Difficult or Distressing Experiences, Trauma and PTSD

Trauma is the term used to describe our emotional response to a terrible event or events; it is a small word for a complex and personal set of physical, emotional and cognitive reactions. Traumatic events impacting children and young people are likely to impact the whole family.

We work with children, young people, young adults and families who have experienced an acute, single traumatic event (such as a car accident); who have experienced a chronic repeated trauma such as bullying, on-going abuse or those who have experienced developmental trauma through early experiences such as loss, disruption to the early relationship between child and parent/carer. Our clinicians can help parents and carers to understand their child’s reactions, to know how to best respond and support them and to help young people and families to cope with trauma.

We offer evidence-based therapy for trauma and PTSD and can offer parenting support to help parents and carers to support their child.

• CBT
• EMDR
• Narrative Exposure Therapy

Responses to significant life events are unique and personal but for many young people and families’ loss, such as bereavement and significant life events such as separation and divorce can be deeply distressing, confusing or frightening. The ways in which young people respond and try to cope can be concerning to parents and carers, such as panic, denial, dissociation, hyperactivity, sleep problems, regressive behaviours such as wetting or soiling and others. Our clinicians can support parents and carers in supporting children ahead of anticipated changes and loss or in response to these events.

We offer a range of therapeutic approaches to help young people to understand their emotional and behavioural responses to these and support them to process the loss and change, manage their emotions and behaviours and adjust.

• CBT
• EMDR
• Narrative Therapy
• Family and Parenting support