Traumatic Stress service
We can help you if you’ve experienced a trauma and are coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).
Traumatic experiences can have a real impact on both your physical and mental health, even years after the actual incident.
We may be able to offer you specialist treatment if:
- You’ve experienced repeated or prolonged trauma, such as, physical/sexual assaults, domestic violence, torture
- You’re a refugee or asylum-seeker
- You’ve experienced childhood abuse
- You’ve experienced a birth trauma
- You’re struggling to come to terms with strong feelings of shame and self-criticism
Once you’ve been referred to us, we’ll ask you to opt-in for an assessment with us.
We’ll talk to you about the difficulties you’re facing and decide together with you whether our service can offer the support you need. If so, we’ll arrange a treatment schedule with you.
To access our service, your healthcare professional needs to refer you through our Common Point of Entry (CPE) team.
Call 0300 365 2000 (Press option 4)
Email gateway@berkshire.nhs.uk
We take referrals from Berkshire but, as a National Centre of Excellence, we also take referrals nationally when funding has been agreed.
Once your referral has been accepted, you will be invited to ‘opt-in’ to our service and begin your assessment.
If you live outside of Berkshire and need support, please speak to your GP for the best available option for you.
The types of trauma-focussed therapy we offer may be provided either one-to-one, or as group therapy.
The therapy follows four different phases, but we’ll recommend the right approach for your needs.
Understanding and Coping with Complex PTSD
To help you to understand more about PTSD and Complex PTSD and develop the skills to manage the main symptoms.
Developing Compassionate Resilience
To help you understand why you may have difficulty with shame and self-criticism, and how you may treat, feel and speak about yourself.
Working on Trauma Memories
To help you process traumatic memories, in a safe and calm environment. There are three types of therapy that we may recommend at this step, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET).
When you begin this phase of treatment, we’ll decide together with you the right option.
Living Life after Trauma Therapy
To help you think about and reconnect with what’s important to you in your life, what you value and what you’d like to be doing.
| Day of the week | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am to 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am to 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
Our mental health teams and services, including Talking Therapies, are available if you need support.
Find out how to access mental health support
You can also find resources and guides on our website to help you if you need more advice.
