Every Thursday, a young woman named Amy sits in a small but bright and welcoming room listening to those seated opposite her tell her about the most traumatic events of their lives.

Key points: Trauma recovery angels help by providing free therapy to those in need

Trauma recovery angels help by providing free therapy to those in need Angelhands was started by Ann O'Neill after she and her children were shot

Angelhands was started by Ann O'Neill after she and her children were shot The group is trying to set a world record gathering of angels this weekend

"I see people who have experienced childhood abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence and gang rape," Amy said.

"Others have lost loved ones to homicide."

Most have walked into that room because they feel they have nowhere else to go and no-one else to talk to.

Yet despite facing a near constant barrage of human suffering, 24-year-old Amy walks out of that office each Thursday both humbled and full of hope.

"It reminds me every week of the power of humanity," she said.

"You hear people's stories and the things that they've been through and you see how they continue to keep going and continue to seek support.

"It takes a lot of strength to do that and it takes a lot of strength to make changes, and the fact that people are willing to do that and they're there doing that with you is really amazing."

Amy speaks to people who have experienced extreme trauma and abuse as part of her work with Angelhands. ( ABC News: Hugo Sando )

Amy is a volunteer trauma recovery angel (TRA) for Angelhands, a WA-based not-for-profit organisation that provides therapeutic assistance to people affected by extreme trauma. Her surname is not published due to a level of anonymity her role requires.

Founded by Ann O'Neill in 2001, initially as a website, Angelhands now has two offices, satellite clinics and a team of between 15 to 25 TRAs who help about 300 clients a year.

"So many people experience trauma and it has a really, really big impact in their lives but hope is always there," Amy said

"It's always possible to make that recovery and Ann's a really, really great example of that."

Hope born from unthinkable tragedy

The events that led to Dr O'Neill's personal recovery from trauma are almost unimaginable.

In 1994, when she was 24 years old, her estranged husband broke into her Perth house and shot dead their six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.

He then shot her in the right leg — causing a wound that would lead to its amputation — before killing himself.

Ann O'Neill says after she experienced extreme trauma, many people came to her for help. ( Australian Story: Marcus Alborn )

"Having had my own experience of trauma, and quite extreme in that it involved the loss of life, people kept coming to me and asking me for assistance," Dr O'Neill said of the years that followed.

"So Angelhands was born out of an express need within the community, and it sort of grew beyond what I could provide and continues to grow.

"We've [now] got so many wonderful trauma recovery angels volunteering and doing fabulous work."

Taking on the trauma of others

Angelhands spends about $10,000 training each TRA and, despite the work being unpaid, selection is competitive.

With an honours degree in psychology, Amy was a prime candidate when she applied two years ago, yet she admits she still struggled in the beginning.

"When you work with people with trauma there is a possibility of experiencing vicarious trauma, so that's when you yourself start to experience symptoms of trauma just through being in contact with it in that way," she said.

"But Angelhands prepares you and provides ongoing support, so while it was something I had to learn how to manage within myself, I soon found ways to deal with it."

For Amy that has meant planning something to do, and look forward to, at the end of each Thursday.

"In my case that's things like exercising, going to the gym, moving my body and also just being creative," she said.

"I like to paint, badly so far, but I've been spending time working on that."

Amy said creative and physical activities helped her cope with listening to people talk about their trauma. ( ABC News: Hugo Sando )

Amy said she hoped to have a career in either medicine or psychology, meaning she would one day move on from her work with Angelhands.

While that would mean losing a highly-trained volunteer, Dr O'Neill said it was all part of the bigger plan.

"They go out into the workforce beyond us and take all of that knowledge, so that trauma recovery becomes an integrated part of society," she said of the TRAs.

"In that sense it's really lovely to know that we're also contributing to a bigger trauma-informed society that we know is the best practice model for helping traumatised people to recover."

Calling all angels for world record attempt

On Sunday, Angelhands will attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of "angels".

Dr O'Neill at the failed 2018 attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of angels. ( Supplied )

After a failed attempt last year, the organisation hopes 2019 will be the year it beats Canada's record of 1,275 angels gathered in one place.

The rules for those looking to take part — wear white, with wings and a halo.

"We're asking people to come down to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and help us gather 1,500 angels, so that we can raise awareness of trauma recovery and really give people the knowledge that there is hope and people can recover," Dr O'Neill said.

"Trauma tends to get covered as the horror side of it, but the joy of recovery and celebrating that is something I think this event is quite unique in."