trauma and the reset approach

what is trauma?

Trauma isn’t just about what happened—it’s about how it left you feeling. It arises when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope, leaving you feeling powerless, unsafe, or disconnected. Whether it’s a single event, like an accident or assault, or ongoing stressors such as neglect, abuse, or chronic illness, trauma reshapes how you experience the world.

Trauma doesn’t just live in your mind—it takes root in your body. It manifests as physical tension, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or even chronic health issues. These symptoms carry deeper meanings, reflecting your body’s attempts to protect and adapt. Traditional approaches often focus on managing the symptoms, but without addressing their source, the underlying wounds remain unhealed.

Left unaddressed, trauma can contribute to anxiety, depression, addiction, or conditions like OCD or ADHD. At its core, healing trauma involves not just alleviating the symptoms but understanding and resolving the pain beneath them.

understanding trauma through a holistic lens

Traditional talk therapy is often the first step in addressing trauma, but it doesn’t always account for how deeply trauma is embedded in the body. Research shows that trauma disrupts the nervous system, keeping you in a cycle of fight, flight, or freeze.

The RESET Model (Reprocessing Emotions and cognitions through Somatic and Environmental Therapy) recognises trauma as both a psychological and physiological experience. Our approach goes beyond traditional therapy, addressing how trauma is stored in the body to create lasting healing.

the reset approach to trauma

Our integrative model focuses on helping clients release trauma from both the mind and body. Here’s how:

1. Rebuilding a Sense of Safety

Trauma shatters your sense of safety and trust—in yourself and the world around you. The RESET model creates a space where clients can reconnect with their bodies and emotions in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.

Our work emphasizes building internal resources, such as grounding techniques, breathwork, and mindful movement, to help clients navigate triggers without becoming overwhelmed.

2. Processing Emotions and Memories

Trauma often leaves people feeling disconnected from their emotions or overwhelmed by them. The RESET model uses integrative approaches to help clients process difficult emotions and memories at their own pace.

By combining somatic awareness with psychological tools, we help clients make sense of their experiences and develop healthier ways of relating to them.

3. Releasing Trauma from the Body

Trauma often becomes “stuck” in the body, showing up as muscle tension, shallow breathing, or an inability to relax.

Through somatic interventions like cold exposure therapy, we help clients release these stored patterns. Ice baths activate the vagus nerve, encouraging the body to shift from a state of hyperarousal to one of safety and calm. This physiological reset is a powerful step toward breaking free from trauma’s hold.

4. Rewiring the Nervous System

When trauma lingers, the nervous system often becomes stuck in survival mode. This can lead to heightened anxiety, emotional numbness, or feelings of being “on edge.”

By incorporating cold therapy and body-based mindfulness practices, we help clients retrain their nervous systems to respond more flexibly. Over time, this reduces reactivity and fosters a sense of calm and control.

5. Building Resilience and Purpose

Healing from trauma is about more than reducing symptoms—it’s about rediscovering joy, connection, and meaning.

The RESET model works with clients to identify their strengths and passions, creating a personalised path to fulfilment. This might involve reconnecting with loved ones, pursuing creative outlets, or finding new ways to contribute to the world around them.

a holistic path to healing

Trauma doesn’t have to define you. With the right support, it’s possible to release its grip and step into a life of freedom, balance, and purpose. The RESET model doesn’t just help clients cope—we empower them to transform their lives.