How trauma and PTSD are treated
NICE guidance in the UK recommends offering individual trauma-focused CBT to adults with a diagnosis or clinically important symptoms of PTSD more than one month after a traumatic event, and to children and young people aged 7 to 17 more than three months after one.
NICE advises against drug treatments to prevent or treat PTSD in under-18s. For adults, it advises against drug treatments for prevention, and suggests considering them for treatment if the person prefers them.
How Angela works with trauma
Therapy starts with an assessment of your concerns, history and current functioning, followed by a session that explains the formulation and how treatment will work, so you know what to expect before the treatment plan begins. Goals are set together and reviewed as you progress.
Trauma in children and teenagers
For children, Angela begins with parents to understand developmental history and what's bringing the child in, then meets the child at a pace that suits them. Teenagers begin directly, and their sessions are confidential unless there is an emergency or a risk to their safety or someone else's.
Written by Angela Barhouch, licensed clinical psychologist and psychology instructor at the American University of Beirut. Last updated November 2026. This page is general information and doesn't replace an individual assessment.