Child Accelerated Trauma Therapy

I specialise in Child Accelerated Trauma Therapy (CATT). My approach is tailored for children and young people aged 4 and above, harnessing their natural communicative abilities through play and creativity.

 

By giving children a voice to express their PTSD and complex trauma memories, I provide a caring and nurturing space to facilitate healing. 

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CATT is a specialised therapeutic approach designed to help children who have experienced trauma process and heal from their emotional wounds in a more rapid and effective way. CATT aims to provide children with the tools and support they need to recover from the impacts of trauma, reduce symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and help them regain a sense of safety and emotional well-being.

 

The accelerated aspect of CATT refers to its focus on speeding up the healing process, enabling children to address the emotional and psychological effects of trauma more quickly than traditional methods might allow. It's a bit like EMDR but designed more with children in mind. 

 

How it works

 

While there isn't a single, universally accepted definition, there are several core principles that I incorporate. 

 

1. Trauma-Focused Therapy:

• CATT typically draws from trauma-focused therapy, which is a broad category of therapeutic techniques that help children process and heal from traumatic experiences. 

• The aim of trauma-focused therapy is to help children process their traumatic memories, understand their emotional responses, and develop healthier coping strategies.

 

2. Safe and Structured Environment:

• I create a safe environment for the child. This helps them feel secure enough to explore their traumatic experiences without feeling overwhelmed or retraumatised.

• I work to establish trust and safety, which is essential for trauma survivors, particularly children.

 

3. Accelerated Healing:

•  In CATT, the goal is to help the child process the trauma more quickly and move toward healing faster.

• This might involve a more intensive approach to more traditional therapy, with multiple sessions per week or focused interventions that encourage rapid emotional processing.

 

4. Child-Centred Techniques:

• CATT is designed to be developmentally appropriate for children, using methods and techniques that are engaging, playful, and tailored to the child's age and emotional maturity.

• Children often lack the vocabulary or emotional awareness to fully express their trauma verbally, so I use play or art therapy to support them

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