Recommended Therapy.

[HappyChappy]

Does anyone know of any good private Complex PTSD treatment available either by Skype/phone line or in the NW of England ? A CBT therapist, that knows about childhood trauma. Someone who knows about being brought up by people with Personality Disorders (PD) and does tapping.

I’m aware of specialist in America, Ireland,  Germany but struggle to find one in the UK (outside London). Here the focus seems to be on helping the emergency service with standard (Hollywood) PTSD.  Please PM me, or share. Let me disclaimer any right to complain about any recommendations, as I’ve not as yet found anything. When I search every man and dog offers CBT or help for PTSD, but not found anyone that knows about BPD parents. The therapist I use, keeps banging on about divorce or bereavement and neither really apply. Unless she’s a fortune teller and I’ve completely misunderstood what therapy I’m in. However she is very nice, but I feel it would help if someone knew more about BPD.

A link to their website would do. Cost of the service is less important than suitability ( but not high end prices). Happy to go for a phone line thing, but the only foreign language I know is American. Thank you in advance.  

[Kwamina]

Hi HappyChappy,

I don't have an immediate link for you but I will keep looking.

I do want to share some general tips with you that I got from the website of Pete Walker who has written about CPTSD and also knows from personal experience what it's like to suffer childhood abuse:

"I recommend interviewing and having a trial first appointment with at least three therapists if possible with the intention of trying to discover if their approach is compatible with the one I describe in my article: "Relational Healing in Complex PTSD." A suitable therapist will be happy to answer your question about their approach and generally talk with you on the phone for at least five minutes before scheduling a meeting. Should the therapist respond to you in an aloof, critical or shaming way, I would immediately cross them off your list and keep looking. Finally there are unfortunately many untherapized therapists in the community. I believe it's appropriate to ask a prospective therapist if they have done their own therapy, and to at least get a response from them that indicates that they have and have found it helpful.

Another things he talks about is "Co-Counseling":

"If you are not able to find or afford a "good enough" therapist, and/or if you want to supplement your current therapy as my wife and I do regularly with each other, you can look for a safe partner who is willing to work with you to mutually evolve a co-counseling relationship. There are many forms of co-counseling. Here is a simple structure for establishing a safe and healing co-counseling relationship. I have used this model and derived great benefit from it not only with my wife, but also previously in two different long term counseling exchanges."

Perhaps this can be of some help to you.

[Suzn]

The therapist I use, keeps banging on about divorce or bereavement and neither really apply. Unless she’s a fortune teller and I’ve completely misunderstood what therapy I’m in. However she is very nice, but I feel it would help if someone knew more about BPD.

Have you discussed this with your T? Has she told you she isn't experienced with PDs? A credible therapist is usually happy to recommend someone that is better qualified.

[Reforming]

Hi Happy,

I don't know whether you're familiar with Schema therapy, but some people have found it quite helpful for complex PTSD

I've PM'd you a link that lists qualified Schema therapists operating in the UK - I think there's some in the Northwest.

It might also be worth checking out Jeffrey Young's book - he invented Schema Therapy - www.amazon.co.uk/Reinventing-Your-Life-Breakthrough-Behaviour/dp/0452272041

Good luck

Reforming