This is a space to find resources to help you while waiting to see us and to explore community activities taking place.
Learning about trauma
Podcasts and articles about trauma
- Trauma – TST (tstresources.org)
- Public Resources – ISSTD (isst-d.org)
- Why Emotional Neglect Can Feel Like Abandonment
- Trauma Informed Care – Health Innovation NENC
- Podcast: The Social Matters Podcast: Episode 5 (S5). The Impact of Childhood Sexual Violence (feat. Patrick Sandford)
- Podcast: Conversations with Annalisa Barbieri podcast – Understanding the Impact of Child Sexual Abuse with consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy Dr Jo Stubley
- Podcast: How Trauma Can Affect Everyday Life with consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy Jo Stubley
- Podcast: Jungian Podcast – Hansel and Gretel: Overcoming Trauma
- Podcast: The Wellbeing Lab podcast – Trauma and EMDR with Jo Stubley
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- PTSD UK – information, resources, coping skills
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)
- Complex Trauma – video, book and audio resources
Dissociative identity disorder
The mind-body connection
- Trauma and the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Perspective: Trauma and the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Perspective (youtube.com)
- Pain and the nervous system: Understanding Pain in less than 5 minutes, and what to do about it! – YouTube
- Trauma and Memories: Trauma and Memory (blueknot.org.au)
- Trauma/-informed dentistry: Zaks Dental
Coping with trauma symptoms
Coping with trauma memories
- Breathing work | Jane O’Rourke (janeorourke.com) – breathing exercises
Coping with dissociation
Managing difficult emotions
- Compassionate Mind – video, book and audio resources
- 8 Tips Complex Trauma Survivors Need to Know About Living With Chronic Suicidality
- Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials | The BMJ – research on the efficacy of exercise (yoga, walking, strength training) in coping with trauma symptoms
Medication
Many people who come to us have had previous contact with mental health services and are on a variety of medication, often at times of crisis. We have found that sometimes this means the medication is simply continued without a conversation ever happening with either a psychiatrist or a GP to see if this is still needed.
It is also important to note that coming off some medication (anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, benzodiazepines, many pain medications) can cause withdrawal. It is really important that a clear plan of slow reduction with support is implemented.
You are welcome to discuss this with your case manager or therapist and they may support you in having this discussion with your GP and / or psychiatrist.
Art and activism
Experts by experience
Our experts by experience practitioners are staff members who previously accessed treatment in the service and are now employed to support others through their treatment.
Message from our practitioners:
Our aim is to provide emotional and social support to individuals facing or navigating challenging situations. Our goal is to give hope and encourage steps towards healing and towards planning the future, focusing on inner strength and potential.
We do this primarily by drawing on our own lived experiences of such circumstances. Our core listening skills, empathic and compassionate approach helps reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. We provide a professional but less clinical space to help individuals feel empowered and confident to express themselves.
As experts by experience we bring a wealth of knowledge and add another dimension to the work of the trauma unit. Our wish is that patients incorporate this opportunity as part of their recovery journey.
If you would like to refer yourself or someone for this service or just enquire, please speak to your psychotherapist, case manager or contact us directly via admin and we will arrange to speak to you.
Community services that can help
Reporting sexual abuse
Domestic violence
- Respect Phone Line: A service that works with perpetrators and survivors. There is a phone line you can use to have a conversation about your behaviour and/or your partners behaviour
- DFV Benchbook: Information about victims as alleged perpetrators
- The Duluth Model: Video’s helping to understand the power and control wheel
- How to tell if your partner is changing their behaviour [PDF]
- Womens aid Survivors handbook
Survivors’ voices
Resources
- Survivors Voices
- The Survivors Trust
- Trauma Queen podcast
- Breaking Silences: Survivors, researchers and practitioners speak about Child Sexual Abuse – Challenging Silences (bristol.ac.uk)
- https://theflyingchild.com/ – in person peer support groups and online creative writing
Recommended by you
Book: What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing
Published last year (2021) is a collaboration between Dr Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
Comments: Written in an informal, conversational style, it not only advocates for asking What happened to you? over What’s wrong with you? … it also highlights the impact of What Didn’t Happen For You?
Excerpt from page 159, towards the end of the introduction to Chapter 6, From Coping to Healing:
“The lesson for me was that a key aspect of What happened to you? is What didn’t happen for you? What attention, nurturing touch, reassurance – basically, what love – didn’t you get? I realized that neglect is as toxic as trauma.” Bruce D. Perry.
For me, it was refreshing and encouraging to see this aspect of developmental trauma – neglect and the lack/absence of good experiences – to be given an airing as it can have really detrimental legacies, yet has tended to be relatively overlooked in the wider conversation on developmental trauma.
It’s high time this is addressed and redressed so three cheers to Dr Perry and Oprah for this book and this particular aspect of this book
Trauma library
Explore our Trauma Unit’s unique book selection, delving into the complexities of trauma and the path to healing. To borrow one of these insightful books, please get in touch with your therapist or contact our admin team at 020 8938 2400 or via email at adult@tavi-port.nhs.uk.
What’s on
Focus group
Monthly information sessions
Monday afternoons, 90 minutes, online
Online information sessions take place once a month for members of your family, close friends or for other significant people in your lives including professionals.
Presentations by staff focus on understanding trauma, the impact trauma has on individuals and relationships, and provides strategies for managing difficulties.
How to attend
If you would like a relative, friend or professional supporting you to attend, please let us know by contacting the service on 020 8938 2400 or by email at adult@tavi-port.nhs.uk. Alternatively, please feel free to discuss this with your individual or group therapist, or your case manager. After hearing from you, we will then contact the person you would like to attend to invite them to our next session.
Send us your content
We’d love to hear your suggestions for content to help others.
Content criteria
All content submitted to us must meet the following guidelines:
- Appropriate: Content must not contain any inappropriate language, images, or videos that are offensive, discriminatory, or defamatory.
- Respectful: Content must respect the opinions, beliefs, and values of others, and must not be used to bully, harass, or threaten other users.
- Relevant: Content must be relevant to the topic and purpose of our website, which is to provide mental health and wellbeing resources to our users.
- Legal: Content must not violate any applicable laws, regulations, or intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark, and privacy laws.
- Safe: Content must not contain any harmful or dangerous content.