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A transformational journey using a trauma focused approach. Supporting you to transition from victim to survivor with face to face therapy.

Helping you find your inner calm during and after the storm and Empowering you to regain control.

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Trauma Focused Approach
Empowerment
Regain Control

Based in Sunderland, Serene Psychology is here to provide you with individually tailored therapy for trauma to help and support you during and after the most turbulent times of your life.

Therapy Using a Trauma Focused Approach

Specialising in therapy for Psychological Trauma and PTSD, both face to face and online.

Here at Serene Psychology, we take a trauma-informed therapeutic approach to your psychological care. A trauma-informed approach to therapy is a set of guiding principles that identifies that trauma has substantial effects on individuals and tends not be recognised or reported as often as it should. It shifts from asking ‘what’s wrong with you?’ to ‘what happened to you? This means that we take into account all of your traumas (past and present) in order to get a complete picture of your life situation, thus, allowing us to be able to provide you with the most effective support. The specialist therapy for trauma that we provide includes face to face talking therapies, online trauma therapy sessions and EMDR therapy, which is tailored to the needs of each individual.

We have all experienced psychological trauma of some sort in our lives. Whether it be something that we are aware of (or have consciously thought about), or not. For example, witnessing or being a part of some form of abuse, accidents, assaults, natural disasters, cultural traumas such as forced marriage.  Often these traumatic experiences can be the underlying cause (or at least a contributing factor), to various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and addiction, amongst others. Sometimes we can be oblivious to how past traumas can be affecting our current lives, but by processing and resolving these past issues through treatments such as online trauma therapy, face to face and EMDR therapy; deep and long lasting change is possible.

Our Mission for Trauma Therapy:

Our mission is to help empower trauma survivors so that they feel in control and can flourish into becoming who they want to be and become the best version of themselves.

Our Goals:

Supporting you to:

Regain Control

Feel Empowered

To Gain Inner Strength

Visualise a positive future for yourself

Have hope for the future

What our trauma therapists work with

Here at Serene Psychology, we work with all types of psychological traumas, from single-incident trauma, complex trauma, cultural/generational trauma, secondary trauma and little t trauma.

Our more specialist areas include (but are not limited to):

Childhood Trauma (Often an underlying cause of anxiety & depression)

Domestic Abuse (physical, emotional, verbal, financial, coercion)

Forced Marriage

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Assault

Relational Trauma

For a more comprehensive list please click on the ‘therapy’ section under ‘our services’

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Dr Sonia Ahmed – Counselling Psychologist & EMDR Therapist

Hello and welcome to my page. I am Dr Sonia Ahmed, a counselling psychologist with over 10 years of clinical experience, who is registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

I appreciate that searching for a trauma informed therapist and accepting that you need help is a difficult step to take and will come with a mixture of emotions. You may be feeling apprehensive, scared, or even overwhelmed. On the other hand, you may be feeling a sense of relief and hope that you are getting the help you need. Whatever you are feeling, the fact that you are here indicates that you are ready to take the necessary steps to make positive changes in your life, and I am here to support you with this through online trauma therapy and face-to-face therapy that works with your unique needs.

I believe that each person’s experience is individual and unique, and that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to therapy for trauma. Therefore my therapeutic approach takes on an integrative stance, in which I will often draw upon a number of therapeutic models and techniques, tailored to each individuals needs. Regardless of your treatment plan, developing a strong therapeutic relationship, will be the core of trauma therapy. This means that face to face and EMDR therapy sessions will be based on empathy, trust, warmth, compassion, whilst being adaptive to each of your needs.

To learn more about my services in Sunderland and surrounding areas, such as Newcastle, please click on the ‘find out more’ tab below. Alternatively, if you are happy with what you have read, you can click directly onto the ‘contact us’ tab and reach out to me directly.

Testimonials

Read the stories of clients from across the UK who have benefitted from online trauma therapy and face to face psychological therapy and EMDR therapy for trauma and other mental health issues with Dr Sonia Ahmed below:

Dr Sonia Ahmed was incredibly helpful and understanding. I greatly benefited from the sessions that have had a profoundly positive impact on my life.
JO
I started therapy following a long period of low mood and anxiety. Talking to Sonia helped me manage these symptoms by using different techniques and helped me understand the potential causes of these symptoms through my past. She was understanding and caring throughout, helping me to open up and feel like I was being listened to.
BS
My therapy sessions with Dr Sonia Ahmed were invaluable. Sonia helped me to address some traumatic events in my life and helped me on my healing journey. Sonia was easy to talk to, understanding, empathetic. I felt listened to and heard. I would highly recommend Dr Sonia Ahmed.
SS
I felt very comfortable with Dr Sonia & felt like I could let my guard down almost straight away. It’s great that Dr Sonia was so understanding and flexible with me too regards to appointments, this was a big weight lifted as sometimes I can’t attend appointments face to face so the offer of online was also available at times when appropriate. Although I’m having a break from therapy, I will be coming back to Dr Sonia in the near future, she’s literally helping me deal with life and helping me understand myself more than I could of hope. After years of unresolved feelings and emotions I feel I can trust dr sonia to help me over come anything. (I thought I past saving!) Dr Sonia also gives valuable help & perspective to enable me to see things from often a more ‘real’ / positive perspective and she’s very honest with it, there’s not beating around the bush which is exactly what I needed. See you soon Sonia. 🙂
VG

Therapy sessions are available online via video call or face to face.

Face to face sessions are available in Sunderland, North East.

Individuals

One to one therapy

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On your terms

Therapy sessions are tailored to meet your needs

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Serene Psychology is registered with the following healthcare providers:

AXA Insurance
Aviva Insurance
Vitality Health Insurance