Gabby Skelsey specialises in trauma.

She has experience:

• working with forensic services involves bush fire support, coroner’s court support, magistrate court support, prison support to psychological services working in  Victorian prisons
• 2004 tsunami
• Myanmar with health care workers in high risk situations
• trained in EMDR in 2008 and uses this technique when appropriate

Gabby has presented at international conferences in the UK, Australia and New Zealand on  trauma, PTSD and counter transference.

Trauma could be an injury, loss of a loved one or property or a serious threat, or any overwhelming emotional experience.

Everyone experiences trauma differently.

 Responses to trauma

Typical responses include strong emotional and/or physical reactions:

• shock/denial
• emotional reactions
• recovery/coming to terms with the event and the response to it

Things to be aware of:

• Feelings including fear, anger, guilt, anxiety, paranoia, depression
• Triggers like smells, tastes, noises
• Anger – smell – tragedy – sadness – good – confusion – memory – sadness
• Changes in sleep patterns/eating habits, inability to make decisions, thinking patterns

Occasionally the traumatic event is so painful that professional assistance from a counsellor may be helpful. This does not imply craziness or weakness.

Not all people will react to a traumatic incident and of those who do, the reactions vary enormously.

Phone 03 9018 9356
Email Gabby Skelsey or phone 0419 154 579