Senior Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Holly-Jane

Senior Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Holly-Jane delivers our outpatient intensive one-to-one treatment for PTSD and C-PTSD. Here she shares a little more about her role and why she chose to work at the charity.

“I was in the military for 16 years, serving in the Royal Navy, first as a medic and then a mental health nurse. I was operationally deployed on land and maritime operations including Op Herrick in Afghanistan. I knew once I left the Navy I wanted to work with the military or veterans so when the job came up at Combat Stress, it was the perfect fit.

My main role is working with veterans on a one-to-one basis providing intensive treatment for PTSD and C-PTSD. We develop a bespoke treatment plan for each veteran and then I provide up to 24 hours of trauma-focused therapy over a two-to-three week period. Building a therapeutic bond is crucial so we make sure there is a preparatory phase where I meet a veteran a few times before therapy begins and talk through how it will work.

It’s important a veteran feels safe and secure when undertaking trauma-focused therapy. Having served myself, that naturally breaks down a few barriers – we speak the same language! The psychological therapy sessions are often the first time a veteran will have shared their traumatic experience or experiences. I help them to understand that the symptoms they have lived with for so long are their body’s trauma response. This requires someone to be vulnerable – not an easy ask for anyone.

When a veteran begins treatment, they very often have the belief that they are damaged, broken and unfixable. By the end of treatment, they realise that whilst their experiences have impacted greatly on them, it’s going to be ok, there is a life ahead. They often can’t believe how far they have come.

The treatment is intensive by design. It can accelerate recovery and typically results in much higher completion rates compared to weekly treatment. The work I do is challenging and emotive but thoroughly rewarding. I mostly provide treatment online. It makes our help equitable for veterans 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. Very often veterans believe they are only deserving of military charity support if their ssues are related to combat. It’s so important that people know we can help veterans whatever the cause of their military trauma."