Page 24 - Top Cover Issue 18

24 TOP COVER SUMMER 2023
traumatic events or incidents over
a prolonged period of time’, and
having problems in emotional
regulation, self-image and
interpersonal problems.
I kept in contact with work
and updated them with the
steps I was taking to get myself
well. I contacted the PFOA
who were very supportive and
offered me a therapist. Six
sessions were initially funded,
but after completing a PTSD
assessment funding for more
sessions was agreed due to the
severity of my condition.
I contacted the Police
Rehabilitation Centre Flint
House to which I also subscribe;
they offered me a week on
their residential mental health
programme which I attended
in May, but although it was a
comprehensive programme I felt
I needed one-to-one counselling
and support.
After some time, having gone
off sick I had an appointment
with the FMA, I was told an
appointment would be made for
me to see the force psychologist
for an assessment and to develop
a treatment programme. During
“ I’m confident with the ongoing support from
Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies our peer
support programme – called ‘Rewilding’ – will
make a big difference
this time I was seeking out all the
help I could find.
In June 2022 I spent four
days in the Cotswolds on the
residential Armed Forces Warrior
Programme, which was kindly
arranged and funded by a close
friend. It dealt with self-identity,
goal setting and values which
at the time wasn’t relevant to
my situation, however now with
the follow-up support I find it
WWW.PFOA.CO.UK
invaluable, giving me the skills
and confidence to move forward.
Surfwell success
In September, with the help
of Norfolk Police Wellbeing
Manager Emma Taylor, I was
selected to take part in a two-
week trial PTSD programme
called Intensive Trauma Service
(ITS), being run by Police Care UK
in Harrogate. The programme was
residential and used cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT), which
enables deconstruction of
events challenging thoughts,
beliefs and attitudes, and eye
movement desensitisation and
reprocessing (EMDR), which
uses eye movement therapy to
revisit incidents and assign more
positive beliefs, as well as an
intensive, specifically designed
exercise programme.
I continued throughout this
time to see my PFOA therapist
Aaron Davis, who really assisted
and supported me during this
difficult time. My weekly sessions
with Aaron over the course of
eight months enabled me to
cope and improve myself and
the relationships which had
suffered due to my PTSD. He
was intrinsic in my recovery
and helping me save my
marriage, which was suffering
due to my behaviour.
Within a few weeks of
completing the ITS programme
and with the support of the
lead therapist Rachel Rogers
I felt well enough to return to
work with restrictions, having
been off for eight months. I
wasn’t able to carry firearms,
do night shifts
or operational
policing. I was
told I’d need to
be moved to
an office-based
role as I was
non-operational;
I was hoping for a
role in training (PST or
Taser) or involvement
in wellbeing, as I felt my
experience could be
drawn on to help others.
In October I was invited
to attend a programme
run by Devon and
Cornwall police called
Surfwell. It is a one-
day peer support
programme using surf
psychological, physical
therapy to promote
and psychosocial
wellbeing. One-
to-one coaching
gives participants
from all aspects
of the emergency
services space to
talk about concerns or
worries. Surfwell has
been researched and
is supported by the
University of Exeter;
it has been running
for four years, using