The CPTSD Toolkit was developed by Kimberley Hajee, a psychology postgraduate researcher with a focus on trauma-informed practice, lived experience research and accessible mental health resources. 

• Psychology MSc Researcher 

• Creator of the CPTSD Toolkit

• Published author in mental health and social inclusion

• Developer of trauma-informed educational resources

• Research interest in CPTSD and lived-experience informed resources

• Facilitator of CPTSD Toolkit workshops

The CPTSD Toolkit was developed from recognising the need for accessible, compassionate resources that help people understand complex trauma experiences. It aims to provide information that feels understandable, validating and practical while remaining grounded in psychological knowledge. 

The name Love, Bella & Wolf reflects the personal foundations that sit at the heart of the CPTSD Toolkit.

Bella and Wolf are my dogs, but they represent much more than companionship. Throughout my own recovery journey, they have been a source of comfort, connection and emotional regulation - reminders of safety, presence and unconditional acceptance during times when those experiences felt difficult to find.

For many people living with complex trauma, healing is not only about understanding symptoms or learning coping strategies. It is also about rebuilding a sense of safety, reconnecting with ourselves and others, developing self-compassion and rediscovering moments of joy, connection and hope.

The name reflects the belief that recovery is not defined solely by what has happened to us, but also by the relationships, experiences and connections that support healing.

The CPTSD Toolkit was created from the belief that people affected by complex trauma deserve resources that feel accessible, compassionate and grounded in both psychological understanding and lived experience. Its purpose is to support people in making sense of their experiences while recognising that they are more than their trauma - they have strengths, resilience and the capacity for growth.

The CPTSD Toolkit began with a simple hope: to create the resource I wish I had found earlier in my own journey.

For the younger version of myself who felt frightened, confused and overwhelmed, there were many experiences I did not understand. I did not know that the thoughts, emotions, reactions and patterns I was experiencing had explanations. I did not know that there was more to me than what I had survived, or that recovery could involve learning to understand myself rather than simply trying to cope.

Over the years, through therapy, education, research and personal reflection, I began to gather knowledge that helped me make sense of my experiences. I wanted to bring those pieces together in one place for others who may also be searching for answers - people who feel lost, who are trying to understand themselves, or who have not yet realised that there is hope beyond survival.

The CPTSD Toolkit was created to help bridge the gap between psychological knowledge and everyday lived experience. It brings together evidence-informed approaches, trauma-informed principles, and practical exercises in an accessible way, supporting people to develop understanding, self-compassion and the skills needed to navigate recovery.

Although the toolkit began from personal experience, its development has grown through collaboration with practitioners, researchers, and people with lived experience. The ongoing work around the toolkit continues to focus on improving understanding of complex trauma and creating resources that are meaningful, accessible and grounded in both evidence and humanity.

Ultimately, this work is for anyone who has ever felt lost in their own experiences - especially those who, like my younger self, did not yet know that there was more to them and more to life beyond what they had endured.