Christopher Westray MA, M.Ed, MHFA, BA, NLP
Online Trauma Therapy UK | Trauma focused Psychotherapy & EMDR
‘I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become’
CG Jung
Trauma therapy for when coping isn’t enough
You might feel stuck in patterns that don’t make sense—reacting strongly, shutting down, or carrying something from the past that won’t shift. I specialise in helping people process trauma of all degrees and of all kinds and move through these experiences.
I am trained and experienced in :
EMDR
Attachment Informed EMDR
Lifespan Integration (LI)
Psychodynamic Art Psychotherapy.
You may also be navigating change or uncertainty, trying to understand the impact of a difficult relationship, or processing the lingering effects of being mistreated. You may be struggling with long standing attachment trauma or generalised anxiety. You may also be facing important decisions or life transitions and need a thoughtful space to work out what these mean for you. The challenges may be professional, personal, or both.
I offer online therapy to clients across the UK and internationally, in line with UK professional standards.
Starting therapy can feel daunting, but you do not have to figure things out alone. If you’re considering therapy or coaching, you are welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation to see whether working together feels right.
You may be someone who:
appears capable and high-functioning on the outside but feels overwhelmed internally
has carried difficult experiences for many years and now wants to process them properly
struggles with pressure, responsibility or burnout at work
finds yourself repeatedly affected by difficult relationships or family dynamics
wants to understand the deeper emotional patterns shaping your life
is navigating an important transition in work, identity or relationships
is seeking thoughtful psychological support rather than quick fixes
Some people come to therapy with experiences of childhood trauma, PTSD or complex PTSD. Sometimes the difficulty is less clear – you simply know that something is not right.
About Me
My name is Chris and I am an experienced trauma therapist and clinical supervisor with a background in NHS forensic services, private psychiatric and addiction treatment as well as my own private practice.
I am accustomed to working with complex and sensitive material.
I have helped people who have experienced:
Anxiety and Depression
Bullying
Divorce
Childhood sexual abuse
Adult sexual abuse
Domestic abuse
Psychological abuse
Adoption issues
Relationship breakdowns
Lack of direction
Social anxiety
Low self confidence
Addiction and Self sabotage
PTSD, CPTSD
Lack of meaning/purpose
Parenting issues
Grief
Trauma and Emotional Patterns
Many current struggles are shaped by earlier experiences — sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle.
Trauma does not always mean a single dramatic event. It can include childhood experiences where emotional needs were not fully met. Trauma can also come from ongoing stress or overwhelming life experiences that leave you feeling out of control, unsafe, powerless, or alone.
When these experiences remain unresolved, they can show up later as:
Anxiety
Burnout
Emotional overwhelm
Self-sabotage
Difficulty trusting others
Feeling stuck despite trying to change
I am trained in evidence based, trauma-focused approaches (EMDR and LI) which are designed to help the nervous system process difficult experiences and reduce their ongoing impact.
Why Arts-Based Psychotherapy?
Many clients experience powerful insights when creative expression is combined with reflective psychological work.
Art-making can help bring hidden thoughts and feelings into awareness in ways that words alone sometimes cannot. No previous artistic experience or skill is required.
Coaching
Alongside psychotherapy, I offer psychologically informed coaching for people who want a focused space to think about a particular challenge in life or work.
Coaching is typically more structured and future-oriented than therapy. People often come for coaching when navigating professional responsibilities, leadership challenges, complex decisions or significant life transitions.
My coaching approach draws on many years of therapeutic work alongside training in transformational coaching methods. Together we explore the emotional and psychological dynamics shaping your situation, clarify what you want, and think carefully about how you might move towards it.
My Qualifications:
MA Art Psychotherapy
M.Ed Education (leadership and Management)
Diploma of Clinical Supervision (CSTD)
EMDR
Attachment Informed EMDR
Life Span Integration Level 4
PG Cert
BA Hons Visual Art
My Continuing Professional Development:
Hearts and Hands Model of Reflective Practice, Arabella Kurtz, 2026
Art Psychotherapy and Psychosis. British Association of Art Psychotherapy. 2026
Complex Systems Theory and Practice in Lifespan Integration. The Life Span Integration Institute. 2026
Attachment Informed EMDR training - EMDR Focus, 2025
EMDR conference on attachment informed EMDR, Dorset, 2025
Clinical Supervision for Psychotherapy, CSTD, 2025
Group Clinical Supervision, CSTD, 2025
Faculty of Forensic Psychology Autumn meeting BPS 2024
EMDR Therapist training (supervised to all levels) . EMDR academy 2024
Life Span Integration level 4. LI UK 2024
Life Span Integration PTSD protocol. LI UK 2024.
Historical, Clinical, Risk management training (HCR20) NHS, 2024
Love Patience and Kindness: Working in different ways with Psychosis. ISPS and Bristol Hearing Voices Network, 2023
Fundamentals of Supervision, CSTD ( 7 eyed model), 2023
Mentalisation Based Therapy, Anna Freud Centre, 2022
Working with Conflict in Art Therapy - Dr Marianne Liebmann, 2022
Sensory Integration : Therapeutic approaches - Karen Forrest, 2022
Trauma Informed Care in organisational contexts - NHS Secure Services (AWP Trust), 2021
Personality Disorder training - NHS Secure Services (AWP trust), 2021
Forensic Art Therapy Advisory Group conference, 2021
Therapeutic Boundaries and Relational Security - NHS Secure Services (AWP Trust), 2021
Childhood Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing - Carolyn Spring, 2020
Dealing with Distress - working with suicide and self harm - Carolyn Spring, 2020
Working with Shame - Carolyn Spring, 2020
Therapeutic Life Story Work, Family futures, 2020
EcoTherapy - Tariki Trust, 2018
Art Psychotherapy and Psycho Education, BAAT, 2018
Professional Coaching - International Coach Academy, 2017