PTSD Treatment London
PTSD treatment is a specific approach to help people with PTSD symptoms. We use a number of trauma informed approaches which include EMDR therapy, psychotherapy, cognitive processing therapy, trauma release exercises and techniques underpinned by polyvagal theory. Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is the leading evidence based treatment for PTSD. It is important to use specific trauma specific focused therapies because traditional types of therapy can re-trigger trauma and PTSD symptoms.
1 in 10 people in the UK are expected to experience PTSD symptoms at some point in their lifetime. Around 20% of people who have experienced a trauma will go on to develop PTSD. This is 10% of the UK population. The majority of people who experience a trauma will experience some form of trauma symptoms but these usually fade after a few weeks. If you have been through a trauma and you are still experiencing symptoms a month later you might be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
If left untreated PTSD symptoms can lead to other mental health complications and maladaptive coping mechanisms. Examples could include, anxiety, depression and addiction.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD is a trauma and stress related disorder NOT an anxiety disorder. PTSD is an acronym which stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It covers a specific set of symptoms which include changes in psychological functioning, somatic functioning and behavioural functioning. PTSD type symptoms can begin soon after a traumatic event or months or years later. If symptoms are experienced in the first few weeks following a trauma they are considered to be trauma symptoms. If they last for longer than one month they are considered to be PTSD symptoms.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD is a trauma and stress related disorder NOT an anxiety disorder. PTSD is an acronym which stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It covers a specific set of symptoms which include changes in psychological functioning, somatic functioning and behavioural functioning. PTSD type symptoms can begin soon after a traumatic event or months or years later. If symptoms are experienced in the first few weeks following a trauma they are considered to be trauma symptoms. If they last for longer than one month they are considered to be PTSD symptoms.
PTSD Symptoms
PTSD symptoms vary from person to person. A person might experience one or two symptoms or lots of symptoms. The severity of those symptoms might also vary. They can manifest immediately after a traumatic event or weeks, months or years later. Dormant symptoms can also be triggered by subsequent experience of trauma.
PTSD symptoms might include: Disturbing and unwanted memories of the trauma.
Feeling like you are reliving the trauma in the present
You are having to consciously avoid memories or things that remind you of the trauma.
You experience negative feelings about yourself or the world
You blame yourself or someone else for what happened
Feeling detached from the world
Feeling jumpy or easily startled
Feeling stressed most of the time
Sleeping difficulties
PTSD Symptoms
PTSD symptoms vary from person to person. A person might experience one or two symptoms or lots of symptoms. The severity of those symptoms might also vary. They can manifest immediately after a traumatic event or weeks, months or years later. Dormant symptoms can also be triggered by subsequent experience of trauma.
PTSD symptoms might include: Disturbing and unwanted memories of the trauma.
Feeling like you are reliving the trauma in the present
You are having to consciously avoid memories or things that remind you of the trauma.
You experience negative feelings about yourself or the world
You blame yourself or someone else for what happened
Feeling detached from the world
Feeling jumpy or easily startled
Feeling stressed most of the time
Sleeping difficulties
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Version 5 - 2013
'The essential feature of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to one or more traumatic events. The clinical presentation of (PTSD) varies. In some individuals, fear-based re-experiencing, emotional, and behavioural symptoms may predominate. In others, dysphoric mood states and negative cognitions may be most distressing. In some cases, arousal and reactive-externalising symptoms are prominent, while in others dissociative symptoms predominate. Some individuals exhibit combinations of these symptom patterns.' REF: DSM-5 APA, 2013
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Version 5 - 2013
'The essential feature of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to one or more traumatic events. The clinical presentation of (PTSD) varies. In some individuals, fear-based re-experiencing, emotional, and behavioural symptoms may predominate. In others, dysphoric mood states and negative cognitions may be most distressing. In some cases, arousal and reactive-externalising symptoms are prominent, while in others dissociative symptoms predominate. Some individuals exhibit combinations of these symptom patterns.' REF: DSM-5 APA, 2013
Risk Factors Related To Developing PTSD
The majority of trauma experienced in life happens within the home. Experiencing trauma as part of a close attachment figure can increase the risk of developing PTSD or complex PTSD. The number of traumatic incidents you experience in life can increase the risk of developing PTSD symptoms. If a single event trauma is life threatening to yourself or a loved one it increases the risk of developing symptoms. Sexual trauma also carries a higher risk than some other types of trauma in someone developing PTSD symptoms.
Some societal groups are at a higher risk than other groups in society. These groups include: LGBTQ community, living in a deprived area, being in problem debt, being of working age, being in poor physical health of having a physical health condition all increase the chances of experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Risk Factors Related To Developing PTSD
The majority of trauma experienced in life happens within the home. Experiencing trauma as part of a close attachment figure can increase the risk of developing PTSD or complex PTSD. The number of traumatic incidents you experience in life can increase the risk of developing PTSD symptoms. If a single event trauma is life threatening to yourself or a loved one it increases the risk of developing symptoms. Sexual trauma also carries a higher risk than some other types of trauma in someone developing PTSD symptoms.
Some societal groups are at a higher risk than other groups in society. These groups include: LGBTQ community, living in a deprived area, being in problem debt, being of working age, being in poor physical health of having a physical health condition all increase the chances of experiencing PTSD symptoms.
PTSD Prevalence In UK Population 2025
Source: Post-traumatic stress disorder statistics 2025 - Priory Group
Professional help for PTSD
Matthew Alderton - Psychotherapist
MA, BSc, PG Dip, PG Dip Psych
I am a trauma informed psychotherapist and emdr practitioner. It is important to see a trauma informed therapist because traditional therapies like counselling and psychotherapy can re-trigger PTSD symptoms and trauma symptoms if they are not administered in the right way. I use psychotherapy as a basis for adjunct EMDR therapy to help clients with trauma symptoms and PTSD symptoms. I also use techniques based in polyvagal theory, trauma release, emotional freedom technique, cognitive processing therapy and body psychotherapy. EMDR is the leading evidence based treatment for PTSD. I work in a holistic integrative way, taking into account the ecology of a person's life as well as their mind, body and soul. I am personable, friendly and down to earth. I provide a safe, confidential, collaborative environment for you to work through your difficulty. I look forward to hearing from you.
CPT
Cognitive processing therapy helps to address specific trauma related stuck points e.g. power and control, safety, intimacy etc. It can be used as an EMDR alternative and is homework based.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing therapy is the leading evidence based approach to PTSD. It is a somatic psychotherapy which helps you to desensitise and reprocess a traumatic experience.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy provides a solid base to work from in relation to trauma focused approaches. It can also help provide insight and understanding into the role of the psyche in relation to a traumatic experience.
Body Psychotherapy
Body psychotherapy addresses somatic issues caused by trauma. Working with trauma requires a bottom up as well as a top down approach. We use trauma release exercises, polyvagal theory and other somatic approaches to help with trauma.
Trauma & Somatic Therapy Explained
This video explains the journey a person might go on, in relation to experiencing trauma, the nature of trauma and how somatic therapy (including EMDR) has helped them overcome trauma.
Warning: (this video contains scenes some viewers might find upsetting).
Bilateral Movement
EMDR therapy utilises bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation refers to a gentle stimulation of the right and left side of the body alternately. Bilateral stimulation is carried out at different speeds depending on the EMDR therapy phase of treatment.
This can include following a finger, light stick or moving ball. It can also include physical body tapping, auditory beats or bleeps or vibrating buzzers. Or a combination of several forms of billateral stimulation.
How Can EMDR Therapy Help With PTSD?
When we experience a trauma, we may have difficulty integrating and processing the trauma into our everyday experience. It is the difficulty we have in integrating our experience that results in trauma or PTSD symptoms.
Unprocessed trauma can colour our experience of life and take us away from a point of balance and homeostasis. It could be likened to a splinter in the skin which prevents healing. Once the splinter is removed healing can begin. Trauma processing and desensitisation works in a similar way but instead of removing the trauma we are able to process and integrate our traumatic experience. This means that a person is no longer triggered when they remember it and natural healing can begin.
EMDR therapy identifies and helps us to desensitise and re-process trauma experience with billateral stimulation. It is this re-processing of the trauma that enables cognitions to become more adaptive and we become desensitised to the traumatic experience. This means that we can look back on a traumatic experience without being re-traumatised by it.
PTSD Treatment Benefits
Present
Reprocessing trauma helps us to live back in the present moment with the ability to enjoy life to the full.
Connect
Reconnect to our true selves in a healthy way without trauma symptoms. 'I feel like me again'.
Balance
When trauma triggers are reduced we can restor balance and homeostasis back into our lives.
Happiness
When we reconnect to our selves, restore homeostasis and feel back in balance we are naturally happier.
PTSD Treatment Benefits
Present
Reprocessing trauma helps us to live back in the present moment with the ability to enjoy life to the full.
Balance
When trauma triggers are reduced we can restore balance and homeostasis back into our lives.
Connect
Reconnect to our true selves in a healthy way without trauma symptoms. 'I feel like me again'.
Happiness
When we reconnect to our selves, restore homeostasis and feel back in balance we are naturally happier.
Client's Experience Of PTSD Treatment
PTSD Treatment London
We are located at Beachamp lodge in Little Venice Paddington. We are a two minute walk from Warwick avenue and a five minute walk from Paddington station.
Centre For Counselling & Psychotherapy Education
Beauchamp Lodge
Little Venice
Paddington
London
W2 6NE
Therapy Enquiry
If you would like to book therapy with us or have a therapy enquiry please fill in our contact form.