Rehabilitation

Following experience in the provision of medico-legal reports for client’s psychological injuries in court, we have concluded that in the area of personal injury claims there is a need for a highly specialised assessment and treatment service for psychological conditions reactive to personal trauma.

 

Everyone reacts differently to major personal trauma; this could be a road traffic accident, or being involved in a rail accident. It may involve witnessing a terrorist attack, or being sexually assaulted. There are many frightening experiences, which can lead to the condition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This can also develop if the person witnesses someone very close to them experiencing severe trauma, such as a relative being involved in a major accident, or seeing a child hurt in an incident.

 

If PTSD develops, the persons’ normal enjoyment of life is disrupted and they may need specialised psychological focused treatment to alleviate the distress and help them regain their former quality of life.

 

The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may include the following:

• Experiencing flashbacks of the trauma, both whilst awake and in nightmares
• Avoiding activities which remind you of the trauma [such as driving on busy roads if the trauma was a road accident]
• Feeling unable to demonstrate normal loving feelings to close relatives
• Feelings of guilt and depression
• Increased irritability and tendency to be short tempered

These are only a few examples of some of the main symptoms of PTSD.

 

Our Chartered Clinical Psychologists are located nation-wide who specialise in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder using one or both of the evidence based treatments. We also have Chartered Clinical Psychologists who specialise in preparing medico-legal reports and the assessment and treatment of victims of trauma.

 

These Psychologists are fully qualified to treat depression, panic disorder, anxiety, phobias and stress. They are all registered and accredited to professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the British Association of Behavioural Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).

 

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence who makes treatment recommendations to the National Health Service reviews current research on which treatment is most successful in alleviating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder these are:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) which is very effective if given 8-12 sessions, at one session a week, or
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is also recommended.

Both these treatments given by clinical psychologists do not involve medication. Details of these therapies are available at The National Institute of Clinical Excellence. We only give these treatments because international research has shown they are the most successful in alleviating the condition of PTSD and related symptoms. We operate to the Rehabilitation Code of Best Practice.

 

Our focus is entirely on helping the injured party, for the best benefit of them, their representatives and compensators.

 

Clients are usually referred by their solicitor as part of the claims process; we can also accept private referrals, and referrals from other agencies, insurance companies, or the clients G.P. Our aim is to develop an individual programme tailored to suit the needs of each client. Treatment is usually conducted in an out-patient setting in specialised consulting rooms (these are not hospitals). If the client is disabled, home visits can be arranged at short notice.

 

Everything will be done to help the client return to his or her normal enjoyment of life as soon as possible.

 

Although we are pleased to help clients with initial telephone counseling, we believe that best practice in this field must involve face to face individual therapy sessions.

 

To make a referral

Contact our team on 020 8648 1217. Or call the out of hours service on 07723 034 461 or 07813 520 304. This service is available Monday – Friday from 5:30pm – 8:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 12 noon – 5:00pm.

 

Alternatively forward an email to rehab@expertwitness247.co.uk or send a fax to 020 8181 7551 providing your client’s details and your contact details.