On the topic of pre-trial therapy: therapists are ethically required to be aware of any guidance or legislation that is relevant to our clients.

What are pre trial therapy guidelines?

There are different versions of pre trial therapy guidelines throughout the UK, issued by the corresponding legal bodies in those areas (England & Wales, Scotland, northern Ireland).

You can read the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines on pre-trial therapy here:

https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/pre-trial-therapy

There is a dedicated chapter in my book on pre-trial therapy in England & Wales, including quotes from survivors of abuse who have navigated the criminal justice process:

https://www.routledge.com/Psychotherapy-with-Survivors-of-Sexual-Violence-Inside-and-Outside-the-Room/Hadjiioannou/p/book/9780367429515

What do the pre trial therapy guidelines say?

The pre trial therapy guidelines apply to any client who is a victim of any crime – not just survivors of abuse. Historically these guidelines have been disproportionately applied to people affected by sexual and domestic violence.

The result has been restrictions in survivors’ rights to speak freely in a confidential setting, and to access therapeutic support when requested. Furthermore, the use of therapy notes as evidence in criminal proceedings has been experienced by many survivors as intrusive and re-traumatising.

When the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines changed in 2022, the clause that the victim of a crime can’t talk about details of said crime in therapy was finally lifted. Clients can now speak freely when pre-trial. Equally, therapists can offer their services to survivors of abuse / victims of crimes as they would at any other time.

How can therapists help clients pre trial?

Therapists have an opportunity to provide a supportive and helpful experience for the relatively brief amount of time we work with a survivor.

It shouldn’t be down to luck as to whether a client gets what they need within a largely inaccessible mental heath system. If they have navigated the system to meet you, as well as managing their mental health to get to an appointment, we should step up accordingly.

Take action if you recognise the system doesn’t work for survivors. Write to your MP, write to your regulatory body, demand that your training course supports you to work pre-trial, and contact organisations who challenges the restrictive guidelines to make change collectively.

More than this: listen to survivors, make space for the reality of their lived experiences, and use your professional power to advocate for and with survivors to make change.

If you are a survivor of abuse navigating the criminal justice system, I can offer psychotherapy pre-trial.

If you are a therapist or organisation seeking training on pre-trial therapy, I can help.

Contact me at enquire@therapy-leeds.co.uk.

For some people this is true, but for others the impact of trauma can push to the front of your daily life at unexpected times, in unexpected ways.

How does trauma affect people?

The impact of trauma is very powerful as it forces our lives and sense of self to be re-configured. When the past enters the present via re-living traumatic experiences, your life might not feel like it belongs to you anymore. Feeling out of control might also become your new normal.

However trauma re-surfaces, it isn’t a personal failure. It doesn’t mean you aren’t handling it well enough, you’re not strong enough, or that you’re letting other people down by not being okay.

Lots of people worry about suddenly being affected by something traumatic that happened a long time ago, especially when they have been coping with it well for a long time.

For some people certain life stages can bring past events to the foreground. This might be:

• The anniversary of the traumatic event
• A perpetrator of violence dying
• One’s child reaching the age that they were at the time abuse happened

How far does the impact of trauma reach?

Trauma is not only interwoven into the lives of those who survive it but within families, communities, institutions, and societal systems. It is normal to feel affected by a world that comes with the risk of being hurt, especially if your traumatic experiences included being hurt by other people.

When trauma re-surfaces it’s helpful to think of it in the context of your own chronology to understand why now, as well as what you want to do about it right now. The “why” might not be clear, but the truth is that you have survived and lived with trauma so far, so you’re not starting from scratch in continuing to cope.

If you need help to manage the impact of sexual abuse and trauma, contact me at enquire@therapy-leeds.co.uk.

From trying to access support, finding the right service/person to suit you, and to actually doing the work, there are many questions that come up. Here are some common ones:

Therapy is…

Psychotherapy and counselling are types of talking therapy which can help you to understand and manage your mental health more effectively. This does not include diagnosis nor prescribing medication, so is different from a psychiatrist or other kind of medical doctor.

There are many different kinds of therapy which you can access for free/low cost via the NHS and third sector, or privately if you are able to pay yourself.

What kind of therapy should I have?

It’s best to look for a service or therapist that explicitly offers support for the things that you’re struggling with.

In addition to this, consider what might suit you:

• Would you like short-term or open-ended therapy?
• Would it help to be heard and supported by others who have had similar experiences in a group, or speak to a therapist individually?
• How structured do you need appointments to be?
• Is your priority managing symptoms so you can improve daily life?
• Do you need space to explore past events?

Visit the Mind website for explainers on different types of therapy:

What happens in a session?

In order to support you, your therapist needs to learn about you and what you need.

They may ask you questions to understand what you’re struggling with now, any coping strategies, your support network and relationships, and significant experiences in the past which you feel affect you currently.

You have a space to speak freely and ask questions, to make progress together.

I ask that we identify a goal or focus at the beginning of our work, so that we both know and agree on what’s important to change through psychotherapy.

I believe therapy is a two-way process. This means I am pro-active and share my thoughts with you. In this way we can think, explore, and try new things together at your pace.

Isn’t it all just about me finding the answers?

Whilst the focus is on you as the client, you are not the only person in the room. This means therapy is a two-way conversation and a collaborative process, rather than you being expected to find answers and coping mechanisms yourself.

Ready to start therapy? Contact me at enquire@therapy-leeds.co.uk.