Trauma

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What is Trauma?

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Childhood trauma is becoming understood as a major risk factor for future mental illness in later life. Traumas can be simple, by which we mean singular in nature such as a one-off traumatic event, or complex where there may have been many traumas compounded over time.

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Different things are traumatic for different individuals and traumatic events can be anything from being bullied at school to being involved in a road traffic accident, an incident where the young person felt their life was in danger or physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

Whatever the cause the impact on the young person can be significant if unprocessed trauma is not dealt with. It can cause the mind to replay the traumatic event, make the young person have heightened sense of danger, cause sleep disturbance or bed wetting and in some cases dissociative experiences.

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How is trauma assessed and diagnosed?

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It is essential that cases of trauma are handled sensitively and with planning. It may take several meetings with the psychiatrist or therapist for enough of a therapeutic relationship to be established to begin work with a traumatised young person.

 

In the first instance a thorough history would be taken with as much collaborative back ground as possible. 

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How is trauma treated?

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There is no singular medication which can treat trauma although sometimes medication to help with sleep and mood is used to reduce the impact of these issues.

 

There are several psychological approaches which can be very effective once the young person is in a stable enough place to engage with them. The include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and Trauma focussed CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). All cases need to be treated on an individual basis as there is no "one size fits all" solution.

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Cost for initial 90 minute assessment with Dr Reeves - £480; further therapy and medical reviews will be necessary following this