Finding an experienced and skilled mental heath professionals who is accepting new referrals is often very difficult.
An available, skilled and caring trauma-informed mental health professional can assist you to learn to help yourself to constructively self-regulate and develop and nurture an “earned secure attached relationship” wth yourself. In my professional view and experience, trauma-informed evidence based techniques are important and they are secondary to the quality of this treatment relationship. This is because complex trauma survivors have been repeatedly hurt in relationship including during the early and formative periods of life. There is a healing process in forming and sustaining a new and nurturing psychological and physiological base or “safe internal home”.
The process of treatment of complex trauma generally involves three broad major overlapping phases of:
- Safety and stabilisation. You are naturally sometimes/mostly dominated by your private symptoms and quality trauma-informed treatment work involves you learning and practicing taking back your power over your symptoms and your quality of life. You are likely to check trust and safety out in multiple ways with your treatment provider. Trust is just a word and more importantly, it is a set of experiences over time that can build a sense of containment, safety, tenderness and hope.
- Facing your traumatic experiences and their developmental and their biopsychosocial context in a paced way means honouring the therapeutic "window of tolerance"and the nature of your complex trauma consequences
- Developing and nurturing a more elaborated sense of self that acknowledges the profound ongoing impact of complex trauma and is no longer defined by it. This phase (and other phases) often involve experimenting with the richness, delight, beauty and humility of living in the safe moment. The nature of this treatment work is often over a number years (with varying levels of contact) and is simultaneously rewarding and taxing for the person in the client/patient role and also for the treating practitioner.
Referral pathways and treatment options
I am not able to personally recommend the websites below. I offer this list to help you explore relevant options for you, or your loved ones.
Head to Health is a free service that offers walk in and telephone counselling staffed by qualified mental health professionals.
The Australian Psychological Society has a referral service where you can type in location, your presenting issues and obtain a list of practitioners and follow up from there.
Beyond Blue
Resources for Supporters
- https://www.samsn.org.au/resources-for-supporters/
- https://www.blueknot.org.au/Survivors-Supporters/supporting-survivors
- https://www.blueknot.org.au/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-for-Family-and-Friends
- https://www.phoenix.asn.au/need-help/survivors-and-parenting/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-compassion-chronicles/201910/why-it-is-important-adult-survivors-csa-disclose
Australians Together: Why many First nations people in Australia can’t simply “get over it” and ”move on
Healing Foundation: Intergenerational Trauma
Children & Adolescents: Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss And Grief Network
Refugee Support Services - there are state based torture and treatment services and multicultural Health communications services
People with Disability: National Peak Disability Rights and Advocacy Organisation
Trans and Gender Diverse young people
Birth trauma - Gidget Foundation
Phoenix Australia - National Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health
Male Survivors: For men who were hurt as children
An Australian site
An International site
Blue Knot Redress
Survivors of relational trauma-an online community - originator based in Canada
A Collective of Sydney psychologists, social workers and psychotherapists who work with trauma
A wealth of information on child abuse and sexual assault- based in the US
A foundation for PTSD healing and Complex Trauma Research (Registered Non-profit Organization) with Resources and Programs- US based
Veterans and their families
Police and their families
Medical Doctors and their families
Nurses and midwifes and their families
Emergency workers
Responder assist hotline
Psychologists
Social workers
Criteria for selection a mental health practitioner
I have included here, some criteria to consider in selecting a mental health professional.
Effective trauma treatment involves a deeply respectful relationship with clear responsibilities for both people:
Clinician responsibilities
1. Self-care and safety
2. Ethical and responsible behaviour
3. Explicit and clear treatment frame work
4. Suitable knowledge and resources
5. Integrity of therapeutic space
6. Clear, collaborative and specific treatment goals
7. Monitoring the intensity, pace, timing and focus of treatment work
8. Taking timely responsibility for all clinical administrative work
Client’s responsibilities
1. Safety for self and around other people
2. Being fully present during consultations or owning times of disconnection
3. Commitment to treatment goals
4. Undertaking negotiated tasks outside of sessions
5. Ethical and responsible behaviour
6. Monitoring the intensity, pace, timing and focus of treatment