PTSD and trauma therapy in Greenwich

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a recognised mental health condition that can develop after a frightening, dangerous or overwhelming experience. It involves the mind and body continuing to respond to a threat that has already passed, producing distress, avoidance and heightened alertness that persist well beyond the event itself.

What is PTSD?

PTSD can follow a single traumatic incident, such as a road accident, an assault or a medical emergency, or it can build up after prolonged or repeated exposure to threat, such as domestic abuse or a difficult childhood. Not everyone who lives through a traumatic event develops PTSD. Symptoms usually appear within a few weeks, though for some people they surface months or years later, sometimes triggered by an unrelated stressful period.

The condition is diagnosed when a cluster of symptoms, including re-experiencing, avoidance, negative changes in mood or thinking and a heightened sense of threat, lasts for more than a month and interferes with daily life. A GP or a qualified psychologist can assess whether these symptoms meet the criteria for PTSD or whether another explanation fits better.

Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD generally fall into four groups. Intrusive memories include flashbacks, nightmares and distressing images or thoughts that arrive unbidden and out of context. Avoidance shows up as steering clear of people, places or conversations connected to the trauma, or pushing away memories and feelings whenever they surface.

Negative changes in mood and thinking can include persistent guilt, shame or blame, a flat or numb emotional state, and difficulty recalling parts of what happened. Changes in arousal and reactivity often bring irritability, poor sleep, difficulty concentrating, an exaggerated startle response and a constant sense of being on guard. Many people also notice physical symptoms such as a racing heart, muscle tension or stomach upset when reminded of the trauma, even when there is no present danger.

Types of PTSD

PTSD is not a single fixed presentation. Acute stress reactions in the days after an event are common and often settle without treatment; a diagnosis of PTSD is usually only considered once symptoms have lasted a month. Delayed-onset PTSD describes symptoms that do not appear until six months or more after the event, sometimes prompted by an unrelated later stress.

Complex PTSD is associated with prolonged or repeated trauma, particularly where escape was difficult, such as ongoing abuse or captivity. Alongside the core PTSD symptoms, complex PTSD often involves difficulty regulating emotion, a persistently negative view of oneself and difficulty maintaining close relationships. Recognising which pattern fits matters, since it shapes the pace and focus of therapy.

How therapy can help

Therapy for PTSD works by helping the brain process traumatic memories so they are stored as memories of the past rather than experienced as present-tense danger. The memory itself remains, but its intrusion into daily life eases, and the body’s alarm system stops firing in response to reminders that are no longer threatening.

Trauma-focused CBT

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the treatments recommended by NICE for PTSD. It combines gradual, supported engagement with trauma memories and triggers with work on the thoughts and beliefs that have formed around the event, such as self-blame or a belief that the world is now unsafe.

EMDR

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, or EMDR, is another approach recommended by NICE. It uses structured eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation alongside a focus on the traumatic memory, helping the brain reprocess the experience so it loses its intensity. Both approaches can be delivered by video call, and an initial assessment helps identify which one is likely to suit a particular history and set of symptoms.

Our approach

Sessions take place online with a qualified clinical psychologist, so no travel is needed from Greenwich, Blackheath, Charlton, Deptford, Lewisham, New Cross or Maze Hill. Greenwich covers SE10 and the western edge of SE3, from the river at Cutty Sark up through Greenwich Park towards Blackheath, with the Cutty Sark and Greenwich DLR and Greenwich and Maze Hill stations connecting the area to central London. Assessment comes first, covering the history of the trauma, current symptoms and what support is already in place, before agreeing a plan for therapy together.

Pace is set collaboratively. Trauma work can bring up difficult feelings, so sessions are structured to build a sense of safety and stability before moving into more direct trauma processing, and progress is reviewed regularly rather than following a fixed script. Clinical psychologists here work with adults across Greenwich and south east London by video call, and we will update this site as the practice develops.

What does PTSD therapy involve?

Therapy usually begins with an assessment session to understand the trauma history, current symptoms and any immediate safety concerns. From there, early sessions often focus on stabilisation, including strategies for managing distress, sleep and everyday functioning, particularly where symptoms are severe or where there is more than one traumatic experience to address.

The central phase of therapy involves processing the traumatic memory itself, using trauma-focused CBT, EMDR or another evidence-based method agreed during assessment. This is done gradually and at a pace the person can manage, with regular checks on how the work is landing. Later sessions look at rebuilding areas of life that may have narrowed because of avoidance, such as relationships, work or everyday activities around Greenwich Park, Greenwich Market and the wider SE10 and SE3 area, and at consolidating progress so gains are maintained once therapy ends.

When to seek help

It is worth speaking to a GP or a psychologist if symptoms of PTSD have lasted more than a month, if they are affecting work, relationships or daily routines, or if avoidance has started to shrink day-to-day life. Support is also appropriate for people who experienced a traumatic event some time ago and are only now noticing its effects, since delayed-onset PTSD is a well-documented pattern.

Greenwich and the neighbouring areas of Blackheath, Charlton, Deptford, Lewisham, New Cross and Maze Hill sit within reach of an online assessment whenever the time feels right, without the need to fit an appointment around travel into central London.

If there is any risk to safety, including thoughts of suicide or self-harm, contact a GP, call NHS 111, or in an emergency call 999 or go to A&E. For adults in Greenwich and the surrounding SE10 and SE3 area looking for structured, evidence-based support with PTSD, an initial assessment is the starting point for finding the right approach.