When disaster changes the course of life, the effects are rarely contained to the moment of crisis. The visible damage is often matched by hidden struggles that surface in the days, months, or years afterwards. In my own work, I have sat alongside people who have faced devastating events, and I have seen how deeply these experiences can shape not only emotions, but also the rhythms of daily living. Psychotherapy can provide a protected space where these hidden feelings begin to be acknowledged, even when daily life demands feel overwhelming.

In the early stages after a disaster, most people are focused on survival. Finding somewhere to live, to sleep, making sure loved ones are safe, managing the basic logistics of daily life. These concerns often leave little room to think about emotional wellbeing. Yet beneath the practical demands, the impact of trauma can begin to appear in unexpected ways. A child who was once lively may suddenly fall quiet. Another might become unsettled, restless, act out, or cling more tightly to a parent. Adults sometimes feel disconnected, unable to sleep, or find themselves swinging between numbness and moments of overwhelming emotion.

Trauma is not only about what happened, but also about how the body and mind can lose their anchor in the world. When safety feels shattered, even small reminders can stir a sense of danger. Psychotherapy in this context is not about rushing toward resolution, but about offering a steady presence where stability can be slowly rebuilt. Sometimes, the work begins by helping a person notice the ways their body is holding stress. At other times, it involves gently allowing feelings that have been pushed away to find expression in words, tears, or even silence.

What has stood out to me in this work, is how uneven the journey of recovery can be. A young person may appear to have adjusted well until an anniversary or a change at school brings back painful memories. An adult might seem determined and capable during the crisis, but later find themselves unravelling when life begins to settle. Each person’s pace is different, and psychotherapy is attuned to respecting that pace. Therapy could be a place where setbacks are understood as part of the process rather than failures, offering continuity when life feels unpredictable.

The act of telling a story—and being heard without interruption or judgement—can be deeply reparative. Sometimes language itself falls short, and the body communicates in other ways through tension or bursts of energy. Paying attention to these signals is part of honouring the whole person. Creative approaches can also allow feelings to surface when words are too difficult.

Amid the struggles, I continue to be struck by the resilience people carry. It is not a simple matter of ‘moving on’. Rather, it is about finding ways to live with what has happened without being entirely defined by it. In therapy, that might mean creating space for grief alongside gratitude, or for fear alongside a cautious sense of hope. Healing is never about erasing the past, but about discovering how to live with it in a way that feels bearable and, in time, more hopeful.

To enquire about psychotherapy sessions with Jonny, please contact him here, or to view our full clinical team, please click here.

Jonny McAuley works with children and adolescents and through his training, it has equipped him to be able to use skills and approaches that allow him to work with young children who may not have the emotional vocabulary to express themselves. He works from our Brighton and Hove practice and our Lewes practice.  He also offers online sessions.

Further reading by Jonny McAuley –

Understanding children’s anxiety around school

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Using empathy to re-build connection with children and young people