FAQ About Integrative Trauma Therapy

This blend is enriched by my longstanding interest in and practice of meditation and Buddhism, because Buddhist psychology offers a 2,500-year-old wisdom and depth that can enhance and enrich modern, Western psychology.

I have taken a deep dive into these models and am an Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist, Trainer & Supervisor as well as an Internal Family Systems Therapist. Although I think they are all wonderful approaches in their own right, I also think it’s helpful to combine them in a unique configuration for each client who needs my help, because everyone is different and needs a slightly different path to healing. I also disagree with the idea that any one therapy model has all the answers, or is in some way superior to others. Many different models have their own wisdom, richness and unique gifts, so why not draw from the best of each?

How is it different from other models?

Many therapists and teachers integrate different approaches – and all models are integrative, in their own way. My integrative approach is different because of the unique blend, which I don’t think anyone else is doing (yet). And it’s flexible, not rigid. Personalised, not one-size-fits-all. Warm, compassionate and kind, but also based on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology (all the models I integrate are evidence-based). These are the aspects of my approach that my clients, supervisees and students seem to find so helpful.

Why the focus on trauma?

In my opinion, all psychological problems in adults are caused by either trauma (bad things happening to you) or neglect (good things not happening to you). The research increasingly bears this out, such as the seminal Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, which found not only that traumatic and neglectful experiences are far more widespread than previously thought. But also that the more of these ACEs we experience in childhood, the more vulnerable we are to all the most common physical (diabetes, cardiovascular problems, autoimmune problems) and mental (anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders) health problems we see in the general population.

This is why every therapy model should be, at the very least, trauma-informed. Even better, the models – and therapists practising them – should have a detailed, nuanced understanding of trauma and the way it affects every aspect of the mind-body system. And it’s why integrative trauma therapy, as the name suggests, folds in all the research, theory and techniques that have been found most helpful for trauma healing.

How long does it take to heal trauma?

That’s hard to say – and depends very much on the severity of trauma you experienced as a child. But healing cannot be rushed. Imagine breaking your leg, then wanting to run a 10K two weeks later. Your leg would not be able to cope with that, because the healing process for a broken bone takes time, care and expert treatment. Healing from trauma follows the same path, which is why it can take many years to heal the wounds caused by a traumatic childhood. Anyone offering a quick fix or magic solution is, at best, misinformed and, at worst, unethical and to be avoided.

Can I read about this in a book?

Yes, my new self-help book on healing from childhood trauma – Heal Your Trauma: How to Overcome a Painful Childhood to Become Happy and Whole Again – will be published in June 2026, by Quarto Publishing. I am very excited about this book and think it will help thousands of people across the world with their trauma-healing journey. Follow my blog and sign up for my email newsletter to hear the latest on the new book, as well as my latest teaching resources and meditation practices on Insight Timer.

Do you offer any low-cost resources or help?

It’s very important to me that everyone can access high-quality, low-cost therapy and other healing resources. I run a non-profit store on my website, with all profits helping me offer low-cost therapy and free/low-cost resources to anyone who needs them. And most of the content on my store, such as meditations and webinars is available for free for those who are not able to pay, for any reason – just contact the team via info@danroberts.com for a 100% scholarship coupon code to use at checkout.

Love,

Dan ❤️

what is integrative trauma therapy?

I am a psychotherapist who specialises in treating complex trauma, using an integrative approach to trauma healing. I have developed this way of working after 30 years of studying psychology and different models of psychotherapy, as well as over 15 years in private practice as a therapist. It combines the most powerful, effective, trauma-informed therapies currently available, such as schema therapy, internal family systems, CBT, compassion-focused therapy, mindful self-compassion, as well as various trauma therapies and somatic therapies.