PTSD & C-PTSD Treatment
What is PTSD?
PTSD stands for Post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a term we use when an individual has recurring distressing memories, flashbacks and other symptoms after exposure to a traumatic event.
The World health Organization (ICD-11) defines PTSD as occurring following exposure to an extremely threatening or horrific event or series of events characterized by:
1. Vivid intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares accompanied by overwhelming emotions.
2. Avoiding thoughts or memories of the event, activities, situation, or people that remind you of the event.
3. Hyper vigilance or an enhanced startle reaction due to persistent perception of heightened current threat.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
Re-experiencing
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Distressing images / sensations
Physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling
Guilt / shame
Avoidance and emotional numbing
Avoiding thinking about the event
Becoming isolated / withdrawn
Avoiding people that remind you of the trauma
Emotional numbing (trying not to feel anything at all)
Avoiding talking about the trauma
Hyperarousal
Feeling on edge
Irritability
Angry outbursts
Sleeping problems (insomnia)
Difficulty concentrating
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
Re-experiencing
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Distressing images / sensations
- Physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling
- Guilt / shame
Avoidance and emotional numbing
- Avoiding thinking about the event
- Avoiding people that remind you of the trauma
- Avoiding talking about the trauma
- Becoming isolated / withdrawn
- Emotional numbing (trying not to feel anything at all)
Hyperarousal
- Feeling on edge
- Irritability
- Angry outbursts
- Sleeping problems (insomnia)
- Difficulty concentrating
How can we treat PTSD?
There are various different ways of treating PTSD, and these will be discussed with you at your appointment with one of our friendly clinicians.
Generally speaking these can be divided into Non-Medication, and Medication Treatment.
Non medication treatments often involve pursuing psychological therapies such as CBT and EMDR.
There are a number of different medications that can be prescribed for PTSD that will be discussed at your appointment with your clinician. It is often the case that people respond differently to medications, and therefore at Harley Street Mental Health, our clinicians like to discuss treatments in depth and come to a shared decision on which treatment plan would be most appropriate.
We recommend filling in the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 Calculator prior to booking an appointment to screen for PTSD. We can also use this as a baseline score to monitor progress at follow up appointments.
What we can't treat
- If you are under the care of a community mental health team, please get in touch with them or their crisis helpline.
- Phone the Samaritans, who operate an always open service where you can talk to someone in confidence. They can be contacted on 116 123
- Contact the NHS on 111.
- Request an emergency appointment with your GP.
- Phone 999 or visit your local A&E if there is a life threatening mental health emergency.
What is the process for PTSD Assessments?
At Harley Street Mental Health we pride ourselves on listening to our service users experiences and creating treatment plans base on their needs.
01.
Initial Assessments
Our Initial Psychiatric Assessments are conducted by one of our expert clinicians and last around 1 hour.
02.
Final Assessment
After this assessment you will be provided with a report outlining the assessment, any diagnosis if this has been made and a proposed treatment plan including recommended follow up.
Unlike most services, we aim to get our reports sent out within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team is here to help. Contact us for personalized guidance.
A private PTSD assessment at Harley Street Mental Health provides a thorough, evidence-based evaluation of trauma-related symptoms by an experienced consultant psychiatrist. We assess for both Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD), using recognised diagnostic criteria and structured clinical interviews. Our assessments explore your trauma history, emotional responses, and daily functioning to create a personalised diagnosis and treatment plan that supports your recovery.
All PTSD and CPTSD assessments are carried out by highly experienced consultant psychiatrists. Our psychiatrists are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and are selected for their specialist knowledge in trauma-related conditions and their compassionate, patient-centred approach. You will be assessed in a supportive, confidential environment where your story is heard and respected.
Yes. Our trauma assessments and diagnoses follow NICE guidelines and are recognised by NHS services and GPs. Your GP should be able to record the diagnosis on your NHS records. However, if any new medications are recommended, some GP practices may have policies around taking over prescribing from private services , so it’s best to check with your GP in advance if you intend to transfer care.
PTSD typically develops after a single traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster, and symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviours.
CPTSD (Complex PTSD), recognised separately in ICD-11, arises from repeated or prolonged trauma, often during childhood or over an extended period, such as abuse, neglect, or captivity. In addition to the core PTSD symptoms, CPTSD includes emotional dysregulation, persistent negative self-beliefs, and difficulties with relationships.
At Harley Street Mental Health, our expert psychiatrists can assess for and diagnose both PTSD and CPTSD, ensuring you receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate specialist support.
During your assessment, your psychiatrist will explore your trauma history sensitively, focusing on symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance, emotional numbness, hyperarousal, self-esteem difficulties, and relationship challenges. They will also review your mental health background, physical health, and coping strategies. The aim is to fully understand your experience and recommend an evidence-based treatment plan to aid your recovery.
Before your appointment, you will be sent electronic questionnaires about your symptoms, experiences, and mental health history. These allow you to share information you may find difficult to verbalise during the session. Completing these forms in advance can help reduce anxiety around the appointment and ensure your psychiatrist has a complete picture of your experience. If you have any therapy reports, psychiatric letters, or a list of medications, bringing them to the assessment can also be helpful.
Following your assessment, we offer tailored treatment options based on the latest evidence. This may include trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), trauma-focused CBT, and medication where appropriate. We design treatment plans around your individual needs to support emotional healing, symptom management, and recovery.
Yes. Our consultant psychiatrists are experts in trauma care and follow the internationally respected Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines. We can prescribe specialist medications for PTSD and CPTSD that GPs may not be authorised or experienced to prescribe. This allows us to offer advanced treatment options, including antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and adjunctive medications for sleep and anxiety symptoms, all tailored to your needs.
Yes, absolutely. All our psychiatrists are hand-picked not only for their clinical excellence but also for their compassionate, down-to-earth communication style. We understand that discussing trauma can be incredibly difficult. Our psychiatrists are specially trained in working with trauma survivors and create a safe, non-judgmental environment where you are always treated with dignity and respect.
Yes. Harley Street Mental Health is proud to offer an inclusive, culturally sensitive service. We understand that trauma affects individuals differently depending on background, gender, culture, and personal experience. We always ask for and use your preferred name and pronouns, and our assessments are adapted to respect and support your identity.
What makes you different to other clinics?
We hand pick all of our clinicians to ensure that they have the same values as us.
This ensures that our service users are actually listened to and are the heart of our treatment plans.
We recognise that diagnosis and treatment plans cannot simply be “one size fits all” and our personalised down to earth approach aims to keep the process as easy as possible.
We will try to keep your costs low where possible. Once you are on the right dose and feeling settled (you may need one or two medication titration appointments to achieve this), you can order your medication through the repeat medication process.
Following two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes, we will consider returning your care to your GP.
Can I see you on the NHS?
We are a private clinic, and therefore you cannot be seen by us as part of the NHS. <br><br>We can write to your GP once you are stable on your treatment to ask them to take over prescribing as part of a Shared Care Agreement, however they are under no obligation to accept this agreement.
Do I need a referral?
Our clinicians can see you directly without a referral, however a condition of all appointments is that you agree for Harley Street Mental Health to copy your GP into all assessment and treatment plans.
We are happy to accept referrals from other clinicians, however this is not necessary to use our service.
What happens during an appointment?
If you have booked a virtual appointment, you will be sent an invitation through our clinic software known as “Semble”. On the day of your appointment, you click the link and will enter into a video interview with one of our clinicians.
If you have booked an in-person appointment you will be greeted by your clinician in the waiting room.
Do you accept insurance?
Currently we do not accept insurance, and all of our assessments and treatment plans are self funded, and therefore we encourage you to look at the “fees” page prior to booking.
Do you prescribe medication?
Our team are able to prescribe medication as part of your treatment plan if this is required. Our prescriptions are private, and therefore you will be liable for the cost of the prescription and the medication.
Hod do I know if the treatment will be beneficial?
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with psychiatry. All of our clinicians are extremely experienced and prescribe based on the most up to date evidence base. You will be involved in your treatment plans at all stages.
I have a complaint?
We are sorry to hear that you have a complaint. Please see the complaints section of our website or email complaints@hsmh.co.uk where we will endeavour to resolve your complaint in a timely manner.
What are the fees associated with ADHD Assessments?
Please see the fees section on the website. It is important that you are aware of all costs prior to starting treatment. An ADHD assessment costs £715 and lasts approximately 1.5 hours and will include a detailed written report and treatment plan (includes a prescription which will posted to your chosen pharmacy, if medication is considered suitable for you).
The cost of medication will be in addition to this and paid directly to your chosen pharmacy.
We then require service users to attend titration appointments at £150 each where your medication is adjusted until most effective. Once you move on to repeat prescriptions, they will cost £48 for a monthly prescription.
Once you are stable on your medication (around two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes and you feel much better) you can ask us to write to your GP and enter into a shared care agreement which costs £125. Your GP is under no obligation to accept a shared care agreement, and therefore we encourage all service users to discuss this with their GP prior to using our service.
Are you registered with the CQC?
Yes, we have been approved for registration with the Care Quality Commission
I have another question
Please email us on contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will get back to you shortly
Our Process
Prior to booking an appointment we encourage patients to :
1. Discuss their concerns with their GP. We encourage this to start the discussion early, in particular asking them if they are able to enter into shared care agreements once you are stable. If they are unable to do this, it will mean that even once stable, all of your prescriptions will have to be provided through Harley Street Mental Health at a cost.
2. Read the information provided about the conditions we treat in the above table and consider filling in the screening questionnaires.
3. Request a Summary Care Record from your GP. This can be accessed either through the NHS app, or by phoning up your GP Surgery.
4. Ensure you review the fee’s section of the website and are comfortable with the fees associated with assessment and treatment.
5. Ensure you are aware that unfortunately we are unable to provide services to individuals suffering from any psychiatric emergencies, suicidal ideations, or individuals that are currently under the care of a community mental health team.
If you have any questions about our services prior to booking please email contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will assist you on your journey with Harley Street Mental Health.
Use our online booking portal to book a virtual consultation using our state of the art video conferencing software, or email us to schedule an appointment in our prestigious clinic at 10 Harley Street.
Prior to your appointment you will receive an email providing information on what to expect on the day, along with a patient information questionnaire and a self-assessment form to fill in. We require that these are submitted prior to attending your appointment.
If you are visiting us at our clinic in person, one of our friendly clinicians will meet you in the waiting room.
If you are using our secure virtual service, you will be sent a link to join using our state of the art video conferencing software called Semble.
At both appointments you will be required to provide photo identification to confirm your identity. At virtual appointments you will be required to let the clinician know your current location.
This must take place within the United Kingdom.
After your appointment the following will occur:
1. You will receive your assessment outcome via email within 24-48 hours. Where appropriate this will contain your diagnosis and treatment plan.
2. Once agreed, your prescription will be sent to your chosen pharmacy in 72-96 hours. If you choose to use one of our nominated pharmacies, they are able to post medications directly to your door.
3. Your clinician will advise you on frequency of follow-up appointments to monitor treatment and progress.
When your treatment has been completed, you can request us to enter into a shared care agreement with your GP.
If they agree, then they will be able to take over prescribing of medication subject to the conditions of the shared care agreement.
In some instances a GP may refuse to enter into a shared care agreement, in which case all future prescriptions will have to be provided through Harley Street Mental Health. It is for this reason that we ask patients to speak to their GP prior to booking an appointment with our service.
How do I book an appointment?
Booking is quick and easy. Simply visit our website, select your service, and choose a suitable time.
Do you offer in-person and virtual consultations?
Yes, we provide both in-person assessments at 10 Harley Street and secure virtual consultations.
How soon will I receive my assessment report?
You will receive your detailed assessment report within 3 to 5 days after your consultation.
Are your clinicians qualified and accredited?
Absolutely. Our team consists of GMC-registered doctors and accredited specialists following NICE guidelines.
Can I get a repeat prescription?
Yes, we offer a straightforward repeat prescription service for ongoing treatment management.
Book your assessment today
Have a glance at the calendar and select a good time for you.