Help for people

affected by trauma

Midlands-based Brook Creative Therapy is launching TraumaRelief, an on-line counselling initiative to help people around the country who are affected by trauma as a result of violence, looting and damage to property.

The initiative follows violence in towns and cities around England and the ongoing trauma of British soldiers and their families serving in countries throughout the world.

Even the most stable person can suddenly be affected by trauma. Threats, intimidation, rioting and major loss can lead to innocent people suffering night terrors, uncontrolled thoughts and panic attacks. People find they can no longer get behind the wheel of their car or go to work at their office, factory or store. Parents become terrified for the safety of their children.

TraumaRelief provides counselling to help people get their symptoms into perspective, 'normalising' their reaction and enabling them to move on in life. It is different from crisis intervention and debriefing, which are sometimes offered immediately after the event. Trauma counselling is for people who have got over the initial shock but still have the symptoms.

TraumaRelief is a computer-to-computer service using webcams and Skype or Yahoo Messenger. In this way both the person calling and the counsellor can see each other throughout the session.

The person anywhere in Britain suffering the symptoms of trauma sends an email to Brook Creative Therapy (brookcreativetherapy@gmail.com) giving their name and a rough idea of their availability. They are then sent an appointment with a qualified therapist experienced in trauma counselling, along with a Skype/Messenger user name. Calls are in confidence except where there is a risk to safety. 

The person is entitled to a 20-minute session free of charge to discuss their needs. Sometimes this is all that is necessary. Further sessions, if required, cost just £50 for 50 minutes.

'In towns and cities around the country people are traumatised by the Summer 2011 violence that started in London,' says Roger Day, Brook Creative Therapy's chief executive. 'Vandals and looters have not only destroyed property but also people's jobs, quality of life and sense of security. 

'We believe that TraumaCare can help people to deal with the symptoms of the trauma and get back to normal life. The 20-minute free session we offer every individual who has been traumatised is our small contribution to getting the country back on its feet.'