How we help

Trauma-focused therapy is a key part of our specialist support for veterans. 

Trauma-focused therapy can help someone process traumatic events by enabling the brain to store traumatic events in the past, allowing the individual to be less troubled by them now and move forward with their life. We assess the individual needs of each veteran and work with them to agree trauma-focused therapy that is likely to be the most helpful. We only offer treatments that have been shown to work through research or are recommended by national guidelines – and we always aim to give veterans choice. Some veterans prefer therapy that involves being able to talk through their experiences in depth, while others are looking for therapy that addresses their whole lifetime of trauma, including that in the military. Others may prefer therapies that are less focused on talking, or that use art to help process traumatic memories. 

Our trauma-focused therapies are empirically evidenced, meaning that they have been scientifically researched through clinical trials and proven to be safe, acceptable and effective. 

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

Cognitive therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD)

This therapy is normally used when a veteran needs to focus on one or two traumatic events. It’s an opportunity to look at each trauma in detail and to spend time processing the memory of each trauma. It provides a way to really understand when things don’t make sense and change perceptions and unhelpful beliefs about the trauma to help someone recover. This type of therapy is the most commonly used for PTSD.

Treatment delivery

Much of our treatment is provided online as we know that’s what the majority of veterans want. It gives all veterans equal access to treatment This therapy is based around the creation of a life story. During the therapy sessions a veteran is encouraged to construct a visual image of significant events throughout their life, a ‘lifeline’, with rocks symbolising a traumatic event, flowers indicating a happy memory, candles representing a loss, and sticks signifying an event where the veteran has themselves been involved in violence or trauma. NET provides an opportunity to look at trauma through a whole lifespan and to process multiple traumas in a safe, contained space. across the UK, aiding their ability to attend treatment. For example, for some veterans, financial costs or physical health issues may prevent them from attending psychological therapy in person.

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

This therapy is based around the creation of a life story. During the therapy sessions a veteran is encouraged to construct a visual image of significant events throughout their life, a ‘lifeline’, with rocks symbolising a traumatic event, flowers indicating a happy memory, candles representing a loss, and sticks signifying an event where the veteran has themselves been involved in violence or trauma. NET provides an opportunity to look at trauma through a whole lifespan and to process multiple traumas in a safe, contained space. 

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EDMR)

This therapy involves a veteran recalling a traumatic memory whilst at the same time doing something that involves bi-lateral, or alternate right and left-sided, movement – for example moving your eyes from side-to-side. EMDR involves re-visiting memories and has an excellent evidence base for treating PTSD. It can be useful for those veterans with non-combat related trauma experienced during military deployment or for veterans who hold traumatic memories in their body – for example, feeling physical pain when they recall a trauma or phantom limb pain following the loss of a limb.