Trauma can affect anyone. A single distressing event, a difficult childhood, prolonged stress, or repeated exposure to harmful situations can all leave a lasting mark on how you feel, think, and cope with everyday life.

You may find that certain memories refuse to fade, that you feel constantly on edge, or that you have started avoiding situations that remind you of what happened. These are normal responses to abnormal experiences — but when they persist, specialist treatment can help.

At PROMIS, we have treated trauma and its effects since 1987. Our clinical team uses evidence-based approaches including EMDR, CBT, and somatic therapies to help you process what has happened and reduce the hold it has on your daily life.

Understanding Trauma

Trauma is not a single event — it is the lasting emotional and psychological impact of distressing experiences such as abuse, neglect, accidents, violence, or loss. People respond to trauma in different ways, and what feels manageable for one person can be overwhelming for another.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This may include violence, abuse, accidents, military combat, or any situation that felt life-threatening.

It is common to experience distressing memories, difficulty sleeping, and heightened anxiety after such events. For some people, these symptoms ease within weeks. For others, they persist and begin to interfere with work, relationships, and daily life.

If symptoms continue beyond a few months, this may indicate PTSD — a condition that responds well to specialist treatment.

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD develops from repeated or prolonged traumatic experiences, rather than a single event. Common causes include childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence, and other situations where the person felt trapped or powerless over an extended period.

Treatment for trauma is available residentially at our London and Kent clinics, as a day patient, or through outpatient and online sessions. Call us confidentially on 0207 581 8222 (London) or 01304 841 700 (Kent).

SPEAK TO OUR TEAM

Trauma can result from something that happened to you directly or something you witnessed happening to someone else. Common signs and symptoms include:

Reliving The Traumatic Event

Unwanted memories of trauma can appear unexpectedly. They may feel vivid and distressing, as though the event is happening again — this is known as a flashback. You may also experience nightmares or find that certain sounds, smells, or situations trigger intense emotional reactions.

These responses are the nervous system’s way of trying to protect you. They are not a sign of weakness, but they can become overwhelming without the right support.

Avoidance Behaviours

You may find yourself avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of the traumatic event. This can gradually narrow your life, making it harder to work, socialise, or maintain relationships.

Negative Thoughts And Feelings

Trauma can lead to persistent feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame. You may feel emotionally numb, disconnected from others, or find it difficult to experience positive emotions. Some people notice changes in how they see themselves or the world around them.

Feeling On Edge

After a traumatic experience, your nervous system may remain in a heightened state of alert. You might find it difficult to sleep, concentrate, or relax. You may feel constantly on edge, irritable, or easily startled by everyday sounds or movements.

Trauma Treatment

At PROMIS, trauma treatment combines specialist psychotherapy with psychiatric support where needed. The aim is to help you process traumatic memories safely, reduce symptoms, and build lasting resilience.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you understand how traumatic memories affect your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. By identifying and working with unhelpful thinking patterns, CBT can reduce the intensity of trauma responses and help you develop more effective ways of coping.

CBT can also help reduce avoidance patterns that may be keeping you stuck. At PROMIS, our therapists use trauma-focused CBT techniques to help you process difficult memories and gradually re-engage with the life you want to live.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a structured therapy that helps you gradually and safely confront the memories and situations you have been avoiding. While avoidance provides temporary relief, it can maintain trauma symptoms over time.

In PE, you work with your therapist to face difficult memories and situations in a controlled, safe environment. This process can reduce the fear and distress associated with traumatic memories, helping you regain a sense of control.

Over time, repeated processing of the traumatic memory helps reduce its emotional intensity, so that it no longer dominates your thoughts and feelings.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps you process distressing memories that have become ‘stuck’ in the nervous system. Rather than talking through the trauma in detail, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess these memories naturally.

Many people find that EMDR can reduce the intensity of traumatic memories relatively quickly. At PROMIS, EMDR is one of our core therapeutic approaches for trauma.

Pharmacological Intervention

While therapy is the primary treatment for trauma, medication can play a supportive role in managing symptoms such as severe anxiety, sleep difficulties, or depression.

Our psychiatrists can assess whether medication would be helpful as part of your treatment plan. Where prescribed, medication is carefully monitored and used to support the therapeutic process — not to replace it.

If you are currently taking prescribed medication, our clinical team will work alongside your existing care. We never recommend stopping medication without proper medical guidance.

PTSD Residential Treatment in the UK

If you are struggling with the effects of trauma, speaking to a specialist is a practical first step. At PROMIS, we have treated trauma and its related conditions since 1987, and our clinical team can help you understand what is happening and what treatment would be most effective.

Call us confidentially on 0207 581 8222 (London) or 01304 841 700 (Kent), or contact us online. There is no obligation to book — we are happy to have an initial conversation about your situation.

PROMIS is not an emergency service. If you feel unable to stay safe, please contact NHS 111, your local A&E, or your local crisis team.