Childhood Trauma & PTSD Therapy in Limassol, Cyprus
Evidence-based support for children aged 2–18
Trauma PTSD Abuse Neglect Bereavement Domestic violence
What is childhood trauma?
Traumatic experiences can have a profound and lasting impact on a child's development, emotional wellbeing and sense of safety in the world. At Empathic Psychologist in Limassol, we provide specialist trauma-informed assessment and therapy for children and young people aged 2–18 — helping them process what has happened, rebuild safety and restore wellbeing. Sessions in English and Greek, in person in Limassol and online across Cyprus.
Childhood trauma refers to overwhelming experiences that exceed a child's capacity to cope — leaving lasting emotional, psychological and sometimes physical effects. Trauma is not defined by the event itself but by the impact it has on the child. What is manageable for one child can be deeply distressing for another.
Traumatic experiences in childhood include:
Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
Neglect — emotional or physical
Witnessing domestic violence or community violence
Serious accidents, injuries or medical procedures
Bereavement — loss of a parent, sibling or significant person
Natural disasters or life-threatening events
Parental separation or significant family disruption
Bullying — including cyberbullying
Refugee and displacement experiences
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops in some children following trauma — characterised by intrusive memories, avoidance, hypervigilance and significant distress. Complex PTSD may develop following prolonged or repeated trauma, particularly involving interpersonal harm. Both are highly treatable with appropriate specialist support.
Signs your child may need support
Re-experiencing: intrusive memories, flashbacks or nightmares about the event
Avoidance: refusing to talk about, think about or encounter reminders of the trauma
Hyperarousal: being constantly 'on alert', easily startled, sleep difficulties
Emotional numbing or detachment from friends, family or activities
Regressive behaviour: bedwetting, thumb-sucking or clinging in children who had outgrown these
Aggressive outbursts or extreme emotional reactions seemingly out of proportion to the trigger
Somatic complaints: recurring stomach aches, headaches with no medical cause
Difficulties with trust, forming relationships or feeling safe with adults
Negative changes in beliefs about themselves ('It was my fault') or the world ('Nowhere is safe')
Important note for parents
Children do not always show trauma responses immediately — symptoms can emerge weeks, months or even years after the event. If your child has experienced something distressing and you notice changes in their behaviour or mood — even much later — professional assessment can provide clarity and early support.
How Dr George Efraem helps: our therapeutic approach
Our approach is grounded in established evidence-based practice and draws on multiple therapeutic frameworks, tailored to each child's individual profile, age and developmental stage.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Trauma focus
This is the a structured, evidence-based approach combining cognitive, behavioural and trauma-processing techniques — particularly effective for PTSD and childhood abuse.
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — A modern and extensively researched trauma treatment for children. Processes traumatic memories and reduces their emotional intensity without requiring detailed verbal retelling.
Person-Centred / Child-Centred Therapy
This approach provides an unconditionally safe, non-judgemental therapeutic relationship — the foundation of all effective trauma work.
Creative Multimedia and Play Therapy
Therapy provides a non-verbal pathway for children to externalise, express and process traumatic experiences through sand tray, art, storytelling and play — approaches that align with emphasis on body-based, experiential trauma processing.
Third Wave CBT Therapies
For adolescents, these approaches — including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) — are used to help develop a different relationship with unsettling thoughts and experiences, helping to ground oneself in the present and address emotional dysregulation that develops as a response to trauma.
Attachment-based Approaches
This approach is central to our trauma work, with research consistently demonstrating that secure therapeutic relationships and caregiver involvement are key mechanisms of change in childhood trauma recovery
Psychodynamic Therapies
This approaches are drawn upon to explore unconscious defences and relational patterns that develop as adaptations to trauma — particularly relevant in cases of complex developmental trauma
Therapy Programmes for Childhood Trauma
Child Therapy Programme (Ages 2–12)
For children aged 2–12 affected by trauma, therapy is delivered through our Child Therapy Programme — using EMDR, trauma-focused play therapy and attachment-based approaches within a carefully paced, safety-first framework tailored to the younger child.
Adolescent Therapy Programme (Ages 12–18)
For young people aged 12–18 affected by trauma, therapy is delivered through our Adolescent Therapy Programme — using EMDR, TF-CBT and narrative approaches to process traumatic experiences, rebuild safety and restore a positive sense of self.
Parent-Child Empathy Programme
⭐Recommended for enhanced outcomes ⭐
Parents of children affected by trauma may also be recommended to attend our Parent-Child Empathy Programme — supporting trauma-sensitive parenting and strengthening the parent-child relationship as a key context for healing and recovery.
*Available standalone or alongside child therapy
What to expect
Assessment at Empathic Psychologist begins with a thorough understanding of the child and family context — not just the presenting behaviour. Dr George Efraem takes time to understand the child's full developmental history, current stressors and the settings in which difficulties occur before formulating a clinical picture.
Following an initial free 15-minute consultation, Dr George Efraem conducts a comprehensive assessment (typically 2 sessions) using clinical interview, validated psychometric scales and collaborative feedback from parents and school where appropriate.
A personalised therapy plan is developed and shared with the family. Therapy typically runs 18–36 weekly sessions of 50 minutes, with regular progress reviews.
*Most families receive their first appointment within one week of getting in touch.
Pacing and safety
Trauma therapy is always paced carefully to the child's readiness. The first phase of all trauma work focuses on establishing safety and building coping skills — processing of traumatic memories only begins when the child is sufficiently stabilised and the therapeutic relationship is secure.
Free 15-min consultation
Discuss your child's needs with Dr George Efraem — no commitment
Comprehensive assessment
2 sessions using validated psychometric measures
Personalised therapy plan
Goals, approach and duration shared clearly with the family
Therapy — 18 to 36 sessions
Weekly 50-minute sessions with regular progress reviews
**Content is grounded in peer-reviewed research and evidence-based clinical guidelines. Sources available on request.
Ready to take the first step?
Call Now for a free 15-minute consultation with Dr George E. Agathokleous — most families receive an assessment appointment within one week.