Advice for the Public
Getting help for trauma-related difficulties
If you are a survivor of trauma and are having psychological difficulties which are linked to this experience then you may want to find a good service that can help you. After a traumatic experience it is very common to have difficulties for the first month and people may then recover using their normal ways of dealing with stress or with the support of family or friends.
Sometimes the difficulties persist though, and it can be good to speak to your GP or a trusted person about what support is available in your area. It is not always easy speaking to your GP. It may help to say that you are hoping to access psychological therapy for trauma related difficulties. You do not need to describe the trauma (s) in detail but you can explain how you think you are affected now.
Below are some questions that may guide your search:
What can trauma-related difficulties look like?
Trauma can affect people in many different ways. It can depend on what happened, what else was happening in your life at the time, what meaning you made of what happened and what support has been available to you.
You may have very difficult memories of the trauma which may make you feel that the traumatic event is happening again. You may try to avoid things or places that make you think about the trauma. You may find that sometimes you space out and find it difficult to concentrate. You may have difficulty sleeping or relaxing, or may feel constantly anxious. You may feel low or depressed which you think is linked to your experiences of trauma, or you may feel guilt or shame.
You may find that situations in which your trust or choice is compromised can lead to trauma-related distress. You may find some difficulty in forming or maintaining relationships. You may find it hard to manage emotions. You may feel bad about yourself or feel differently about the world.
These are just some of the ways that trauma can affect you. Everyone is different. It is important to remember that this does not mean there is anything wrong with you. These responses are normal responses to abnormal events and are often ways of surviving the difficult experiences. You may also find that you have developed skills and resilience because of how you have coped with what has happened to you.
NHS Choices has some helpful information about Post Traumatic Stress disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Does the service I am speaking to operate according to trauma-informed principles?
Areas across the country may differ as to whether they have specific specialist services for trauma or whether they have services that offer a range of psychological therapies for a range of difficulties. However if you are looking to access psychological help for difficulties linked to trauma, it is good if the service is “trauma-informed”. This means that:
- The workers in the service understand that trauma is widespread and can affect people in many different ways.
- Trauma can be a one off event e.g. a car crash or can be repeated events like domestic violence, sexual abuse, torture
- Trauma involves threat or danger but also breaches of trust, lack of control, powerlessness, coercion
- Trauma –informed principles of safety, trust, collaboration, choice and empowerment should be prioritised in any treatment or therapy
- More detailed information on trauma-informed principles can be found in this guide: Transforming Psychological Trauma, published by the Scottish NHS.
Are the services on offer evidence-based therapies?
This means the service is using the research about what works best to help people with different difficulties. You can find out more about this in this guide to evidence-based therapies for PTSD from NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Does the service offer its staff the appropriate training, support and supervision?
All health care staff are expected to have appropriate training to deal with the aftermath of psychological trauma. Health care staff should also be appropriately supported when they help others to overcome their difficulties. You should expect health care staff in services to:
- Be able to apply appropriate skills to deliver evidence based and tailor made interventions and always prioritise safety
- Be able to respond in a sensitive and compassionate manner
- Be respectful of cultural diversity and cultural bias.
- Operate within the limitations of their role and skills.
- Practice as a reflective practitioners and be able to access supervision that is appropriate to their role.
- Be able to signpost for further help and support as needed
- Be open to feedback
- Be committed to Continuous Professional Development (CPD)