Attachment - Childhood Trauma -Trauma CPTSD - Relationship Issues - Bereavement


Attachment & Trauma Counselling | Online Across UK & London | Newton Aycliffe, Durham, Face to Face
Flexible Hours: Mon - Fri 11am-8pm & Sat 11am-1pm

Attachment-Focused, Trauma-Informed Therapy for Adults

I offer attachment-focused, trauma-informed therapy for adults experiencing anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and the long-term effects of childhood trauma and developmental trauma. Many of the people I support feel scared, tearful or disconnected from themselves. Others carry anger they don't fully understand, or find themselves stuck in painful patterns that began in early relationships.

As an attachment-focused, trauma-informed, relational, Integrative Psychotherapist, whether oneline, in person or by telephone, I genuinely want to understand not only what has happened to you, but what you have experienced and why. I work with the aim of seeing and feeling how you navigate the world around you, so I can provide the very best care and support, with therapy that is tailored, entirely to your needs.

Many of these patterns are rooted in early relationships and how your mind and body adapted to cope. In adulthood they can present as people-pleasing, low self-worth, perfectionism, difficulty making decisions, anger, choosing emotionally unavailable partners, staying in unhealthy relationships, reactivity when parenting, or struggling with boundaries, identity and self-expression. You may also be carrying the impact of workplace trauma, health trauma, miscarriage, bereavement, moral injury or relationship betrayal.

Reaching out for therapy is often the hardest step, and you have already taken it. If you are looking for a down-to-earth, highly experienced, Attachment and Trauma informed Psychotherapist who works relationally with compassion and clarity, I offer a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic space where you can truly be seen, heard and understood.

Why I Do This Work

After 20 years as a specialist foster carer, sitting with and trying to reach vulnerable children in varying states of distress and emotional overwhelm, I wondered how many children had grown up into adults and impacted by attachment and trauma wounds that had been overlooked, missed or lost as a child and without any interventions or therapeutic help. Further, what it might look like for them as an adult navigating a life and world they were ill prepared for and with adaptive behaviours that do not serve them well,as individuals, partners or parents. It is for this reason I am passionate about reaching out to those adults to provide therapy that helps them to better know and understand themselves and be able to better navigate life with resilience, clarity in decision making and growth so the patterns of behaviours, values or emotional distress is not passed on to another generation.

Every child deserves/deserved a good start in life, not just with the basics of care, but with consistent love, care, play, connection and learning what emotions are and how each and every emotion is healthy for differing reasons. To have their emotions validated. To have good role models. To have parents that were not too overbearing that you were not allowed to make mistakes or express opinions or parents who were too hands off you were not properly supervised, engaged with or kept safe. It was not your fault. If this was your childhood experience and you suffer the impact of poor decision making, doubting yourself, feeling inseure, not enough or too much, I can help.

How Attachment-Focused Therapy Can Help

Together we can explore your experiences, understand the roots of your patterns and support you toward emotional healing, nervous and emotional system regulation, healthier relationships and a stronger, more grounded sense of self. My work centres on understanding not only what happened to you, but how you learned to survive it.

In our work together, we gently explore your experiences at a pace that feels safe, helping you feel more secure in your body, your relationships, and within yourself. Integrative Attachment and Trauma Therapy is tailored to your unique needs and may include:

Person-Centred Therapy
Psychodynamic & Attachment-Focused Approaches
Rewind Therapy & Gestalt Empty Chair Work
IFS, Parts Work & Inner Child Work
Transactional Analysis (Script & PAC Work)
CBT & DBT Informed Strategies
Grounding, Stabilisation & Sensory Work
Somatic & Polyvagal-Informed Approaches

Why Work With Me

Advanced Level 7, post graduate, qualified Psychotherapist /Therapeutic Counsellor with specialist background in attachment, trauma and child development
20+ years supporting children, adults, families, local authorities and organisations
Former family and specialist children's lawyer with deep understanding of trauma and legal systems
Unique, lived experience that informs compassionate, grounded therapeutic work
BACP registered psychotherapist
Enhanced DBS registered
Warm, relational, non-judgmental, approachable, down to earth
Cheryl Burgess, Attachment Trauma focused Psychotherapist Cheryl Burgess Psychotherapist & Therapeutic Counsellor Book free consultation Free initial consultation
Online across the UK

Specialist Areas

Attachment & Child Developmental Trauma

How childhood and developmental experiences shape adult emotional life, relationships and sense of self.

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Trauma & CPTSD Therapy for Adults

Support for adults living with trauma from specific events, including accidents, abuse, assault or occupational trauma.

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Relationship & Dating

Therapy for repeating relationship patterns, dating anxiety and the childhood roots of how we connect with others.

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Loss & Bereavement

Bereavement counselling for adults navigating grief, complicated loss and the trauma that loss can bring to the surface.

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20+ Years Experience

Specialist foster carer and children's lawyer - bringing real-world depth to every session.

About Cheryl

Testimonials

I entered therapy with Cheryl as a 27 year male, feeling like I was on a destructive path, not understanding why I kept self-sabotaging positive outcomes for myself and refusing to be honest with myself about the role I was playing in my own unhappiness. Working with Cheryl over the last year I feel like I now have the tools that I was missing to enact positive change in my life. I have learned to accept myself, trust in myself, believe in myself and this has improved my relationship with my girlfriend but also family and friends immeasurably. I feel better equipped to tackle the challenges that life may throw my way, and I have Cheryl to thank for that.
Attachment and Child Developmental Trauma impacting adulthoodLondon
My relationship with my wife was suffering as I struggled to find a constructive way of responding to my daughter's challenging behaviour. With Cheryl's knowledge, experience, support and encouragement I learned about myself and what makes me tick. I started to tackle old behaviours that no longer served me and began to introduce new tools and techniques that can help me be a better dad and husband. Most importantly, I managed to start building a better relationship with my daughter. It has been a life-changing experience.
Attachment & Relationship TherapyDurham
I can't thank Cheryl enough for her professionalism. Her knowledge and support when my life was in such a chaotic /difficult time was absolutely priceless. The skills /tools l have learnt from Cheryl for managing life in the future will be and are so useful. I feel empowered and so much stronger
Bereavement TherapyPeterborough
Cheryl is truly an outstanding therapist. From the very first session, she was warm, empathetic, and genuinely caring. She created a space where I felt heard and understood. She didn't just listen, she helped guide me towards the support that was right for me. Her ability to connect on a relatable level made all the difference. If you're looking for a therapist who is compassionate, insightful and wholeheartedly invested in your wellbeing, I can't recommend Cheryl enough.
Attachment & Relationship TherapyLondon
I began working with Cheryl when transitioning into my 30s, because my emotions were all over the place and I would often overthink and over-analyse every situation. My career had become my identity and I was finding it difficult to separate it from my personal life. Cheryl helped me to give my inner child the love she had always needed, instead of seeking validation from others and people-pleasing. She helped me to fall in love with who I am and trust the person I am becoming. I am no longer anxious about what is ahead of me. I do not spend time overanalysing what is out of my control and I do not perform in any relationship anymore. I have embraced who I am and life is so much easier this way.
Attachment, Trauma & Relationship TherapyLondon
When I first started working with Cheryl I realised I'd been in and out of therapy for the last 25 years without really getting to the root of my problems. However, her knowledge and thoughtful guidance helped me go further down the rabbit hole than I'd ever been before. I know I still have work to do, but Cheryl has given me the grounding and belief in finally facing and managing my fears.
Attachment & Trauma TherapyCounty Durham
Cheryl enabled me to acknowledge some of the causes of my anxiety, which had become debilitating. She enabled me to give myself permission to give my own needs greater value, and in so doing reduce my fear that I would be failing the expectations of those around me, and find the strength to challenge that fear.
Anxiety TherapyNorthallerton
Cheryl has been a valuable part of addressing my chaotic life and enabling me to focus on what is truly important for me to live a happier one. Our sessions allowed me to look at what was worrying me most, then look at options I could control or deal with. While writing this I am still dealing with family issues, but I am also able to work through them without the negative feelings I once had' Durham 2025
Attachment & Relationship TherapyDurham
When I first started working with Cheryl I realised I had been in and out of therapy for the last 25 years without really getting to the root of my problems. Her knowledge and thoughtful guidance helped me go further down the rabbit hole than I had ever been before. I know I still have work to do, but Cheryl has given me the grounding and belief in finally facing and managing my fears.
Attachment & Trauma TherapyCounty Durham
I was drawn to Cheryl's authentic and open energy. She wasn't judgemental and had my best interest at heart. She reminded me of the simplicity of life, trusting myself and the process, and she did this with her unique approach tailored to my needs.
Attachment & Relationship TherapyLondon
With Cheryl's knowledge, experience, support and encouragement I learned about myself and what makes me tick, I started to tackle old behaviors that no longer served me and I began to introduce a new playlist of tools and techniques that can help me be a better Dad and husband. Most importantly, I managed start building a better relationship with my daughter - and consequently my wife. It's been a transformational experience.

You don't have to keep feeling this way.

Specialist trauma & attachment therapy, online across the UK

Book a free consultation

What Might Begin to Change

Every person's experience of therapy is different. Some clients find that a handful of focused sessions gives them the clarity and tools they need. Others, particularly those working through more complex or longstanding patterns, benefit from deeper, longer-term exploratory work. Either way, change tends to happen gradually, in a way that feels grounded and real rather than forced.

Over time, many clients notice meaningful shifts:

Feeling calmer, with less constant anxiety
Less overthinking and more clarity
Greater self-trust and emotional understanding
Feeling more secure in relationships
Healthier boundaries and deeper connection
A growing sense of self-worth
Breaking free from repeating patterns
Feeling more alive and present

Flexible and Accessible

I offer face-to-face Psychotherapy and Counselling at the Pioneering Care Centre, Newton Aycliffe, alongside secure online video and telephone sessions- London and UK wide.

Sessions are available Monday to Friday 11am - 8pm and Saturday 11am - 1pm, with flexible hours to fit around your life.

If you're ready to explore attachment trauma therapy for anxiety, trauma, or relationship difficulties, I'd love to hear from you.

I offer a free initial consultation - a relaxed conversation to ask questions and see if this feels like the right fit. No pressure, no obligation.

Book your free consultation

Online across the UK  ·  Free initial call  ·  No waiting lists

Contact

To find out more please fill in the contact form and I will aim to respond within 48 hours

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