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Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach

@coachcara.bsky.social

89 followers 110 following 140 posts

Leadership, Life, Somatic EMDR Trauma Coach 1-1, groups. Writer. Experienced, intuitive, direct. CPTSD survivor. At one in nature. www.effectivethoughts.co.uk #coaching #EMDR #SOMATIC #cptsd #trauma #IFS

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Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Apr 3

Trust is essential with any coach or practitioner you work with. But so is quality.

A good coach will invest lots of time and money behind the scenes to make sure their time with you is of the highest quality.

My work is a privileged, purposeful labour of love ❤️

#coaching
#mindset
#trauma

Picture of Cara with text description of quality.
Includes:
Thousands of £s certified training
Regular supervision
Peer learning meetings
Offering pro bono 1:1 sessions/courses/consessions to community or those in need
Ringfenced time to prepare and follow up from sessions
Post session reflective learning
CPD workshops
Professional association fees
Insurance
Thousands of hours of experience (confession - I stopped counting at 3500 hours!)

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 5d

Trauma resolution work is weird😀

We are so used to being in our heads, that it feels strange to really connect to the body.

People feel renewed, more peaceful, released, but do not cognitively know why!

The body and the nervous system knows best and speaks a different language to the intellect.

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 12d

How can you regularly notice smells?

Why?
👃
@drtaraswart talked at the Oxford Masters Trauma conference recently about how intentionally, regularly using the olfactory system can delay brain ageing.
👃
It mindfully returns us to our body.
👃
Smells can be soothing and calming

#delaybrainaging

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 13d

In what way might you be putting survival before honesty?

The uncomfortable truth is that denying our needs is repression. When this becomes chronic, our body will find a way to express itself!

Small changes towards self-expression can rebuild self trust.

#authenticity
#dishonestharmony

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 22d

Avoidance of our feelings comes with a cost.

Pushing our feelings away is understandable at times when we have to step up, but it is not sustainable. Chronic avoidance means our nervous system will be on alert, our body will find ways to signal the pain, we will feel drained & overwhelmed

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 22d

Wisdom from #TransformTraumaOxford2025 Part 5
> Which one speaks most to you?

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 24d

Wisdom from #TransformTraumaOxford2025 Part 4
> Which one speaks most to you?

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 26d

Wisdom from #TransformTraumaOxford2025 Part 2
> Which one speaks most to you?

1 1

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · 27d

Wisdom from #TransformTraumaOxford2025 Part 1
> Which one speaks most to you?

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 23

Somatic work is a game changer!

Working with our nervous system, our bodies, is essential to process and resolve emotions.

I comine somatic awareness with EMDR. EMDR is a protocol to dial down the limbic system to allow safe processing and resolution.

#Coaching
#trauma
#triggers
#somatic
#emdr

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 16

What did your programming teach you about saying no/asserting yourself?

Parts of society, work, and toxic families rely on compliance. We comply to keep the peace or maintain dishonest harmony.

The impacts of NOT asserting ourselves=Dysregulation, low self trust

#unprogramming
#consciouschoice

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 14

Part 2 - How to feel better in 8 steps. The last step is essential right now.

#coaching
#bekindtoself
#selfcare
#findthefun

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 14

Part 1 - How to feel better in 8 steps. The last step is essential right now.

#coaching
#bekindtoself
#selfcare
#findthefun

Reposted by Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach

Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle @drdoylesays.bsky.social · Sep 13

The number of people & organizations that depend on our "fawn" trauma response to get us playing along with their bullsh*t is staggering.

Once you see it, you can't un-see it.

4 59 220

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 12

HOW DO YOU REGULATE YOURSELF?

Regularly bringing attention to the body in this moment reduces the cumulative impact of dysregulation.

#Effectivethoughts
#Coaching
#stressrelief
#regulation
#mindfulness
#Somatic

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 10

Authenticity allows us to thrive rather than just survive.

It requires us to be courageous and acknowledge what parts of our lives drain us, and what boosts us.

Coaching can help you to discover and work towards meeting the needs of your true self.

#trueself
#honesty

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 5

We regulate our nervous system in nature.

Our connection goes beyond our physical needs. Our link to nature restores, regulates, and revives us at a systemic and soul level.

#connection
#ourplanet
#nature
#restorative
#regulation

2 9

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Sep 3

It may be the right choice but that does not guarantee it will be easy.

All changes, chosen or not, will likely come as a package with uncertainty, grief and effort.

Tenacity comes from knowing it will be worth it.

#Effectivethoughts
#Coaching
#transitions
#tenacity
#decisions

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 25

I announced reduced prices for coaching until the end of September and got THIS comment in response.

"... the coaching you gave to me was life-changing and I will forever be grateful.

I cannot recommend Cara highly enough."

What a privilege my work is... 😊

#coaching
#feedback
#lifechanging

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 20

Developing our True, Authentic Self takes takes intention and awareness. Our programmed responses are powerful because they helped us to survive.

Remember the 'why'
Full cognitive function (a result of regulation). Personal power. True self connection. Peace. Acceptance.

#wholeness
#unprogramming

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 15

📝It's worth noting that it sometimes, but not always, resolves like this in just 1 session. Some people need repeated 'layers' of resolution. Some struggle to tune into the body's sensations, or to really switch the thinking mind off to allow the body full power.

#somatic
#emdr
#bodywisdom

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 14

What might you need to accept at the moment, to reduce resistance around what you cannot control?

It's important to note that acknowledging the feelings is an essential part of radical acceptance.

#Effectivethoughts
#Coaching
#radicalacceptance
#realmsofcontrol
#stressrelief
#regulation

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 8

Does part of you need to be in control?

In this state, we can forget our personal power where we can:
- notice this anxious state
- regulate ourselves
- ask for support
- think creatively and problem solve

This all takes practise. So how will you remember?

#needtocontrol
#beinthenow

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 5

When someone you feel close to detaches or "ghosts" you >

First - acknowledge the pain. It hurts. It is confusing. Grief is likely.

Acceptance of what we cannot change will help the pain to process.

#ghosting
#relationships
#personalresponsibility
#realmsofcontrol
#acceptance

Cara Hooper - www.effectivethoughts.co.uk - Life&Trauma Coach @coachcara.bsky.social · Aug 5

Micro pause & check-in...

Taking time to check in boosts self trust and allows us to improve self awareness.

#Effectivethoughts
#Coaching
#powerofthepause