What Is Trauma?

Trauma isn’t defined by what happened to you — it’s defined by how your nervous system responded to it. Events that are overwhelming, threatening or deeply distressing can leave an imprint on the brain and body that persists long after the event itself is over.

Trauma can result from:

• A single overwhelming event – an accident, assault, medical emergency, or sudden bereavement
• Prolonged or repeated experiences – childhood neglect or abuse, domestic violence, emotional manipulation
• Developmental trauma – growing up in an environment that didn’t feel safe or consistent
• Relationship trauma – betrayal, abandonment, emotional abuse by someone you trusted
• Secondary or vicarious trauma – absorbing the trauma of others, common in caregivers and emergency workers

Trauma doesn’t always look like what you see in films. It can be quiet, chronic and confusing – a persistent sense that something is wrong, even when life looks fine from the outside.

Signs You May Be Carrying Unresolved Trauma

Trauma affects everyone differently, but common signs include:

• Flashbacks, intrusive memories or distressing dreams
• Feeling constantly on edge, hypervigilant or unable to relax
• Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself or others
• Intense reactions to things that seem minor to others
• Avoiding people, places or situations that remind you of what happened
• Persistent shame, guilt or self-blame
• Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
• Unexplained physical symptoms – fatigue, pain, digestive issues
• Feeling stuck – unable to move forward no matter how much you understand about what happened

If any of these feel familiar, it’s worth exploring whether unresolved trauma might be at the root.

How I Work With Trauma

I use two approaches that are particularly well suited to trauma work: BWRT and Brainspotting – often in combination.

Both are neuroscience-informed, both work without requiring you to retell your story in detail, and both are designed to work with the brain and body rather than just the conscious mind.

BWRT for Trauma

BWRT (Brain Working Recursive Therapy) targets the automatic responses your brain has learned – the triggers, the freeze responses, the reflexive reactions that happen before you’ve even had a chance to think. It works in the gap between a trigger and conscious awareness, rewiring those responses at source.

BWRT is particularly effective for specific trauma responses – phobic reactions, intrusive memories, and particular triggers that hijack your nervous system.

Brainspotting for Trauma

Brainspotting works more broadly – processing the deeper emotional and somatic material that underlies trauma responses. Using specific eye positions, it accesses the parts of the brain where trauma is stored and creates the conditions for natural, organic release.

Brainspotting is especially powerful for complex, layered or developmental trauma, where the roots go deep and words don’t quite reach.

An Integrative Approach

In practice, I often draw on both approaches within a course of therapy – using BWRT to address specific triggers and patterns, and Brainspotting to process the underlying emotional material. Together, they work on both the surface and the root.

We always work at your pace. You are in control of what we explore and when. Nothing happens without your full agreement.

What to Expect – Working With Me Online

All sessions take place via video call, so you can access support from anywhere in the UK without the added stress of travel.

Here’s how we begin:

1. Free consultation – we talk about what you’re experiencing, I explain how I work, and we decide together whether to go ahead
2. Initial sessions – we build a picture of what’s happening and begin to identify where to focus
3. Trauma processing – working with BWRT, Brainspotting or a combination, at a pace that feels right for you
4. Integration – consolidating the shifts, building resilience, and supporting you as you move forward

There’s no pressure to share more than you’re ready to. You don’t need to relive what happened in order to heal from it.

You Don’t Have to Keep Managing – You Can Actually Heal

A lot of trauma support focuses on management -grounding techniques, breathing exercises, coping strategies. These have their place, but they’re not the same as resolution.

The approaches I use are designed to process and release – not just contain. Many of my clients come having spent years managing their symptoms, and are genuinely surprised to discover that the underlying charge can shift.

Healing from trauma is possible. It doesn’t always take as long as you might fear.

About Danny Nuttall

I’m a qualified Hypnotherapist and CBT practitioner, certified in both BWRT (Levels 1 & 2) and Brainspotting, with over 15 years of therapeutic experience. I work exclusively online with clients across the UK.

I came to trauma-focused therapy through my own experience of Complex PTSD. I know what it’s like when the standard approaches fall short – and I know what it feels like when something finally works. That personal understanding shapes everything about how I work with clients.

I’m registered with the CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council), an accredited register approved by the Professional Standards Authority.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about what happened in detail?

No. Both BWRT and Brainspotting are largely content-free – meaning the therapeutic process doesn’t require you to recount your experiences in detail. We work with how the trauma feels in your body and mind right now, rather than the narrative of what happened.

I’ve had trauma therapy before and it didn’t help. Why might this be different?

That’s one of the most common things I hear. Many people have tried CBT or traditional talking therapy and found it helped them understand their trauma but didn’t shift the underlying charge. BWRT and Brainspotting work differently — at the level of the nervous system and early brain, rather than through insight and analysis alone. If words haven’t been enough, a body-based approach may reach further.

Is online trauma therapy safe and effective?

Yes. Both BWRT and Brainspotting are well suited to the online format. You’re in your own environment, which many people find makes it easier to feel safe and settled. I’m experienced in working online and will support you carefully throughout.

What if I’m in crisis or feel unsafe?

If you’re currently in crisis or feel at risk, please contact your GP, call 116 123 (Samaritans, free, 24/7), or go to your nearest A&E. My practice is best suited to clients who are stable enough to engage in trauma processing work. If you’re unsure whether that’s you right now, we can discuss this in a free consultation and I’ll be honest with you about whether the timing feels right.

How many sessions will I need?

It varies. Some clients notice meaningful change within 3–5 sessions; deeper or more complex trauma may take longer. I don’t offer open-ended, indefinite therapy – we work purposefully and review regularly. You’ll always have a sense of where we are and where we’re heading.

Do you have a waiting list?

I work with a limited number of clients to ensure everyone receives my full attention. If I’m currently fully booked, I’ll give you an expected wait time when you get in touch – most people find it’s worth it.

Take the First Step

If you’re ready to explore whether trauma therapy could help you, I’d love to hear from you. The first step is a free, no-obligation consultation – a chance to talk, ask questions, and see whether working together feels right.