Single or repeated exposure to traumatic events can shatter people's lives. Trauma can have a profound effect on the way people feel about themsleves and others, and the nature of the world around them. Our approach is to work openly and collaboratively with our clients to develop a joint understanding of the problems they face.
Our approach is based on the most up to date research and treatment methods in the field of trauma. We specialise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is a problem oriented therapy focusing on the here and now. Other treatments may include:
All our clinical work is confidential, although it is usually helpful to liaise with a client's GP or with other professionals involved in their care. We may include partners or family members in therapy if the client agrees to this.
Treatment will usually involve a series of psychotherapy sessions with an experienced therapist. The number of sessions will be agreed upon during the initial sessions between patient and therapist, for example 10 sessions. The therapy will be tailored to an individual's needs through discussion - even knowing what is happening can in fact have extremely beneficial effects on the patient and may be a powerful aid to recovery in itself. The emphasis at the Rivers' Centre will be the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which focuses on correcting the sufferer's painful and intrusive patterns of behaviour and thoughts. It is a problem-oriented therapy which focuses on the 'here and now' in a collaborative venture between patient and therapist.
The manner in which a person interprets events (images, thoughts and attitudes) are said to be our cognitions, i.e. a persons mood reflects the way they might think. The focus is not on thinking positively, rather it is to challenge self-defeating beliefs. This is a skill which can be learned and which is practiced by the patient in a self-help format with the therapist as a guide.
One method of challenging beliefs is to act against them. The emphasis is therefore on helping patients to change the way they act whilst integrating strategies to help them acknowledge their fears and reinterpret their symptoms. For most of our patients, both components will be integrated from the beginning of treatment.
Anti depressants can be effective as an adjunct to psychological treatment as many people who suffer from PTSD have symptoms of depression. However, drug treatment will not be used as a matter of routine.