Hi, I’m Sitara. Child trauma therapist in Singapore.
Child trauma is one of those things people often think can wait. That children are resilient. That they’ll grow out of it. In my experience, the opposite is true. Early support doesn’t just help children cope now – it shapes how they relate to themselves and others for the rest of their lives. That’s why I do this work.
I specialise in trauma therapy for children aged 4 to 16, and sometimes younger. My focus is prevention as much as it is treatment. When a child gets the right support early, so much of what might have hardened into lifelong patterns simply doesn’t have to.
How I work
Children don’t always have words for what they’re carrying. Some act out. Some go quiet. Some struggle in school, or in friendships, or at home – and nobody can quite explain why.
My job is to create a space where that doesn’t matter. Some children talk. Others play, build, move, or create a world in a tray of sand. I follow their lead. The therapies I use – EMDR, Sandplay, Schema Therapy, and CBT – are all evidence-based and trauma-informed, but the real work happens when a child feels genuinely safe.
Supporting you through it too
I also work closely with parents throughout the process. Understanding what your child is going through – and how to support them at home – is part of the work. I may also gently encourage you to seek your own support alongside this, so that you are held through the process too. Healing in a family rarely happens in just one direction.
Background and training
I am a registered psychotherapist in the UK (BACP) and a registered counsellor in Singapore (SPS, SAC). I am a certified EMDR therapist through EMDRIA, hold a Master of Counselling from Monash University, and an MSc in Development, Disorders and Clinical Practice from the University of York. I am also co-founder of the Trauma Directory and co-author of Emotional Needs.
Get in touch
If you are wondering whether therapy might help your child, or just want to ask a question before committing to anything, I would love to hear from you.
Sitara Samtani 