Help for Trauma and PTSD in the UK: Where to Start

The NHS says the main symptom is distressing thoughts about a traumatic event that keep coming back, such as flashbacks, intrusive images or nightmares. Other signs can include avoiding reminders, feeling on edge and looking for danger all the time, sleep problems, feeling disconnected, and changes in mood. Symptoms can start straight away or months, even years, later.

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) has largely the same symptoms but different causes, such as child abuse or neglect, ongoing domestic abuse, or repeatedly witnessing violence or abuse. Children can show PTSD differently, for example re-enacting events in play or having new sleep problems. Source: NHS: PTSD.

The NHS says NHS Talking Therapies can help with PTSD. In England, if you're 18 or over (or 16 or over in some areas), you can refer yourself without a GP referral: find your local service. You can also see a GP, who will ask about your symptoms and can refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a talking therapies service or a psychiatrist. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, your GP is usually the first step. For under-18s, see NHS: mental health support for children and young people.

A GP and mental health specialist will work with you on a treatment plan. The NHS lists:

• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a talking therapy focused on the traumatic event and how it affects you now.
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), where eye movements are used to help process traumatic memories.
• Medicines, usually an antidepressant. Medicines are a decision for you and a doctor, such as your GP or a psychiatrist.

Source: NHS: PTSD treatment.

• Op COURAGE: the NHS mental health service in England for veterans, reservists, people due to leave the armed forces and their families. The NHS says you need to live in England, have served at least a full day, be registered (or able to register) with a GP in England, and give your service number. More on support for veterans and forces families.
• Rape Crisis 24/7 Support Line: free on 0808 500 2222 or online chat, for anyone aged 16 or over in England and Wales affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other sexual violence.
• Getting help for your child's mental health, if the person affected is a child or teenager.

If you want to start sooner, choose who you see, or have longer-term therapy, you can see a private practitioner. Several professions work with trauma, and none is better for everyone. Ask any practitioner about their training and experience in trauma, and whether they offer trauma-focused CBT, EMDR or another approach:

• Practitioner psychologists, such as clinical and counselling psychologists, who are on the HCPC register.
• Psychotherapists and counsellors with trauma training.
• CBT therapists, some of whom offer trauma-focused CBT.
• Arts therapists and dance movement psychotherapists, if putting things into words feels hard.
• Child and adolescent psychotherapists and play therapists, for children and young people.
• Occupational therapists, who can help with getting back to daily routines, work and activities.
• Psychiatrists, medical doctors who can assess, diagnose and prescribe.

Whoever you choose, check their register and ask about fees, session length and how you will review progress together. See questions to ask before you book and how much therapy costs. On Therapist Circle, each practitioner's registration is checked when they join, and their profile shows the register and number so you can check it yourself.