About Us

The UKPTS is a not-for-profit membership organisation which exists to promote evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to public policy and treatment.

Our aims are:

• To provide a forum for multi-disciplinary professionals working in the field of psychotrauma to share ideas and knowledge relevant to their work in the field
• To provide considered, and evidence based, comment on psychological trauma on behalf of the membership in order to aid those who might be affected by traumatic events
• To provide a forum for health professionals that lead clinical traumatic stress services to meet and share best practice and informal peer supervision
• To provide members with access to quality, affordable CPD events that will support the continuing development of best practice in the field of psychotraumatology
• To promote practice, guidance and policy which has as its aim the alleviation of suffering as a result of psychological trauma through dissemination of evidence based prevention, early detection and treatment
• To maintain a close relationship with the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and other organisations with an interest in traumatic stress

Current board members

After completing his undergraduate psychology degree from Glasgow University, Dominic joined King’s College London in 2003 and was part of the team that established the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) and gained his PhD in health psychology from KCL in 2010.  Following this he completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway University in 2013. Since 2013 Professor Murphy has worked at Combat Stress, where he established and now runs the Research Department (combatstress.org.uk/research).  He is Clinical Director of KCMHR, works with NATO and international collaboration groups, and is widely published within the field of trauma.

Rachel is a Clinical Psychologist working in an Adult Community Mental Health Team and Complex Emotional Needs service in London. She studied her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford. She is currently the company director and treasurer of the UKPTS. Prior to this, Rachel completed a BSc in Psychology at Brunel University and an MSc in War and Psychiatry at King’s College London. She has conducted multiple studies exploring the impact of trauma on Veterans, evaluating treatment programs for PTSD, improving services for women with Birth Trauma and individuals from BAME backgrounds, and investigating the impact of trauma on shame, guilt, anger, and mental defeat..

Derek is a Consultant Clinical and Forensic psychologist who is both a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and Consultant EMDR / Clinical Supervisor. He has considerable experience of treating trauma in the UK and the Middle East where he has given and coordinated ongoing training and supervision of practitioners dealing with trauma in Istanbul, Jordan, Gaziantep and other places overcome by traumatic events. He also is a full member of the Child and Educational and Counseling Divisions of the BPS with HCPC protected titles for both. He is vice chair of the European Trauma Aid Association.

Yvonne Farrell is a BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Trainer. Yvonne works in a specialist trauma service Veterans First Point (V1P) in NHS Lothian, managing the complex needs of the veteran population.  In addition she has her own private practice where she sees clients and supervisees, and offers both CBT and trauma-specific training.  After gaining her BSC (Hons) in Psychology, Yvonne had a variety of roles before beginning a career as a therapist.  A longstanding member of the UKPTS, Yvonne is now a board member.

Tony is a GP who has postgraduate qualifications in psychological trauma and EMDR, attaining a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in PTSD and Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms.  A former dentist who worked in maxillofacial surgery, Tony has extensive clinical experience of trauma including a community drugs and alcohol service. As a member of the Traumatic Stress Research group, Cardiff, he has participated in the development of the All-Wales PTSD Research Registry and the Traumatic Stress Quality Improvement initiative. Tony has been involved in new ways of working and led the development of a psychological trauma service in a GP practice, which formed the basis of a Bevan Commission Exemplar project. Tony is also a Visiting Research Fellow at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

David is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Leeds, working in the Leeds Institute for Health Sciences. He completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College London in 2015. David specialises in working with children and young people affected by trauma, with a particular interest in Complex PTSD, attachment and developmental trauma in children, including those who are looked after or adopted. David’s research focuses broadly on the impact of trauma on children and young people, including those affected by medical trauma, refugees and asylum seekers, and the role of childhood adversity on military veterans with PTSD.