding a way to live the life you want. You deserve to feel safe, supported, and hopeful about the future, and therapy can help you get there.
Why Choose Me As Your Counsellor?
I have undertaken further training to become a ‘Surviver to Thriver’ Practitioner and have many years of experience helping people with trauma from childhood abuse and related issues.
During our sessions I provide a safe and confidential space so that you are comfortable to work towards the changes you would like to make.
I am an Accredited Member of BACP (No. 380481), which stands for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This means that I have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation to meet the BACP's strict standards for professional practice, so you can rest assured that you are choosing a qualified and ethical counsellor.
I understand how overwhelming it can feel to take that first step toward getting help. My approach is warm, supportive, and tailored to your unique needs.
Counselling and Therapy for Childhood Trauma in Chester and Heswall
If you’re searching for therapy near you to help with emotional, sexual or physical abuse, I offer in-person therapy sessions in Chester, Heswall and Online Counselling Sessions across the UK and Europe, so you can choose what feels most comfortable for you. The choice is always yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Counselling is a talking therapy that can go a long way in helping people come to terms with problems they are facing. The sessions give you time to talk about anything that is going on for you in a safe and confidential way.
This might be because you want to change things, there might be something you are struggling to come to terms with - whatever the reason counselling could well be the answer for you.
By talking about the things that are going on for you, you will be able to get a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings, while at the same time I will help empower you to identify new solutions, allowing you to facilitate change and have the life you would like/deserve.
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I work with young people aged 16+ and adults.
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I provide face-to-face counselling in Chester and Heswall. I also provide Online Therapy.
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Yes, I provide Online Counselling Sessions via Zoom, or sessions by phone.
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Yes, I am an Accredited Member of BACP (No. 380481), which stands for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This means that I have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation to meet the BACP's strict standards for professional practice, so you can rest assured that you are choosing a qualified and ethical counsellor.
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I have a special interest and further training in:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
All forms of historic child abuse and trauma including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, neglect
I also have experience of helping people with:
Anger management
Attachment issues
Bereavement and grief, including pet bereavement
Bullying (School and workplace)
Depression
Gender identity
Family relationships
Self-harm
Self-esteem tress
Suicidal thoughts
Trauma
Additionally, I am a Rewind Practitioner which means that I have been trained to use the Rewind Technique to treat trauma and phobias.
I am also a Survivor to Thriver Practitioner which means that I can help individuals who have experienced trauma to move beyond simply ‘surviving’.
In my time as a counsellor, I have worked with so many different issues.
Whatever it is, please just reach out so I can give you the support you deserve. Find out more about my experience and qualifications.
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I provide a confidential and safe space so that you are comfortable to work towards the changes you would like to make.
Everything you share with me is confidential unless you mention anything which means you or someone you know is likely to come to serious harm, you mention anything to do with the drug trafficking act, the children’s act or money laundering.
View my privacy policy to understand more about how your personal data is processed and kept safe.
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Our first session together will include an assessment so that I understand more about the challenges you are facing, and at the same time it gives you the opportunity to see if I am the right counsellor for you. At the end of the first session you can decide if you would like to continue working with me and we can arrange further appointments.
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The number of sessions you will need will very much depend on your individual circumstances. For example, someone who needs help with anxiety might not need as many sessions as someone who has experienced years of childhood trauma. I can however say that I will be open and honest with you throughout and we can look at this together. Regular reviews are done to see how well things are going and what the next steps will be. Remember the choice is always yours.
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Before you first session I will send you information by email that hopefully covers everything you need to know before we meet.
During your first session we will spend some time going through the counselling agreement together. This gives us a chance to look at what I can offer you as a therapist and gives me an idea what it is you are hoping to get from our time together.
I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation by video or phone whichever suits, giving us a chance to have a chat before our first session.
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The main difference between a counsellor, therapist, and psychotherapist lies in their focus and depth of work.
Counsellors typically provide short-term, solution-focused support for specific issues like stress or grief, using practical tools and coping strategies.
Therapist is a broad term that can refer to anyone providing therapy, including counsellors and psychotherapists, and their approach varies depending on their training.
Psychotherapists, however, focus on deeper, long-term emotional work, exploring the root causes of issues such as trauma or chronic mental health conditions. They often have more extensive training and work with both mild and severe psychological challenges.
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Yes, of course. You are not locked into any contracts and the choice is always yours.
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For full details visit my pricing page.
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For cancellations 24 hours’ notice is required.
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Get in touch to arrange a free informal 15-minute chat about what you are looking for and to see if we are happy to work together.
Take the First Step Towards Feeling Better
If you’re ready to explore how counselling could help, get in touch. We’ll have a chat about what’s going on for you and how I can support you. There’s no pressure — just a chance to see if this feels like the right fit for you.
You don’t have to face this alone. Let’s take that first step together.
Annabelle
Counselling & Therapy In-Person & Online
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Chester, Cheshire
Face-to-face sessions available in Chester.
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Heswall, Wirral
Face-to-face sessions available in Hewsall.
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Online Counselling
Therapy online via Zoom or phone.