Sarah Kohler

I am a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor, aligned with Column C of the SCoPEd framework, Trauma Therapist and EMDR-qualified therapist with over 25 years' experience.

I specialise in working with adults whose past won't leave them alone. I have lived experience of Complex PTSD and dissociation. When I needed help, I couldn’t find anyone who understood the effects of childhood trauma, so when I recovered, I became a therapist to provide the help I needed back then.

Most of my work is with survivors of child abuse, child sexual abuse, trafficking and domestic abuse, including people who grew up with neglect, addiction, domestic violence or bullying, or in the care system. I have particular expertise in working with dissociation and parts. I provide long- and short-term trauma therapy and EMDR for Complex PTSD and PTSD.

I specialise in addiction, especially alcohol and gambling. I recognise that addictive behaviours can be attempts to manage unresolved trauma.

I currently work in private practice, including for an NHS gambling service. I also have years of experience as Lead Therapist in a Community Alcohol Team and residential rehab, as well as Rape Crisis helpline work.

I also provide shorter-term EMDR for single-event trauma, including car accidents, hospital or medical trauma, traumatic birth and sexual assault.

I have a rural private practice with a dedicated counselling suite providing privacy and comfort, with parking available. We can also work in the garden. I also work by phone and WhatsApp video.

Just so you know – Sarah is my birth and registered name, but I have always been known as Kat.

Traumatised people often feel there is something fundamentally wrong with them and may struggle with flashbacks, dissociation, different parts, obsessive or compulsive thoughts, relationship issues, self-harm, eating difficulties, addictions or other ways of coping. Sometimes it simply feels as though everything is 'wrong.'

We begin by working out what is happening for you and what you need from therapy. If you have had previous therapy, I'll want to understand what has and hasn't helped and build on that. We work together to understand what's going on and what needs to change.

When a problem doesn't make sense in the here and now, I believe its roots are in the past. What looks like the 'problem' now likely developed as a solution to something back then – to help you survive, manage overwhelming feelings and contain the symptoms of unresolved trauma. Understanding how this developed for you informs our work.

I understand trauma therapy must be grounded in the here and now – we cannot safely work in the past if you are drowning in it. We work towards and maintain stability throughout therapy. We will work at a pace you can manage while still moving forward, not to avoid the difficult work, but so that we can do it safely.

I want to help you get out of pain as quickly as we reasonably can. I am warm and supportive, but directive when needed.

You don't have to tell me what happened. I won't push you to disclose, but neither will I shy away from difficult material when you are ready to work with it. I won't take you into the past and abandon you there.

Complex trauma therapy can be long term, but I work flexibly as your needs change.

My aim is recovery, so you can learn to thrive.