Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ

First words

One day in December 1988, I took a day off workÌýand went Christmas shopping. It turned outÌýto be the day that my usual morning train toÌýWaterloo was involved in a collision just outsideÌýClapham Junction, tragically killing 35 peopleÌýand injuring hundreds of others. Although entirely uninvolvedÌýin this experience, it left an impression, disrupting myÌýotherwise largely unconscious routine of getting to work andÌýbringing into my conscious mind images and associations thatÌýin the aftermath were hard to shake off.

Given the proportionÌýof our lives spent at work, it follows that exposure to traumaÌýis likely to happen either at work or en route. By its veryÌýnature, trauma does not politely announce itself or comeÌýwith a warning. And yet, a key message seems to be that ifÌýwe psychologically prepare ourselves for trauma, we canÌýincrease our chances of survival.

This is something my father’s always known. FamilyÌýholidays always involved him in a reconnaissance trip,Ìýchecking emergency exits, positions of lifeboats and potentialÌýescape routes in case the worst should happen. ThisÌýbehaviour came to be a rich source of family jokes. But oneÌýnight when the worst did happen and an electrical faultÌýturned into a serious house fire, my father (then well intoÌýhis 70s), in the pitch black, proceeded to save his homeÌýfrom being burnt to the ground. Later, the attending fireÌýofficer, who assured him his actions had saved not just hisÌýhome, but also his and my mother’s life, asked him aboutÌýhis background; he simply answered ‘national service’.

Core survival skills may be fundamental to those whoÌýwork in the emergency services or armed forces, but forÌýthose of us who spend our working lives at a desk, we mayÌýneed a bit of help. Organisations have a duty to prepare forÌýtrauma, and training is at the heart of this, explains KateÌýNowlan in her article, ‘Trauma support: let’s prepare, notÌýscare’. Kate describes a form of ‘psychological inoculation’Ìýwhich can help protect organisations and staff in the eventÌýof a traumatic incident. She highlights the role of EAPÌýproviders as educators, training staff, and providingÌýmanagers with sufficient understanding about traumaÌýso they can best support their teams towards recovery.

Earlier this year, Stephen Regel was invited to speak toÌýthe London Trauma Network on the NICE guidelines followingÌýtrauma, and the treatment of PTSD. I’m pleased that StephenÌýhas summarised his presentation for Counselling at Work,Ìýhighlighting some of the confusion that exists around earlyÌýinterventions for trauma. He raised some questions aboutÌýwhat the guidelines mean for organisations, clients andÌýpractitioners, and asked whether they are a help or aÌýhindrance. I wonder, what do you think? If you would likeÌýto comment on this article or the guidelines, please do getÌýin touch.

PTSD is not an inevitable outcome of war, argues MargaretÌýChapman in her article ‘PTSD = Soldier?’ Challenging someÌýstereotypical views that all military personnel are sufferingÌýfrom PTSD, Margaret draws on her research and her workÌýwith veterans, to portray a far more complex picture of theÌýmental health of the armed forces. Acknowledging thatÌýPTSD is a very real occupational hazard which can oftenÌýgo undiagnosed, she highlights the need for greaterÌýunderstanding and research so that those who are mostÌýin need of help, get appropriate support.

At a Making Connections event for students last year,Ìýone of the questions most often asked was, how do you getÌýinto the workplace sector? As a distinct branch of therapy,Ìýrarely covered in general counselling courses, it can be aÌýchallenging field to enter. So I welcome Hilary Green, whoÌýwill be writing a regular column for us this year, ‘The newÌýcounsellor’. She brings fresh perspectives and insights intoÌýwhat it means to start on a new career, negotiating theÌýchallenges of the three-cornered contract between client,Ìýcounsellor and organisation.

‘The trauma that our staff experience is on a wholeÌýdifferent level’, explains Annette Greenwood, who leadsÌýthe Trauma Service for staff working in one of the country’sÌýlargest secure mental health hospitals. Staff work in aÌýconstant state of hypervigilance, where everyday items suchÌýas hair grips or pens are potentially harmful implements.ÌýAnnette’s commitment to supporting her staff is unwavering,Ìýand this issue she’s our inspiring interviewee for ‘Inside theÌýorganisation’. Last year, she became a Nursing Times finalistÌýand was awarded for ‘Excellence in supporting staff healthÌýand wellbeing’. She told me that the award validates muchÌýof her life’s work in fighting to ensure that the nursingÌýprofession have psychological support when they need it.ÌýWith great modesty, she told me that she shares her awardÌýwith all of us involved in the endeavours of workplaceÌýcounselling and trauma support. I thought you’d like to know.

If you’ve read an article in Counselling at Work that youÌýwould like to comment on, please do get in touch. This is yourÌýjournal – your thoughts and opinions are important and weÌýwant to hear from you.ÌýI hope you enjoy this issue.

Nicola Banning
Editor
counsellingatwork@bacp.co.uk

Disclaimer and copyright