Helix Trauma-Focused Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Who can access funded therapy through Helix?

People living in Hertfordshire who have experienced sexual assault and or rape more than 12 months ago or are supporting someone who experienced sexual violence more than 12 months ago in a personal capacity (i.e. as their parent, carer, partner, friend) and is impacted by the experience themself. 

​

What is trauma-focused-therapy, and will I have to talk about what happened to me?

Many people have this question, in fact its possibly the most asked of all the questions. 

At Trauma Recovery CIC we use the "Beyond Trauma" therapy programme. The programme has been designed to offer a safe way to support people to begin their recovery journey. In sessions you will focus on how what happened to you impacts you now and work with your Counsellor to feel safer, emotionally more stable and able to see life beyond the events that caused the trauma. 

 

In your initial appointment with our team, we will ask you some very basic details about what happened, for example - when you were assaulted, and who by. We will not ask you to talk about the details of what happened as we know that this can cause re-traumatisation and leave you feeling worse, which is the opposite of the goal!

 

If you have any concerns about whether this programme is right for you, please let us know on your contact form and you can talk this through with our team before making a decision about therapy.

​

How are sessions offered?

Sessions are offered at the same time and day weekly either online or in person.

 

Sessions are 50 minutes long. 

​

If your session is online you will need to ensure that you are indoors, somewhere you feel safe, will not be disturbed for the duration of the session or overheard. If you have caring responsibilities, you will need to ensure that the person you care for is looked after by someone else for the duration of the session. 

​

If your session is in person you will attend one of our centres. Sometimes it is helpful to bring someone along with you for the journey, if you plan to do this, please check with our team before doing so to ensure that there is somewhere safe for them to wait for you during your session. 

 

Do I have to be working with other services?

Access to this service is not dependent on your involvement with any other service.

​

The incidents or events do not need to have been reported to the Police, or to any other service, although we are able to offer you therapy if you have done this as well.

,

If you are having talking therapy elsewhere, we will not offer you therapy at the same time but if you are having couples, family or group therapy we may be able to offer you individual therapy alongside these sessions (we encourage you to discuss this with your existing therapist before making a self-referral). We may however be able to offer you support through our Lived Experience Community

 

How do the sessions work?

Sessions are confidential and are provided to support you to understand your reactions to what happened to you, how it impacts you now, to cope with the impact and to feel safe and emotionally stable.

 

We will not ask you to talk in detail about what happened to you. In the early stages of therapy this can do more harm than good and can be re-traumatising.

 

How do I access the funded sessions?

Complete our contact form using the link below, we will send you a self-referral link. Once we receive your referral, we will contact you to book your initial appointment with our team.

​

We cannot accept referrals from professionals on your behalf. If you are a professional seeking support for someone you are working with, please either complete our contact form to request further information about our service or signpost the person seeking support to our website. 

​

Is there anyone who is not able to access this therapy?

You will need to be able to access and engage with Trauma-Focused-Therapy for it to be helpful. There are some circumstances where this is difficult or not possible.

Our team is not able to offer you support through Helix if you:

• Have not experienced sexual abuse or violence yourself and are not supporting someone who has

• Are currently living in an unsafe environment - this means if you are currently homeless, experiencing Domestic Abuse or any other form of abuse

• Are or have been a perpetrator of Domestic or Sexual Violence (you may be able to access support via The Chrysalis Centre or Lucy Faithfull Foundation )

• Experiencing Mental Health concerns that mean you need support with this specifically (for example psychosis, untreated Bi-Polar, Schizophrenia, Eating Disorder) ​​