CBT offers effective treatment for a range of psychological problems using a set of empirically founded principles. Survivors of childhood trauma often suffer post-traumatic problems that encompass a range of difficulties and so CBT is well placed to help survivors of developmental adversity. Our 18-session programme does just that. It brings together general CBT principles and specific CBT techniques to create a treatment approach that helps people with a shared history even though they might have different presenting problems. Although the programme was originally intended for group use, we have also found it appropriate for use with individuals and in innovative “pair therapy” (two patients working together). Many survivors benefit from sharing their difficulties and can find group and pair work particularly powerful in de-stigmatizing their experiences and in defusing their sense of isolation.
Our Oxford programme was cited in the Guardian newspaper (13th July 2015) and a female group member wrote: “We found it easy to be compassionate with each other, and then it became easier to extend compassion to ourselves. For all of us, I think, it was the first time we felt truly understood. Truly cared for and supported. Those women saved me.”
However, we need to think carefully about:
- Who will benefit from a group experience or from the pair work or from one-to-one therapy? We will be reflecting on these options over the day.
- How do we adapt conventional CBT to meet the needs of group members or pairs?
This workshop will help you decide what therapeutic setting is relevant for your patients and, how to help them get the most out of the experience. You will be taken through the 18-session programme, which has been developed and refined in Oxford for over 25 years.
The programme comprises:
- Socialising participants
- Formulating problems
- Creating safety: groundwork
- Dealing with blame, anger, speaking out
- Dealing with relationships
- Relapse management and going solo
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