Sometimes the unthinkable happens.

A horrible crime is perpetrated, or an industrial accident occurs, or widespread destruction happens in a community due to extreme weather events. Whatever it is, there’s an incredible sense of loss, disbelief and devastation that ripples out beyond those immediately affected.

There’s no clear roadmap for life after an extremely traumatic event has occurred. If you’re the one directly impacted by it, it can feel impossible to imagine ever going on to thrive, let alone survive, what has happened to you. If you’re an impacted community, or a clinician supporting an impacted person, or a corporate responsible for impacted people, then it can be really hard to know how you can best help people who are going through something so devastating.

I was the victim of an unimaginable crime, 25 years ago. I know firsthand what it feels like to wake up in a life that has been impossibly altered from the one that I thought I was going to have. I went on from this event to gain a degree in social work, followed by a PhD in International Health that explored the post-trauma landscape.

I now work with those impacted by extreme trauma, and the people who support them, by providing:

• knowledge and strategies to understand and master emotions and behaviours following traumatic or adverse experiences;

• tailored therapeutic support for individuals and families;

• education, training and EAP support for organisations and communities responding to the needs of people recovering from trauma; and

• tailored presentations that combine lived experience, motivation and education in engaging and supportive ways.