trauma therapy

hyancinth

Hi All

I recently had very basic cbt, it was quite pointless as cbt tbh. Out of maybe 7 appts 4 were spent asking me how I am and discussing putting me forward for step 4? trauma therapy almost from the start. I did not expect this at all.

It was like the therapist just wanted to waste the appts and put me forward for step 4.

I know I have cptsd. I have all the background and have done the ace test several times coming up very high in the results. I have accidentally come across alot of material on why I do this or that and it was a revelation.

However UK is well behind with mental health and cptsd is not recognised in current dsm. NHS recognise ptsd but not cptsd, crazy. So whats the point? How do I make sure I want them to note cptsd. Or am I being tricked into something?

Anybody had their assessments after referral for step 4 trauma? what does it ask, how tough is it. I feel these assessments are bizarre. They would be better off asking pertinent questions or letting you write a brief history.

TIA

66Mustang

I was diagnosed with CPTSD without previously being diagnosed with PTSD. I don't know the formality of that diagnosis, though. Maybe on my record it's just PTSD. The way I understand it from their website, the NHS do recognise CPTSD symptoms in PTSD patients but they don't treat it as a different condition, if that makes sense, more just an enhanced form of PTSD, which I suppose it is

I've had similar with appointments though. They can spend lots of time just asking if you're planning to do anything to yourself that, basically, if they didn't ask would meant them getting a bad mark on their performance record. I've had therapists who've made a joke of it with me to be fair, us both acknowledging the questions are just to tick boxes for the bureaucrats

WelshBlue

I've been through stage 4 trauma therapy with a clinical psychologist.

18 months of exposure therapy weekly … very difficult emotionally. Didn't quite 'heal' me

24 months of EMDR treatment … a very powerful, emotionally draining, it was very challenging to go through it weekly, I used to dread Fridays. The power of watching a moving finger … words can't describe it unless you go through it. Powerful is the best I can do

Now I'm out the other side, yeah I relapse but I can deal with it. The debt I owe to a wonderful professional, a great person can never be repaid

Box ticking, questionaires - all worth it if you can get the help you need to be 'yourself' again. We all deserve that