Why Being ‘In the Room’ Matters: The Power of In-Person Trauma Counselling in Southsea, Portsmouth

A New Chapter in Southsea

This month marks a new chapter for me and my counselling practice, I’ve now moved into my new space in Southsea, Portsmouth.

It’s a calm, private setting where I’ll continue offering trauma and attachment counselling to clients who prefer to meet in person.

While I continue to offer online sessions, this move has reminded me how powerful it can be to share physical space with another person, especially when working with trauma.

The Meaning of “Being in the Room”

When I talk about being in the room, I’m not referring to décor or size. I’m talking about what happens between two people when we are fully present together.

In trauma work, our nervous systems are constantly communicating, often beneath words. Tone of voice, breath, and subtle body cues all play a part in creating a sense of safety. When we meet in person, those cues become easier to notice and respond to.

Being in the room allows for co-regulation, this is the process where one nervous system helps another to steady itself.

In that space, I help you hold the weight of what’s been carried so it can be safely looked at, rather than faced alone. It’s the presence of another person who is attuned, grounded, and steady, this begins to soften the protective layers trauma builds.

It’s not about being analysed or fixed, but about being met, being seen and felt in the present, the here and now, by another human being who brings no pre-judgement or expectation. That’s where healing begins.

Safety, Connection and Regulation

For people carrying trauma, safety isn’t an idea; it’s something the body has to feel. That feeling is built through consistent, safe relational experiences, in moments where the body learns it’s no longer alone in what it holds.

In-person counselling offers a setting where this can unfold naturally. When a client begins to trust that they can bring their whole self into the room, their thoughts, emotions, and even their silence, this leads to something shifting.

The nervous system starts to learn that safety in connection is possible again.

Relational Depth: Healing in Connection

Trauma often disconnects us from our emotions, from others, and from the sense of being part of something larger than ourselves it can feel lonely and isolating, like no one understands where we are and what we are going through.

In-person counselling supports reconnection. It allows for a deep, embodied experience of being met, seen, and understood, the kind of relational depth that helps rewire old patterns of protection and survival.

Healing doesn’t always come from insight alone; it often comes from the quiet, wordless moments where another human being stays with you being steady, present, and unhurried as you face what once felt too much to hold.

This same process applies in couples counselling, where two people learn to be present with one another’s emotional worlds in real time.

When couples begin to co-regulate rather than protect or withdraw, they often rediscover safety and closeness that felt out of reach. In-person work can support this in a unique way, helping each partner feel the other’s presence and begin to rebuild trust and connection.

Online Therapy Still Has Its Place

Online counselling has been transformative for many people, it increases accessibility and allows therapy to fit more easily into daily life. For some, it’s also a safer starting point. But when someone is ready to work more deeply with trauma, attachment wounds, or relational patterns, being physically in the same space can offer something that’s hard to replicate through a screen, the steady presence of another person who’s truly there with you.

Looking Ahead

As I settle into my new Southsea practice, my focus remains the same to offer trauma-informed, attachment-focused counselling that helps people move from survival towards connection and self-trust.

If you’re based in or around Portsmouth and looking to begin or deepen your trauma counselling journey, either individually or as a couple, you’re welcome to get in touch or find out more about my work [link to contact page].