Emdr On The Nhs

[Notsowild]

@Echo

is considered too brutal for someone like me who has suffered child abuse and rape

I've heard this too! Is it true?

 

[Meadowsweet]

Hi Echo, I was sent to a trauma focused CBT specialist... but she had only dealt with single trauma PTSD before. She told me that she could only offer 20 sessions, and that as my trauma was complex, she felt it would be more damaging to be limited by time, and that she wasn't experienced enough to treat other factors.

But, at the time we were discussing options for me, she told me that EMDR was only offered in my area for single trauma. The reason for this, is that it has a record of bringing up more than a person with complex trauma can cope with, and destabilising them.

I was given the choice to be referred to stage 2 mental health or to a charity that specialised in specific trauma. I went for the charity.

They are much less focused on diagnosis and much more focused on getting to the trauma and how it effects my mind. That has been a much more positive experience.

 

[Echo]

Hi @Notsowild, I'm not sure what the therapy was that the psychologist who assessed me had in mind. When she heard what had happened to me, she told me that it had been developed for Vietnam vets and would be too brutal for someone like me (her words). She refused to give the therapy a name (despite the fact that I specifically asked). At least I have been spared that, I guess.

 

[Echo]

Hi @Meadowsweet (what a lovely name!), one of my questions to the NHS psychologist was how they would stabilise me before going into therapy. I was completely freaked out when she said they wouldn't bother with that; that it was all a waste of time. Luckily, my current therapist (private) has really stressed the importance of stabilising and she, too, says that with CPTSD, you need a lot of preparation before ever going on to EMDR. The issue of EMDR came up because my GP thought I should have it. The more I hear about all these therapies, the more I seem to see how ill-informed so many of these NHS health professionals are about these major interventions.

What does stage 2 mental health involve? This was not mentioned to me. Did you try trauma-focused CBT? I can't see much being achieved in 20 sessions given how many issues there are involved in rape and child abuse, etc., etc. I guess that's the point.