What we do
The Trauma Therapy Centre creates opportunities for people of all ages to overcome and adapt to adverse life experiences in a natural, non-clinical setting. Our experienced therapists are trained in evidence-based approaches that alleviate the symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, trauma, neglect, abuse and grief.
Combining evidence-based trauma and therapeutic interventions with the psychological and emotional benefits of working in partnership with horses we facilitate personal, emotional and relational learning insights that alleviate the devastating, destructive and far reaching impact of adverse life experiences. All our therapeutic outcomes are evidenced using quantitative data from clinical wellbeing and psychometric assessments and qualitative data from rated scale questionnaires and feedback forms. This allows us to analyse and quantify the impact of our work in the lives of our clients.
Why horses
Our therapy horses are kept in a mixed, free ranging herd, given autonomy and agency, and are an equal partner in all their interactions with people. Working with the horses in this way gives them the self awareness and trust needed to fully express themselves, confident in the knowledge that their voice will be heard and considered. This ethos creates a space that is safe enough to allow our horses to fully focus on their work with clients. In sessions, the horses give immediate, honest and non-judgemental feedback on how our behaviour is interpreted by others. The horse’s ability to see the person behind the coping strategy validates that persons lived experience, creates trust and provides the co-regulation necessary to catalyse the change process.
Experienced trauma therapists interpret the authentic feedback provided by the horses, and combine this with appropriate tools, strategies and evidence-based processes to increase client awareness and provide the insight necessary to support the change process and subsequent recovery.
This unique blend of expertise caters for a wide variety of needs, ensuring the best possible outcomes for all our clients, in a safe and supportive natural environment.
Individual therapy
The Trauma Therapy Centre provides bespoke programmes of individual therapy for people of all ages. Our programmes create the opportunity for personal, emotional and relational learning insights that ultimately enable people to process and resolve their difficulties, form better relationships with others, and reach their full unique potential.
Group programmes
Resilience and Regulation – Strategies for Life
This programme addresses a wide range of problems that emerge from difficulties in emotional and relationship management. By increasing personal awareness, we are able to recognise and manage our emotions and triggers more effectively. As we become more resilient, we are better equipped to set healthy boundaries and build positive connections and relationships in order to create and live the life we want.
Understanding Behaviour – From Self Sabotage to Successful Strategies
Follows on from Resilience and Regulation – Strategies for Life
This programme explores psychological frameworks, which help to explain our behaviour. By discovering which core beliefs drive our emotions, thoughts and behaviours, we are able to separate ourselves from our coping strategies. This allows us to determine which strategies are successful and replace those that are sabotaging our lives and preventing us from reaching our full unique potential.
Depression – Activate your Life
In this programme we help you to explore the behavioural patterns of depression and learn how these behaviours impact your mood. We support you to make strategic changes that will help you alleviate your depression and take charge of your life.
Anxiety – Rewire your Anxious Brain
This programme helps you to understand the differences between worry, anxiety, panic and fear. We teach you how to identify where your anxiety comes from and use healthy coping strategies to modify your thought patterns and manage distress.
Understanding Your Neurodiversity
This programme helps you to understand your neurodiversity and the challenges you may face on a daily basis. We resource you to manage overwhelm more successfully, develop healthy coping strategies, feel more confident and improve your relationships.
Understanding Neurodiversity
This programme helps to demystify Neurodiversity. We explore diagnostic criteria, challenging behaviour and coping strategies, as well as supporting and resourcing those working with or caring for neurodiverse people with alternative, more successful, communication and regulation techniques.
Resourcing Children through Family Therapy
This programme helps children to cope, and resources parents to support themselves and their children through times of distress. We provide a safe space that enables honest communication and recognition for all individuals, helping to create family harmony and resilience.
Mindfulness and Meditation with feedback from horses
There are many well documented benefits that result from mindfulness and meditation practices, spending time in nature and being in the presence of horses. In this programme we hold space and create moments of stillness, clarity and peace with our therapeutic herd in the beautiful Scottish countryside. Our horses support each other within a symbiotic network of awareness, constantly co-regulating to maintain collective equilibrium. By connecting into the flow of this collective consciousness, we become more integrated and are able to connect safely and authentically with ourselves, the herd and other people.
Intensive residential therapy
There is a cottage at our main site in the Scottish Borders, allowing us to offer intensive residential therapy. This means we can offer therapy to clients from further afield, tailoring a bespoke treatment plan to individuals or groups.
Practitioner training
The Trauma Therapy Centre plans to host an in-depth Level 5 trauma based qualification for practicing professionals in the near future, which will allow them to work more effectively with adult trauma clients. In addition to giving a thorough grounding in trauma, this course will demonstrate how interpreting feedback from horses enhances the change process.
Continued Professional Development
We offer bespoke CPD programmes to enhance trauma informed practice. Please get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.
Meet the Team
Horse Time
The Trauma Therapy Centre is the home of Horse Time, a SCIO founded by the centre director Sue Brewis to allow us to offer our services to all those in need. We believe that everyone has the right to recovery, and everybody has the right to reach their full potential. For more information about Horse Time, visit www.horsetime.org.uk
Contact / Location
The Trauma Therapy Centre operates from 2 Scottish sites. The primary site is in the Scottish Borders near Coldstream and the second site is in Aberdeenshire and Moray near Huntly. However, as we are able to deliver online therapy and intensive residential therapy we are able to offer treatment worldwide.
Phone: 01890 251108
Email: sue@traumatherapycentre.co.uk
Address: Little Swinton Farmhouse, Coldstream, Berwickshire, TD12 4HH