Preparation for Trauma Therapy Programme

What is the Preparation for Trauma Therapy Programme?

The Preparation for Trauma Therapy Programme is a 1-week programme at one of our residential treatment centres or delivered as a weekly out-patient service.

It involves attending groups to learn skills which would better prepare you to engage in onward trauma therapy, which may be with Combat Stress or with other organisations that would better meet your needs.

Who attends?

The programme is for veterans with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and who may need help with developing skills to manage their symptoms before starting trauma therapy. (Trauma therapy involves re-telling events or bad memories).

What does the programme involve?

Some of the topics for the group sessions include:

• PTSD
• relaxation skills practice
• sleep hygiene
• learning what to expect in trauma therapy

You’ll attend a closed group of up to about 10 veterans. This means you’ll be with the same veterans in your group for the whole programme.

The groups involve a mixture of practising new skills and gaining information. We encourage you to practise your new techniques in the evenings and afterwards at home.

The groups do not involve talking about your individual traumatic experiences. You’re welcome to contribute as much or as little as you like to group discussions.