Service : Traumatic Stress Service

We can offer psychological support if you’re living with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), including re-experiencing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.

We all react to difficult situation in different ways.

Your CPTSD might be caused from a traumatic experience, such as:

• repeated or prolonged trauma, including physical or sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, trafficking, torture, detention
• childhood abuse
• traumatic bereavement or exposure to violent loss
• refugee or asylum-seeking experiences, such as war or conflict
• traumatic birth experiences
• ongoing struggles with intense shame, guilt, or self-criticism

Our goal is to help you process and understanding your experiences, reduce distress, and work towards rebuilding a life aligned with your values.

We offer therapy sessions both in-person, and through video calls. Our face-to-face sessions are offered in our clinics in Reading or Slough.

You must be aged 18 and over, and experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD).

Unfortunately, we do not accept self-referrals.

You can be referred by your GP or another healthcare professional

Our referrals are managed through our Berkshire Healthcare Gateway service.

You will receive an initial assessment as part of our One Team process to understand your needs, so that we can consider which service can bets support you.

As a National Centre of Excellence, we also accept referrals from across the UK, provided that appropriate funding has been agreed.

If you live outside of Berkshire, please speak to your GP about your options for referral.

Waiting list and appointments

If we can accept your referral, we'll place you onto an assessment waiting list.

We’ll then call or send a letter to you to arrange your assessment appointment.

We'll ask for your preference of whether you would like to visit one of our clinics at Erlegh House (Reading) or The Athena Centre (Slough), or have a video call.

We’ll send you a pre-assessment booklet, covering what you can expect in our therapy sessions.

Your assessment will last for around 60-90 minutes. During the session, we’ll talk with you about your experiences, current difficulties, and goals for treatment.

We won’t ask you to describe in depth what happened to you.

We may ask you to tell us briefly about these experiences, but only as much as you feel comfortable sharing.

All our clinic rooms are either located on the ground floor or are accessible by lift.

We also provide designated parking spaces for Blue Badge holders in our car park.

Bringing someone with you

We understand that attending an assessment can feel overwhelming. You’re welcome to bring a friend, family member, or carer for support.

They can either accompany you into the session or wait in the waiting room if you prefer to attend the appointment alone.

Support pets

Please let us know in advance if you have a support pet and would like to bring them.

After your appointment

You’re welcome to take some time in our waiting area to take a break after your session.

Treatment pathway

We can work with you to create a treatment plan which moves through different phases, to help you understand trauma memories.

This will follow four phases.

Take a look at our service booklet for more information about our therapy approach.

Phase 1 – Understanding and Coping with Complex PTSD

We learn more about PTSD and Complex PTSD and develop skills to manage the main symptoms.

Depending on your needs and preferences, therapy may be provided as a one to one session with a therapist, or in a group setting with up to eight participants.

Phase 2 – Developing Compassionate Resilience

We explore our capacity for self-compassion, which is a much-needed skill to help manage strong emotions and the tendency to blame ourselves for things that have happened in our lives. 

Therapy may be provided as a one to one session with a therapist or in a group setting with up to eight participants.

Phase 3 – Working on Trauma Memories

We make sense of your traumatic experiences and, and more directly with flashbacks and difficult memories.

There are three types of therapy that we may recommend:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

We decide together the right option for you.

We always provide this part of the therapy as a one to one session with a therapist.

Phase 4 – Living Life After Trauma Therapy

You discover how you would like to live in line with your values and self-compassion.

Depending on your needs and preferences, therapy may be provided as a one to one session with a therapist or in a group setting with up to eight participants.

Understanding and Coping with PTSD and Complex PTSD

Our service booklet for Understanding PTSD and Complex PTSD contains techniques you may want to try that are designed to help with some of the troubling symptoms of PTSD and Complex PTSD.

Read Chapter 2 of our Understanding PTSD booklet

Advice for Friends and Family

Our Friends and Family booklet has information on PTSD and Complex PTSD, trauma-focused therapy, as well as tips for supporting your loved one and you.

Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse

Their aim is to reduce the impact of child sexual abuse through improved prevention and better response.

• Visit CSA website

Dr. Deborah Lee

Deborah Lee is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Deborah has been nationally recognised by the HSJ as one of the Top 50 Inspirational Women in Healthcare.

Her expertise lies with the nature and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She covers topics around PTSD and trauma on her JAAQ profile

• Visit Dr Lee's JAAQ profile

PTSD UK 

Learn about PTSD charity, and explore their resources that can help you. 

• Visit PTSD UK website

BWA

BWA supports anyone facing domestic abuse by offering safe refuge, emotional guidance, and expert help to move toward a life free from fear.

• Visit BWA website

ManKind

Helping men escape domestic abuse, explore ManKind website on the support available. 

• Visit ManKind website