Posted on: 7 May 2021
Woodfield Trauma Service (WTS) is a specialist psychology service that offers practical support and psychological therapy for refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants who have a primary diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The team was formed 10 years ago after receiving a commission in response to the local population’s need for a trauma service. The team see patients who live in Westminster or Kensington & Chelsea.
Who makes up the team?
This small team is comprised of clinical psychologists, an occupational therapist, a support worker, admin and a manager. They also host a number of undergraduate and postgraduate psychology trainees.
Who does the team support?
Patients have typically experienced a large number of traumatic events in their countries of origin such as torture, rape, bombings and traumatic bereavement. Patients typically present with very severe levels of PTSD as a result of these events suffering with nightmares, flashbacks, dissociation and high levels of anxiety, depression and often psychotic symptoms.
What kind of support is offered?
Patients are engaged in a two-stage treatment model which aims to help stabilise their practical needs and teach them coping skills – it also helps them to process traumatic memories using well researched and cutting-edge methods of talking therapy.
Millay Vann, Team Manager for WTS, says: “our team prides itself on the compassionate, evidence-based, flexible care that we offer to patients who come to us… We use interpreters for most of the work we do, and we see excellent results. Patients are often able to function to a much greater degree after treatment and can find real relief from their symptoms.”
What else is the team working on?
The team regularly undertakes or promotes research about best practice for treating refugees with PTSD. They also offer teaching, supervision and consultation within CNWL, nationally and internationally.
For example, they are key partners in designing and rolling out the new IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) training which focuses on work with refugees. They have also facilitated training for Iraqi psychologists treating Yazidi women who have escaped capture by ISIS.
Closer to home, they have forged close links with other mental health teams to ensure that patients get the most evidence-based, culturally appropriate care possible.
A snapshot of the team (pre-Covid) taken at the leaving party of Abdulkadir Mohamed who now works in the South Westminster Hub
We spoke more to Millay Vann about the challenges her team face and the camaraderie that helps them through. She said “we work with intensely traumatic material but we’re able to cope because we are an extremely close-knit team and we’ve formed strong friendships as well as professional bonds. We always celebrate birthdays and life events together, and we eat a LOT of chocolate. We have also cultivated a certain dark humour over the years that really sees us through!”
She went on to say: “we have really struggled this past year, not being able to see eachother as we usually would. However, we’ve had some brilliant get-togethers over Zoom including a Christmas party and a 10-year anniversary celebration of the service that was joined by about 30 former trainees and colleagues! Our plans for when restrictions are lifted is to meet up with our colleague Dr Zoe Chessell who has just started maternity leave – we want to cuddle the baby!”