Advanced Trauma Therapy Available in Wairarapa
What is trauma?
Trauma can show up in many forms — anxiety, shutdown, emotional numbness, anger, loneliness — and it doesn’t always stem from a major life event. Sometimes trauma comes from what didn’t happen: the emotional needs that weren’t met, the connection that wasn’t there, or the moments when we were unseen, unheard, or unprotected.
Trauma is often described as the nervous system’s response to a situation that was too much, too fast, or too little for too long. It can be physical or emotional, acute or ongoing, and it impacts people in different ways — sometimes even from well-meaning people who were dealing with their own pain.
Natalie is a trauma specialist and offers a range of trauma therapies from her Carterton clinic. Sessions are approximately one and a half hours with some clients reporting a sense of relief early in the process however experience proves that deeper and longer-term progress happens over multiple sessions, where each layer can be gently addressed at the pace your system allows. Natalie draws on many different trauma therapies including Hypnotherapy, EMDR, Memory Reconsolidation, and Somatic (body-based) Therapy so you are not limited to a one-size-fits all technique - instead your therapy can be tailored specifically to what you require.
Disclaimer: Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy and is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment. Individual results vary. It is not used to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition.
Can Trauma Really Be Healed?
Many people wonder if trauma can truly be healed. The answer is — yes, with the right support — it’s possible to go about your daily life with a significant reduction in intrusive trauma reponses.
Trauma often stems from experiences that were too overwhelming to process at the time. When that process is interrupted, the nervous system may remain stuck in a state of alert or shutdown — sometimes for years. This can lead to symptoms like anxiety, emotional disconnection, or anger. Healing begins when both the mind and body are given what they need to complete that interrupted process.
The most effective trauma therapy is suited to you. There is no one size fits all approach which is why Natalie uses a combination of trauma therapies in every session. Trauma responses stem from the mind so we start there with memory-based treatments to shift memories out of the short term memory to the long term memory turning them from implicit to explicit memories which helps to drop their emotional hold over you. We bring the nervous system back down with mindfulness and Hypnotherapy, and we work trauma through the body with somatic therapy. There is often a component of trauma healing missed which is the energy side. The body and all thoughts have a measureable energetic frequency much like any eletronic equipment. The body’s energy system can be corrupted by trauma so to truely heal we must consider the mind, body, and energetic systems of the whole person.
There is no one-size-fits-all path. But recovery is possible — and you don’t have to do it alone.
Which Techniques Do You Use?
As a trauma-informed hypnotherapist, I focus on supporting recovery through the subconscious mind, recognising that healing involves both mind and body. While my primary modality is clinical hypnotherapy, I drawn other techniques clinically proven to help clients process trauma memories.
I don't treat trauma as a disorder, but rather as a mind and body response to overwhelming experience. I believe that with the right conditions and with the right support by a trained trauma therapist, many people can heal and move forward.
In session, I use Hypnotherapy to help the subconscious mind safely revisit and reprocess unresolved emotional material, often stored as implicit memory. The goal is not to relive trauma, but to complete the natural “working-through” process that may have been disrupted at the time of the event.
I also draw on Internal Family Systems (IFS) also known as Parts Therapy — which explores the different parts or sub-personalities within the psyche. These tools help clients gently shift protective patterns and reconnect with more compassionate, balanced aspects of themselves.
EMDR - Considered the gold standard in trauma treatment, uses bilateral brain stimulation techniques to help my clients take painful emotions off memories that keep resurfacing and pulling the past into the present.
Memory Reconsolidation - A highly effective way of helping the brain process trauma memories that were not processed correctly by the brain at the time of the event/s and now resurface in the body as pain, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, flasbacks, heightened emotions and a myriad of other symptoms.
Somatic Therapy - Somatic therapy focuses on how stress and trauma live in the body. By paying attention to physical sensations and small, guided movements, the nervous system can begin to settle and release patterns that talking alone doesn’t always reach.
I am continuously training and this list of techniques updates regularly.
What to Expect in a Trauma-Therapy Session
In a trauma therapy session, we begin with a conversation about your life focusing on any current situations that have caused distress. These moments often reflect deeper, unresolved emotional patterns. Sometimes we talk about past trauma in detail - if we think you can comfortably do so - you are in full control of the session. We explore how you physically felt at the time of being triggered — and use that as a memory thread to past events that were not processed correctly by the brain and now present as recurring trauma symptoms. We also determine what beliefs were installed about yourself when the trauma occured. We do this to determine the most effective way to resolve what you are experiencing.
You’ll then be guided into hypnosis: a safe, focused state of deep relaxation. This process aims to help your nervous system settle and shift out of “fight or flight” mode. Throughout the session, you remain aware, in control, and free to stop at any time.
The Hypnotic trance is useful in trauma therapy because memories are heightened in this state which makes them easier for the brain and body to process.
We then move into the part of the session where we address the condition you have come for. I use a range of techniques to do this, but it often requires a lot of visualisation, noticing how emotions physically feel, and talking to me while in a state of trance so I can ensure memories are transforming and processing which is the key to successful trauma therapy. We will also perform physical actions like pushing or pulling with the hands and feet, opening and closing the arms and in some cases moving away or retuning from the therapy chair. We do this to allow the body to do what it was prevented from doing at the time the trauma occured to help the mind and body have closure.
After the session, many people feel calm and refreshed. Some notice change immediately, while for others, it may unfold gradually over multiple sessions. Either way, reflection and open communication are key to your progress. You may be given tasks to do after the session such as journaling or brain stimulation exercises to help the brain and body reinforce the learnings from the session.
Hypnotherapy FAQs
What if I can’t be hypnotised?
Many people worry about this — especially if their only exposure to hypnosis is through stage shows. But trauma-informed hypnotherapy is very different. It’s not about being “under control” — it’s about being guided into a natural state of focused awareness, much like deep relaxation or meditation.
Most people are able to experience this state when they feel safe and supported. Even if you don’t “feel hypnotised,” the process still works. You’ll remain aware and in control the whole time — and your mind will only accept suggestions that align with your values and readiness for change.
Are you able to “fix” my problem ?
No — and that’s a good thing. I don’t view you as broken or in need of fixing. Whatever issue you’re facing — whether it’s emotional eating, sleep disruption, or anxiety — is often your brain’s way of trying to cope with something deeper.
My role is to guide your mind toward understanding what it needs, and to help it find new ways of responding that are more helpful and less disruptive. You already have the capacity to change — I’m here to walk beside you as that process unfolds.
How much does it cost?
Your first session is $149 including GST, which includes an extended trauma-informed hypnotherapy consultation (approx. 75–90 minutes). Follow-up sessions are $105 including GST (approx. 60-75 minutes).
Many clients find it helpful to come weekly at first, especially when working through complex issues — but how often you attend is completely up to you. I find that people commit to regular therapy long-term have better results and in many cases I have seen clients return to a normal, healthy functioning state in 10-15 sessions.
What happens in a session?
Each session starts with a conversation. We talk about what came up for you this week — any emotional triggers, stress, or moments that felt significant. These everyday experiences often point to deeper patterns rooted in unresolved emotional material.
Many people find that symptoms such as reactivity, anger, emotional eating, or relationship struggles can be linked to past experiences the nervous system hasn’t fully integrated. By exploring these patterns together, we can begin to shift the emotional charge that surrounds them.
From there, we may move into hypnotherapy — a gentle, guided process that can help the mind relax and focus. This state allows us to reinforce new ways of thinking and feeling, support emotional resolution, or visualise more helpful behavioural patterns.
Every session is different and tailored to what your mind and body need most that day.
How many sessions will I need?
That’s entirely up to you. Some clients feel a noticeable shift after just one session, while others choose to continue working through multiple layers of trauma or emotional patterns over time.
Sometimes there’s one core experience that needs attention. Other times, the process is more gradual — as one layer is addressed, others may naturally come to the surface. You decide when you’ve reached a place where you no longer feel you need support. In my experience, clients seem to feel at ease with life with no further uncontrollable responses to trauma in 10-15 sessions.
Do I have to think about or relive the traumatic event?
Only if you want to. Trauma-informed hypnotherapy focuses on your present-day emotional responses — not on forcing you to relive painful past events.
Many contemporary approaches to trauma support now recognise that re-experiencing an event isn’t always necessary for healing, and in some cases can be overwhelming. I use methods that allow us to work with your symptoms gently, without revisiting the original event in detail.
The goal is to help your mind and body feel safe again — not to retraumatise you.