Norfolk
Therapy
Services
Norfolk
Therapy
Services
How do I choose a trauma therapist?
Finding a trauma therapist can feel daunting. Qualifications, specialist training and experience matter - particularly when seeking help for PTSD. Below are the key things to look for in a potential therapist.
How do I choose a trauma therapist?
Finding a trauma therapist can feel daunting. Qualifications, specialist training and experience matter - particularly when seeking help for PTSD. Below are the key things to look for in a potential therapist.
Finding a trauma therapist can feel daunting. Qualifications, specialist training and experience matter - particularly when seeking help for PTSD. Below are the key things to look for in a potential therapist.
What should I look for?
•Specialist Training
Our advice would be to seek a clinician that has both a sound core profession, such as mental health nursing, clinical, health, educational or counselling psychology, CBT Therapy, Counselling or Creative therapy (such as art or play) alongside specialist training in an evidence based trauma focussed approach.
• Accreditation
Check that your therapist is registered or accredited with the appropriate professional body. For counsellors and psychotherapists, this may be BACP, UKCP. or NCPS; for CBT Therapists, the BABCP, and for practitioner psychologists the HCPC.
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EMDR therapists should either be accredited with EMDR Europe or supervised by an EMDR Europe approved consultant or trainer.
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Accreditation provides reassurance that professional standards are recognised and accountability ensured.
• Experience
Always check a therapist's experience. Alongside a recognised core profession and specialist trauma training, relevant clinical experience is one of the strongest indicators of competence.
What should I look for?
•Specialist Training
Our advice would be to seek a clinician that has both a sound core profession, such as mental health nursing, clinical, health, educational or counselling psychology, CBT Therapy, Counselling or creative therapy (such as art or play) alongside specialist training in an evidence based trauma focussed approach.
• Accreditation
Check that your therapist is registered or accredited with the appropriate professional body. For counsellors and psychotherapists, this may be BACP, UKCP. or NCPS; for CBT Therapists, the BABCP, and for practitioner psychologists the HCPC.
​
EMDR therapists should either be accredited with EMDR Europe or supervised by an EMDR Europe approved consultant or trainer.
​
Accreditation provides reassurance that professional standards are recognised and accountability ensured.
• Experience
Always check a therapist's experience. Alongside a recognised core profession and specialist trauma training, relevant clinical experience is one of the strongest indicators of competence.
Russell Wharton qualified as a mental health nurse in 2001. He then went on to train in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, developing a specialist interest in trauma. Russell trained in EMDR in 2010, reaching consultant status in 2015.