Marine trauma psychotherapy - returning you to the water
As a scuba professional with 35 years of experience in both diving and sailing, I merge this with Clinical Psychotherapy to treat all trauma related to water.
You have come to the right place.
At 2nd Opinion Psychotherapy, I offer a unique and highly specialised approach to treating marine trauma. As a Master Scuba Diver and Instructor with personal experience overcoming trauma, I bring a deep understanding and expertise in this over-looked and relevant area of psychophysiological distress.
Injuries that compromise our confidence and relationship with water, have a deep impact on our lives, water being essential to good health and living well. A psychological injury relating to water, is a spiritual injury.
Understanding marine trauma
Marine trauma can result from various water-related accidents/injuries, including:
Scuba diving incidents
Boating or sailing incidents or emergencies
Near-drowning experiences
Vicarious trauma from witnessing tragedies involving water
Barotrauma or diving related injuries
Weather incidents involving water
Swimming and learning to swim incidents
Childhood experiences involving water
These experiences can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, or a debilitating fear of water that impacts daily life and cherished activities.
"A trauma sustained in water is a spiritual trauma, because we are made of water; it is a trauma to our being.”
- Anne Ligthart
My specialised approach to marine trauma therapy
Connect with me
"Water is Amazing. Beautiful. Essential. Powerful. Intelligent.
Marine trauma psychotherapy defined is the treatment of traumatic experiences and shock involving water. This specific niche in therapy is curated by my extensive involvement in water sport, and an understanding of the high risks involved, particularly in open sea, or confined water areas like caves or lakes.
I am a Clinical Psychotherapist specialising in trauma treatment. My background also includes professional scuba diving instruction. I've studied recreational diving extensive, enjoying many marine environments, ranging from open ocean to coastlines and jetties, with temperatures between 10C to 27C. I have led groups on yacht charter to deep destinations in the Similan Islands, and taught hundreds of students in the beach shallows. As an active diver today, and psychotherapist I can assist you to recover your confidence and love of the water by alleviating post-traumatic stress.
You are made of water
When you understand your co-existence with water, it makes vital sense to address any fear you may have associated with it.
Why choose specialised marine trauma psychotherapy?
Marine trauma is unique and generally overlooked as being the same as all trauma.
It isn't.
Marine trauma impacts your connection to a vital element of life. Being afraid or uncertain of a vital element creates a subtle under-current of anxiety as well as the fears that are more obvious on the surface. My specialised approach offers:
- Genuine understanding, through extensively lived experience, of the water environment from small lakes, and caves to oceanic conditions means significant latitude of appreciation for your situation.
- Modifications of trauma therapy to apply to water-related trauma.
- A process of recovery specifically oriented to returning you to being able to enjoy water once more.
Your journey to healing
Whether you're a professional diver looking to return to work, a recreational water enthusiast wanting to enjoy your passion again, or someone grappling with a water-related incident, I'm here to guide you back to a place of confidence and joy in relation to water.
"A return to the water is a return to ourselves."
- Anne Ligthart
Returning you to the water, confident and secure
Contact me today for a complimentary 30 minute consultation. Let's work together to transform your water-related distress into confidence, excitement and deeper understanding.
It's possible to heal from trauma involving water, and return you to being able to enjoy all water activities again.
Anne is helping me work through years of trauma and out of the many people who have tried to help me she is the only one who’s been able to make progress with me. Definitely recommend!
- Tamanya
