PTSD: Evidence-Based Therapies at Cleary Counselling

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cast a long shadow over everyday life—haunting you with flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbness. You might be wondering if relief is possible—and the good news is that it is.

We specialise in PTSD treatment guided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Our integrative, trauma-informed approach brings proven therapies together under one roof, creating a personalised path to recovery. Working fully online from Inverness in the Highlands, you can attend sessions from a calm, peaceful place that suits your needs.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD develops when a distressing event overwhelms your ability to cope—whether through combat, an accident, interpersonal violence, or another trauma. Key symptoms include intrusive re-experiencing (flashbacks, distressing dreams), avoidance of reminders, persistent negative mood and cognition (shame, guilt, distrust), and hyperarousal (exaggerated startle response, irritability, sleep disruption). If these symptoms last longer than a month and interfere with daily life, it’s time to explore specialised support.

While PTSD can affect anyone, certain groups face added risks and unique triggers. Neurodiverse individuals may experience trauma through chronic invalidation, sensory overload, and the strain of masking. Those with personality disorders often carry early relational wounds and unstable attachment patterns that deepen trauma responses. LGBTQIA+ people frequently endure minority stress, discrimination, and family rejection—layering additional relational traumas. Our framework honours how these intersecting experiences shape your sense of safety and guides healing accordingly.

NICE-Recommended Therapies

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) typically unfolds over six to twelve sessions of bilateral stimulation (although there is wide variation with each individual due to a number of factors that neither therapist or client have control, such as volume of trauma to be processed and the individuals processing capacity)—guided eye movements, taps, or tones—while you focus on distressing memories. This process helps the brain reprocess traumatic events adaptively, reducing emotional intensity without requiring lengthy verbal recounting. Research shows up to 85% of clients experience significant symptom relief after a full course.

Trauma-Focused Hypnotherapy with Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (Hypno-CBT) blends cognitive restructuring with gradual, targeted exposure to trauma memories across eight to twelve sessions. Together, we challenge unhelpful beliefs—such as self-blame or overgeneralised threat perceptions—while safely confronting avoided situations. Clinical trials report average symptom reductions exceeding 60%.

Hypno-CBT can also incorporate prolonged exposure therapy involving imaginal and in vivo exposure tasks scheduled over six to ten sessions. By repeatedly revisiting trauma memories in session and gradually facing real-world triggers outside therapy, you learn to habituate to distressing cues and correct overestimated danger beliefs. Typical outcomes include symptom decreases of 40–50%.

Medication with SSRIs or SNRIs—such as sertraline, paroxetine, or venlafaxine—is offered in collaboration with your GP or psychiatrist, as I do not diagnose or prescribe medication. These pharmacological supports modulate mood and arousal pathways and, when combined with psychotherapy, enhance overall treatment gains by reducing hyperarousal and intrusive thoughts.

How We Integrate These Therapies

At Cleary Counselling, we weave NICE-endorsed treatments into a cohesive, client-centred plan:

• Collaborative Formulation - We map your history, strengths, and goals, then co-create a flexible treatment roadmap.

• Trauma-Informed EMDR - Sessions begin with grounding exercises; you choose your preferred bilateral stimulation method—eye movements, taps, or tones—to stabilise and reprocess.

• Tailored TF-CBT - We combine psychoeducation, gentle cognitive reframing, and micro-step exposure tasks to build confidence in session and at home.

• Scaffolded Prolonged Exposure - We design an exposure hierarchy at your pace, using real-time regulation tools (weighted objects, calming scents).

• Complementary Supports - Hypno-CBT scripts, sensory audits, narrative exercises, and peer workshops enrich your healing journey.

  
  

A Neuro-affirming, Trauma-Informed Container

Every step of your care honours your unique nervous system, communication style, and pace of change. You’ll find:

• A sensory-friendly space with permission to pause

• Collaborative pacing that respects your energy levels

• Strengths-focused tracking of resilience and growth

• Inclusive language, pronouns, and interventions

Our aim is to guide you from merely surviving to truly thriving—without masking or undue pressure.

Take the Next Step

Recovery from PTSD is possible, and you don’t have to face it alone. If intrusive memories, anxiety, or emotional numbness are holding you back, reach out today.

Book an initial consultation with Tracey Cleary at Cleary Counselling. Together, we’ll explore which NICE-recommended therapies align with your story—and chart a path toward genuine healing.

You deserve compassionate, expert care every step of the way.

Email: info@clearycounselling.co.uk

Phone: 07783908002 (please leave a voice message)

Website: www.clearycounselling.co.uk