Trauma and PTSD in West London: Assessment Led Guidance

Specialist CBT therapy for anxiety, OCD, depression and more in West London

Trauma and PTSD can affect people across West London in varied ways. Some people look for information because unwanted memories, sleep changes, avoidance, concentration difficulties, feeling on edge or a change in relationships has become hard to manage. Others are trying to understand whether support is available locally or online. A guide cannot diagnose PTSD, decide what caused a symptom or determine the right support for an individual. An assessment can consider current difficulties, physical health, sleep, medication, safety, other possible explanations and the person’s goals. The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/24 found that 5.7% of adults in England screened positive for PTSD symptoms in the past month. This is an England wide screening estimate, not a diagnosis and not a West London borough rate. The survey does not provide prevalence estimates for Chiswick, Ealing and the Richmond venue, Hounslow or another local area. NHS Digital also explains that a positive screening result indicates symptoms that may need further investigation, rather than confirming that someone has PTSD. Research findings describe patterns in groups of people. They cannot determine whether an individual has a diagnosis, explain the meaning of one experience or tell someone which next step they should take. Local residence does not make a particular explanation more likely. It is more useful to begin with what has changed, how it affects daily life, what feels safe enough to discuss and what support is already available. A difficult or frightening experience can be followed by intrusive memories, upsetting dreams, avoidance, a startle response, feeling persistently watchful, irritability, detachment or a change in sleep and concentration. Someone else may mainly notice that work, parenting, travel, closeness or everyday tasks have become harder. These experiences can be important to discuss, but they do not prove trauma, PTSD or another diagnosis. Grief, relationship strain, physical illness, medication, neurodivergence, current safety concerns, substance use and exhaustion can also matter. Some people find that they have no clear label for what is difficult. They may have kept going at work, continued to care for other people or avoided speaking about an experience because it feels private, complicated or hard to explain. An assessment does not require a detailed account at the outset. It can begin with the present, including what happens before and after a difficult moment, what support is needed now and what boundaries need protecting. Physical symptoms deserve the same care. Pain, fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, dizziness, headaches, appetite changes and difficulty concentrating can have many possible causes. New, severe, changing or concerning physical symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate medical professional rather than assumed to be trauma related or psychological. A psychological question and a medical question can both need attention at the same time. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT conversations online and, subject to current availability, face to face in Chiswick, Ealing and the Richmond venue. A first conversation can help clarify whether CBT, medical review, specialist trauma support, another practical service or no immediate therapeutic step is the most appropriate route. It is not a test of whether someone has suffered enough, and it does not require a person to disclose more than they are ready to discuss. NICE guidance includes trauma focused psychological therapies among the approaches that may be considered for PTSD. Whether trauma focused CBT is suitable, and what it involves, depends on individual assessment, consent, safety, stability, pacing, other support and personal goals. Trauma focused or exposure based work should be planned with a suitably qualified clinician after discussion of its rationale and alternatives. This guide is not a self directed trauma processing programme and does not ask a reader to revisit memories, confront feared situations or make a workplace disclosure alone. If there is immediate danger, a risk of harm, an inability to stay safe or a sudden marked deterioration in mental state, use emergency or urgent local support rather than waiting for a routine therapy enquiry. In the UK, call 999 or attend A&E in an emergency. Samaritans can be reached on 116 123 for urgent emotional support. The Lyceum Clinic is not an emergency service. For related information, see trauma focused CBT at https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/therapy/trauma/, the trauma and PTSD guide at https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/trauma ptsd comprehensive guide/, trauma neuroscience at https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/trauma neuroscience/ and trauma at work at https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/trauma work relationships/.