Session Guide
What to Expect in a
Trauma Therapy Session
Overview
Safe, Gradual, Body-Led Healing
Trauma therapy sessions with Jarrah use the Somatic Experiencing framework to address both single-incident and complex developmental trauma. Sessions run for 50–60 minutes and are carefully paced to never exceed your nervous system's capacity.
Safety is the foundation of all trauma work. Jarrah will take time — especially in early sessions — to build a sense of trust and to establish internal resources before approaching more difficult territory.
Building Safety First
The early sessions focus on establishing a felt sense of safety — both in the therapeutic relationship and within your own body. Jarrah will help you identify internal and external resources (people, places, memories, body sensations) that can serve as anchors during the work.
Gentle Orientation to the Present
Before exploring anything difficult, each session begins by orienting to the present moment — noticing what is safe and stable right now. This grounds the nervous system and prepares it for what comes next.
Approaching Trauma in Small Doses
SE works by approaching difficult material in very small increments, then returning to resourced, settled states. Jarrah will guide this process carefully, ensuring you never feel flooded or overwhelmed. The pace is always set by your nervous system.
Completing the Body's Response
Trauma occurs when the body's natural defensive responses — fight, flight, freeze — couldn't be completed. SE creates the conditions for these incomplete responses to finish, which often brings a profound sense of release, relief and integration.
Integration & Closing
Each session closes with a return to a grounded, settled state. You'll be supported to integrate what happened in the session before leaving. Jarrah may offer simple practices to continue that settling process at home.
Frequently Asked Questions