The Centre offers a range of therapeutic services for adults who have experienced traumatic stress. The Centre is one of the Specialist Services of the Adult Mental Health Services of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
The nature of traumatic events will vary. In particular, the Centre aims to offer services for people who have experienced trauma arising from industrial and domestic accidents, road traffic accidents, victims of serious crime, refugees and asylum seekers, veterans, and survivors of major incidents.
Individual psychological therapies, counselling and psychotherapy will be offered within a psychosocial framework and within the guidelines of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence [NICE]. An underlying principle of the work of the Centre is to make contact with trauma victims at the earliest opportunity through the development of Early Intervention Services. This can be effective not only in reducing long term psychological complications but also may be more cost effective for health services.
Early Intervention
A general principle of the Trauma Centre is to provide interventions at the most appropriate time. Studies have found that in many cases early interventions have been effective in reducing long term psychological complications by facilitating help seeking. These studies have shown that family members affected by extreme traumatic events and traumatic bereavement benefit by:
i.Early help
ii.Outreach help
iii.Information about the event and potential reactions (see our leaflet, Coping with the effects of a traumatic event)
iv.Help over time
v.An opportunity to meet with others who have experienced similar situations
Studies have also demonstrated that crisis interventions delivered within a non-pathologising, non-mental health setting, through psycho-educational activities, information and reframing, help individuals and families recognise the course of normal reactions and expectations following exposure to trauma and traumatic bereavement.
Often following trauma, there is a powerful need to talk. Counselling and Psychotherapy can also be helpful for people in working through their experiences and in coming to terms with what has happened to them. This can be valuable for people as they search for meaning in their experience.
Referrals:
The Centre accepts referrals for assessment and treatment of psychological problems and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) arising from exposure to a wide range of traumatic events and from a wide range of sources. However, all referrals must be accompanied by individual case funding from appropriate areas:
NHS referrals - these must be funded by the relevant NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT)
Solicitors - for medico-legal assessments and treatment
Welfare & Occupational Health Departments of the Emergency Services
Occupational Health and Welfare Departments in the Private and Public Sector
Any agency or organisation where employees and /or other relevant others may be suffering the psychological effects of exposure to traumatic events
Agencies and organisations caring for victims of torture and refugees with mental health problems arising from psychological trauma
Assessment and Treatment:
The Centre provides a comprehensive assessment package, supplemented by a number of validated and reliable measures in regular clinical and research use for the assessment of PTSD and psychological trauma. As the Centre is also a research unit, from time to time consent is sought to participate in specific research projects. Disabled access is available at the centre, but home visits are offered if necessary.
Treatment approaches are based upon empirically validated interventions in line with the Department of Health guidelines (NICE) on psychological trauma focussed therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy. Treatment packages consist of between 8 - 20 sessions (in many cases less), depending on an individual's needs, with up to 3 month, 6 month and 1 year follow up. In addition, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which has been shown to be an effective therapeutic intervention for PTSD, may often be included as part of treatment. The Centre also utilises other therapeutic modalities as indicated or appropriate.
