Trauma Freeze: How to Work With Subtle, Chronic and Far Reaching Protection

This workshop explores trauma freeze as a protection state that can appear in both subtle and dramatic ways, shaping how clients think, feel and relate over time. We will consider how freeze can emerge as a momentary response to threat, but also develop into a chronic way of being that influences confidence, agency and a person’s sense of who they are.

Together we will examine how trauma freeze shows itself in the therapy room, from small shifts in breath and posture to sustained patterns of inhibition, emotional numbing and difficulty accessing one’s own voice or opinions. We will reflect on how these mind body responses function as protective strategies and how they may be misunderstood as passivity, disengagement or lack of motivation, when they often reflect deep fear and a long held need to stay small in order to stay safe.

A core focus of the session is supporting clients safely and respectfully. We will look at how to recognise early signs of freeze activation, how to pace contact, and how to work with protective states without overwhelming the client’s nervous system. Practical approaches for cultivating presence, gentle mobilisation, co regulation and choice will be introduced to help clients experience a gradual softening or relaxing of the freeze response, allowing internal movement, relational possibility, re engagement more fully with life and a renewed sense of personal agency.

You will leave with a clearer understanding of the far reaching impact of trauma freeze and with practical tools for working effectively with clients who rely on this protection state to navigate the world.

This workshop forms part of a twenty session series based on Philippa Smethurst’s forthcoming book 20 Ways to Break Free from Trauma published in 2025. Each workshop explores one of twenty trauma responses, offering a focused, compassionate and practical pathway toward understanding and healing. Across the full series, Philippa guides us through the many ways trauma can shape our inner world, our relationships and our ability to navigate life’s challenges.

The book distils Philippa’s thirty years of clinical experience into clear, accessible insights designed to help readers develop self compassion, make sense of hidden wounds and find steadier ground when the world feels overwhelming. Drawing from this rich body of work, each workshop offers an in depth look at a single trauma response and supports participants to recognise patterns, understand their origins and explore steps toward recovery.

Recordings of workshops already delivered in this series are available in the Onlinevents Learning Library and can be accessed here: https://onlinevents.co.uk/presenter/philippa-smethurst/

20 Ways to Break Free from Trauma has already been described as an important and insightful contribution to the mental health landscape and essential reading by leading voices including Alastair Campbell and Sir Terry Waite. Philippa’s intention is to make visible what is often unseen, to dismantle stigma and to offer a grounded sense of hope for transformation.

The book will be available through Amazon and major retailers.

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• Recognize frozen patterns in body and mind Use breath, movement, warmth, and senses to feel safe Restore connection with yourself and others Approach healing gently, patiently, and with hope

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• Everyone who is interested in the warp and weft of trauma - when things are too much for us - will gain information and knowledge and insight from this session.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• Spot freeze responses in clients. Use breath, movement, warmth, and sensory tools to safely unfreeze, build trust, and guide healing in your trauma-informed practice.

RECORDING 

This event will be recorded and you can use the ticket function to pre-purchase the recording before the event. This will be useful for colleagues who are not able to attend the event live and also for those who attend the event live and want to watch it again.

ZOOM 

This event will be hosted on the Zoom meeting platform where we will use our cameras and microphones to interact with each other as a group.

SELF-SELECT FEE

The self-select fee is a radical inclusion policy to open learning for all colleagues. The guide price for this event is £20.00, however, we appreciate that income varies greatly in different locations and circumstances. Please contribute what you can to help us maintain inclusive professional training.

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At Onlinevents, we and the presenters we collaborate with are committed to working in a way that aligns with the ethical codes and frameworks of our respective professional organisations. We expect all colleagues attending our events to uphold the ethical principles of their professional membership.

If you are not a member of a professional organisation, we ask that you participate in a way that is both authentic and respectful, fostering a space of mutual learning and professional engagement.

By registering for this event, you agree to be present and interact in a manner that reflects these principles.

Philippa Smethurst

Philippa’s journey into psychotherapy began in 1989 when she was a witness to the violent suppression of students' hopes and dreams in China’s Tiananmen Square. This momentous event taught her about the raw, overwhelming power of trauma to change us inside.

Philippa trained at the Metanoia Institute in London, and has become an advocate for Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Her continuing mission is to make psychological insights accessible and creative, particularly for those navigating trauma.

Her book 20 Ways to Break Free from Trauma offers 20 Ways to Break Free from Trauma distils the author’s extensive knowledge of trauma into focused areas of self-help. A toolkit with science-backed insights, the book shows how to work with our minds and bodies to dissipate the overwhelming charge of trauma, develop self-compassion, and find creative ways to connect up with ourselves and the goodness in the world.

Key features include:

Clear explanations of what trauma is

Guided meditations and reflective exercises

Real stories of individuals finding strength in struggle

Practical strategies for breaking free from destructive patterns

As well as being a practising psychotherapist, Philippa writes for publications including Therapy Today and The Psychologist, and has her own YouTube channel that has reached thousands, offering unique perspectives, relatable insights and practical guidance.

Website | www.philippasmethurst.com

Facebook | Philippa Smethurst

LinkedIn | Philippa Smethurst

Instagram | 20waystobreakfreefromtrauma

X | @philippatherapy

YouTube | Break Free From Trauma

Substack | www.talkingtrauma.substack.com