Trauma Service

Some trauma services require patients to have a certain number or type of symptoms in order to be seen. We consider anyone who feels trauma is something that causes them significant distress or interferes with their relationships or daily living or capacity to work productively.

Usually, the people we see find that something has become ‘stuck’ around the trauma, and they find it hard to move forward. They may experience flashbacks, nightmares, feel significantly depressed or numb, or struggle with anxiety. Social isolation may also be prominent due to avoidance of possible triggers.

Introductory meeting

Unfortunately, our waiting list is currently very long. We will have tried to let referrers know about this so they can plan with the person referred how best to manage this wait. We also offer an initial meeting some months before a therapy vacancy arises with a member of the staff team. This is an opportunity to think about current difficulties and how to begin to prepare for the therapy. It is also a time to hear more about the service. Following this meeting, stabilisation work may begin which may include:

• Learning about Trauma Group – a 7 week psychoeducation group
• A welcome to the service call from one of our peer supporters
• Attendance at a monthly drop-in group run by peer supporters
• Liaison with other professionals involved
• Signposting to other services as needed
• A trauma information session for family and friends

Consultation and treatment

We usually offer an extended consultation over four sessions to understand the nature and impact of the trauma, using a Trauma-Informed Psychodynamic approach. We also consider the most suitable approach to treatment in a collaborative approach, constructing a personalised package of care.

The package of care may include:

• Trauma–informed individual psychotherapy – at weekly or sometimes fortnightly intervals. This may include individual art therapy.
• A trauma art therapy group – one-year duration
• A trauma–focused mentalization therapy group – runs alongside individual work
• A trauma yoga group – runs alongside other treatments offered
• A gardening therapy group
• Peer support from practitioners with lived experience
• A specialist group that focuses on therapeutic endings

Generally no more than one group at a time is suggested, and most are offered for one year.

In addition to using an adapted psychodynamic approach, we sometimes make use of other trauma-focused interventions. This will generally be in the context of an on-going therapy however, as these techniques (especially in complex PTSD) require a period of stabilisation and secure establishment of a therapeutic relationship.

We have developed an arm of the Trauma Service specifically to address the needs of individuals who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. In addition to the treatments mentioned above being accessible, we also provide specialist group work which includes:

• A one-year women’s group run by two senior therapists (Both female).
• A one-year men’s group run by two senior therapists (One male).

The Trauma Service accept referrals from GPs, counsellors, IAPT services and other mental health or social care professionals.

We are a specialist team of mental health professionals.

Our senior staff are Psychoanalysts and Psychoanalytic or Psychodynamic Psychotherapists, and some of them are also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Mentalisation based therapy. We have staff from a range of professional backgrounds including Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Social Work and Art Therapy. We also have a Senior Group Analyst and a Specialist Trauma Yoga Teacher on staff.

Our trainees are experienced and senior clinicians from a variety of backgrounds including Psychiatry, Psychology and Psychotherapy.

Visit these pages, designed by the Trauma Service, to learn more about trauma, it’s impact and support and resources available:

• Learning more about trauma
• Community services that can help