We offer a range of different assessment and treatment options for CPTSD. Treatment recommendations will be offered based on expert clinician assessment. Treatment can be offered individually or in groups or using a combination of these. Service user preferences and needs are taken into account when planning treatment.
Before treatment at GPTS commences you will be asked to consider this consent form.
Our service utilises a phase based approach to working with individuals who have are experiencing CPTSD, as recommended by both Cloitre et al (2002) and the NHS Education for Scotland Psychological Therapies ‘Matrix’ guidance, which provide recommendations regarding delivery of psychological therapy in Scotland. This model recommends that, in the first phase, treatment aims to create a sense of safety, security and emotional stability by improving sleep, emotional regulation, mood and understanding about the impact of trauma through psycho-educational materials. This phase is often called “safety and stabilisation”. Phase two of treatment, also called “reprocessing” involves talking in detail about the individual’s traumatic experiences. This helps to reduce re-experiencing symptoms such as nightmares and flashbacks and also improves a person’s mood. Phase two may also be referred to as “remembering and mourning”, and can also include a focus on recognising loss and learning from early experiences, as well as understanding and making meaning from those experiences. Phase two may also consider a person’s identity and how the traumatic experiences have impacted this. Phase three of treatment focuses on the person reclaiming their life, reconnecting with valued activities and their community, and looking forward to a life less dominated by trauma.
Treatment plans are idiosyncratic and collaborative so it may be that people only need some not all of these aspects of work. For some people, the first phase of treatment may be sufficient to meet their needs, or may be all they are ready or able to do. Other people may not require a phase-based approach and can proceed quickly to processing trauma memories. The treatment plan is tailored to an individual’s needs.
Safety and stabilisation can be delivered individually or in a group.
Treatments offered will vary according to the recommendations of clinical assessment, but they may include:
Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT uses cognitive-behavioural techniques that have been shown to help individuals overcome trauma-related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioural responses following trauma. The therapy addresses upsetting beliefs and attributions related to traumas people have experienced and provides a safe environment in which people can talk about their traumatic experiences and learn skills to cope with life stressors.
Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR)
EMDR is a psychotherapy that helps people process and recover from past experiences that are affecting their mental health. It involves bilateral stimulation using eye movements or tapping etc with talk therapy in a specific and structured format. This supports people to process difficult memories while keeping themselves in the present moment. EMDR helps people process negative images, emotions, beliefs and body sensations associated with traumatic memories that seem to be stuck. EMDR helps people to see things from a different perspective and relieves symptoms. There is still a requirement within EMDR to talk about the trauma the person has experienced.
Narrative Exposure Therapist (NET)
In NET, with guiding and directive help of the therapist, the person will be asked to talk about the trauma in the context of their whole life story in detail while re-experiencing the emotions, cognitions, bodily, behavioural, and sensory elements associated with traumatic events. As well, the person will talk about positive life experiences. This process allows people to ease the difficult emotional response they experience when remembering the traumatic events and to change the meaning traumatic events have, which in turn leads a reduction in PTSD symptoms.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy targets schemas; a term used clinically to describe unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour that interfere with having an individual’s needs met and impact on their ability to maintain relationships, and can negatively affect emotional well-being. The aim of Schema Therapy is to help people to recognise behaviour patterns they would like to change, understand the underlying cause of this behaviour, and change their thoughts and behaviours so they are better able to cope with relationship challenges or emotions in healthy, productive ways. It can also help people to process traumatic events, and heal the impact of needs that were unmet in their childhood.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy that creatively uses values and mindfulness skills to help reduce psychological suffering and to build a meaningful life. This happens through: learning new psychological skills to reduce the impact of difficult emotions and cognitions so they no longer push people around, hold them back or get in the way of their life goals; clarifying the person’s values (how they want to treat themselves, others and the world around them) and use these to guide their actions and enhance their life; and focus attention on what is important to be able to fully engage in whatever activity they chose to do.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
CFT aims to help promote mental and emotional healing by encouraging the person to be compassionate towards themselves and other people. CFT was developed to combat high levels of shame and self-criticism that often comes hand-in-hand with mental health difficulties. Compassion, both toward the self and toward others, is an emotional response believed to be an essential aspect of wellbeing.
Art Psychotherapy
Art Psychotherapy is a psychological intervention which facilitates expression through art within a safe and containing relationship with an Art Psychotherapist.
Art Psychotherapy provides a different way for people to communicate, understand and work with their trauma –related difficulties. Using art materials can offer a way to express thoughts, feelings and to help the person think about past experiences which have been difficult to speak of in words alone. Together the person and the Art Psychotherapist will begin to understand and process emotions stemming from trauma.
People do not need to be good at art to do art psychotherapy. Making artwork can help people to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings. The process of creating art in therapy can allow a person to work through the trauma with the therapist.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy provides practical support to empower people to recover and overcome barriers preventing them from doing activities that matter to them. Using activity, Occupational Therapy can help achieve peoples’ goals and where possible improve their mental wellbeing and increase confidence. This work can be done individually or in group settings. Occupational Therapists work in partnership with the person to support recovery and improve their quality of life. In partnership with the Forestry Commission, The Anchor’s Occupational Therapist runs the Branching Out group.
- Branching Out aims to provide opportunities to experience relaxation with a reduction in symptoms intensity and levels of distress; opportunities to experience pleasure and enjoyment in nature based activities; opportunities to develop an enhanced sense of self, an increase in self-confidence and self-esteem; opportunities to reconnect with previously valued activities and roles; opportunities to experience increased interpersonal and social competencies as a result of involvement in an activity based group.
Safety and Stabilisation groups
The GPTS currently offers Safety and Stabilisation groups. The most commonly run group is called Safe Place to Cope (SPTC).
Safe Place to Cope (SPTC)
The SPTC group aims to promote skills to enable those seeking asylum and victims of trafficking to manage distress and regulate emotions following cumulative trauma. Although it is provided in a group format, there is no requirement for people to disclose anything about their own experience of trauma. Attendees are supported to develop resources and problems solving skills in mastering distress linked to trauma they have experienced, as well as support resilience and develop a sense of connectedness with their community.
Survive & Thrive Group
Survive & Thrive is a group-based educational course which provides a ‘Phase one’ treatment for people who have experienced complex trauma and have mental health needs arising from this. In the group, people learn about the common responses to the experience of complex trauma, and ways to manage common symptoms. Although it is provided in a group format, there is no requirement for people to disclose anything about their own experience of trauma. It has been developed by the NHS in Scotland and is widely available across most NHS boards in Scotland. The GTPS can provide access to this phase 1 psychoeducational group following assessment, through NHSGGC Glasgow Psychological Therapies Groups Service.
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