Working with trauma clients can feel daunting – especially for newly qualified therapists or those without specialist training.
When I first started, I didn’t truly understand what trauma did to people’s bodies and nervous systems. I offered a space to talk, but I now realise how easily that can tip into re-traumatisation if you don’t have the tools to work safely. That’s why I was so excited to speak with trauma therapist, supervisor and trainer Maaike Beech on the podcast this week.
With 18 years of experience, Maaike now runs the Beech Trauma Academy and teaches therapists how to work safely with trauma clients through her foundation diploma. In our conversation, she shares some of the core ideas every therapist needs to know – especially if you want to feel confident and competent in trauma work.
Listen to the full episode here:
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Why Talking About Trauma Isn’t Always Safe
One of the most powerful points Maaike makes is this: just because a client is talking about trauma doesn’t mean they’re processing it.
In fact, she says most new clients who begin telling their stories in detail are likely to be reliving the trauma – not working through it. And this can make things worse.
“Therapists often assume that if a client is telling their story and expressing emotion, they must be processing. But more often than not, they’re re-experiencing it – and that carries a real risk of retraumatisation.”
To work safely with trauma clients, we need to know how to spot the difference – and how to slow things down.
What It Means to Build Real Safety in Therapy
Maaike’s work is based on the three-phase trauma model, which starts with safety and regulation before any processing takes place.
This could mean:
- Helping the client recognise survival responses
- Co-regulating in the room using body-based awareness
- Strengthening the client’s sense of control and choice
“Phase one is the work. Sometimes, clients never move into processing – but they still recover. They start living again. That’s a successful outcome.”
Knowing how to work safely with trauma clients means recognising that the pace is led by the nervous system – not the constraints of the calendar.
Why Understanding the Nervous System Is Key
To work safely with trauma clients, it’s important to understand how trauma affects the nervous system. That’s where polyvagal theory comes in.
Maaike uses this as her baseline in therapy – because it gives language to what’s happening in the room.
“You can see trauma playing out in the body in real time. If we push through it, clients shut down or feel overwhelmed. But if we work with the nervous system, they start to feel safe again.”
That’s why safety is about more than rapport or empathy – it’s about knowing what to look for and how to respond when someone is in a survival state.
Avoiding Vicarious Trauma as a Therapist
Of course, working with trauma clients safely also means looking after ourselves.
Maaike shared her honest reflections on what it was like to start trauma work at age 22, hearing stories of violence and walking the same streets where it had happened.
Now, she’s developed robust practices for self-care – including movement, supervision, and learning how to stay connected to clients without internalising their pain.
“There’s a way to be deeply present without taking it on as your own trauma. That’s something I had to learn over time – but it’s possible.”
Training to Work Safely with Trauma Clients
If you want to feel more equipped to work with trauma, Maaike’s Therapeutic Safety and Trauma foundation diploma will help you get started. It’s a 60-hour NCPS quality-checked course that covers:
- Polyvagal theory
- The three-phase trauma model
- Windows of tolerance
- Anchoring and regulation strategies
- Common therapist pitfalls—and how to avoid them
“I created the course I wish I’d had when I started. It’s everything I wish I’d known.”
The course runs regularly online and in person – and it’s especially helpful if you want to build confidence and work with trauma clients safely and ethically. You can read more about it HERE.
Listen to the Full Conversation
If you’ve ever worried you might do harm when working with trauma – or felt unsure how to help a client who seems stuck – this episode will give you clarity and reassurance.
Listen now to: How to Work Safely with Trauma Clients – with Maaike Beech
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