Posttraumatic Stress Clinic

The Posttraumatic Stress Clinic offers treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD following a range of traumatic events. This includes childhood trauma, exposure to family violence, interpersonal assault including physical assault, sexual assault and/or domestic violence, and single-incident events (eg, motor vehicle and workplace accidents). We also see people who have been exposed to trauma through their occupation (eg, police, ambulance, firefighters, veterans and active service duty personnel).

What we do

We offer evidence-based therapies for posttraumatic stress (typically cognitive-behavioural, eg Cognitive Processing Therapy). In accordance with best practice, we conduct a comprehensive assessment to ensure the therapy we offer is appropriate to address an individual’s specific post-trauma needs and monitor progress throughout therapy with brief questionnaires. The therapies are offered in the context of research trials where we investigate how to make existing therapies more effective. For further information about trauma-focussed therapies and trauma treatment, visit these sites: Phoenix Australia, UK Guidelines, USA National PTSD website).

We are currently recruiting for one trial, which is listed below. Therapy is provided free of charge.

View our current trials

Past projects/trials

Contact us

Who we are

Professor Reg Nixon

Professor Reg Nixon has conducted PTSD treatment trials at Flinders University since 2004 and has been involved in the research and treatment of PTSD and it’s co-occurring problems for the past 20 years. He regularly provides training and supervision in evidence-based therapies for PTSD and is an accredited Cognitive Processing Therapy Trainer. His research and professional development training has involved community mental health and victim services, emergency responder agencies, as well as military personnel and veterans (Open Arms [formerly Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service], and the Australian Defence Force).Professor Reg Nixon has conducted PTSD treatment trials at Flinders University since 2004 and has been involved in the research and treatment of PTSD and it’s co-occurring problems for the past 20 years. He regularly provides training and supervision in evidence-based therapies for PTSD. This has included community mental health services and victim agencies, as well as Open Arms (formerly Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service) and the Australian Defence Force.

Therapists working at the clinic

Dr Marja Elizabeth has been a registered psychologist since 2000, with a career working with clients having experienced trauma. She has worked in diverse settings in Australia and internationally including Corrective Services, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Sexual Assault Services, Tokyo English Lifeline and as the Gender Based Violence Specialist for the Government of Nauru. Since 2016 she has been a therapist on several PTSD treatment trials with Flinders University and completed her PhD that investigated a modified form of CPT. She is currently the Postgraduate Course Coordinator (Professional and Clinical Psychology) for Flinders University.

Priyadharshany Sandanapitchai is a registered psychologist and Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate interested in trauma and PTSD intervention. Her research evaluated a novel guided self-help Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT-GSH) program for adults with PTSD. This intervention aimed to expand access to evidence-based trauma treatment and align therapy intensity with client needs within a stepped-care model. This was the first study to examine both the effectiveness of stepped-care CPT-GSH and the feasibility of delivering guided self-help in this format.

Olivia Waring is a Clinical Psychology Masters student currently completing her thesis on Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her research explores ways to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of trauma-specific therapies by examining the impact of client choice over the format of treatment. Olivia has previously worked as a coach and research officer on a mental health prevention trial involving first responders, as well as an intake officer for alcohol and other drug programs at OARS Community Transitions.

At various times we will have provisional psychologists undertaking supervised clinical work within the clinic, with the majority undertaking postgraduate clinical psychology training at Flinders University.

Our current studies

Protecting Emergency Responders with Evidence-Based Interventions (PEREI)

PEREI was designed to assist first responders to build skills, boost support, and help look after themselves early in their early careers. It aims to improve resilience to the potentially negative effects of stressors, whether that’s exposure to traumatic events or organisational and operational challenges.

PEREI goes above and beyond existing wellbeing programs by using a three-pronged approach, offering a wellbeing and resilience program for first responders; extending support to families and significant others; and providing training to supervisors.

Learn more

Cognitive Processing Flexible Choice Trial

This project investigates four different formats of the same trauma focused therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help people recover from PTSD. Participants will have the choice over which format of CPT they undertake including self-help, guided self-help, abbreviated CPT or standard CPT.

Find out more about the CPT Choice Trial

Am I eligible for the CPT Flexible Choice trial?

To be eligible for the trial, we require you to:

be over 18 years of age
have been directly or indirectly exposed to a traumatic event at any age (e.g., assault, motor vehicle accident, child trauma etc.)
have experienced the trauma(s) at least four weeks ago
meet full PTSD or subthreshold PTSD, or Complex PTSD (symptoms include but are not limited to: distressing and unwanted memories, avoiding thoughts, feelings and reminders of the trauma, having strong- negative thoughts such as self-blame, and feeling alert, unsafe or having problems with sleep, anger or concentration)
have access to the internet

If you are uncertain about being eligible for the trial, please contact us for further information.

What does the CPT Flexible Choice trial involve?

If you choose to take part in the study, you will initially undergo a phone screening to determine your eligibility to participate. Following confirmation of your eligibility, you will be interviewed by a registered or provisional psychologist, and you will also be asked to complete questionnaires about your life experiences and symptoms.

The research study uses a design where participants choose the format of therapy they will receive. The therapy options are four different formats of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). CPT is a standard therapy for treating posttraumatic stress and involves looking at how your beliefs about the trauma may affect your recovery. The therapy helps you develop different ways of thinking to help you recover from your symptoms. CPT has been shown to be effective in treating posttraumatic stress in many studies. CPT is a recommended evidence-based treatment for PTSD in Australian and International guidelines.

The four formats for receiving therapy in this study include: (1) self-help CPT, (2) guided self-help CPT, (3) CPT over 8 sessions [CPT-8], and (4) CPT over 12 sessions [CPT-12].

In format (1), self-help, you will receive a self-help manual that guides you through weekly exercises to complete it and you will complete a brief weekly questionnaire to check your progress. It is anticipated it will take approximately 12- weeks to complete.
In format (2), guided self-help, you will be given weekly modules and exercises and receive weekly feedback via email on your progress and exercises.
Format (3) and (4) consist of weekly 60 minutes sessions either face-to-face or via telehealth.

Therapy in (2), (3), and (4) (guided self-help CPT, CPT-8, CPT-12) will be conducted by a provisional psychologist. As a part of the current study, in consultation with your therapist, you can choose during therapy to move to another format (e.g., to move from guided self-help to CPT-8, or move from CPT-12 down to CPT-8).

After therapy you will participate in two more assessments (interview and completing questionnaires). These assessments will occur immediately after therapy and then at 3-months after therapy to monitor your progress.

No costs are associated with participating in this trial, nor will you be paid.

What are the benefits?

Although we cannot predict whether you will benefit from the treatment offered to you in this trial, people who have received similar therapies in the past have reported to have gained at least some benefit. It is hoped that the information gathered in this research will help increase understanding of the best ways to offer treatment to individuals who have been traumatised.

Who is conducting the CPT Flexible Choice trial?