EARLY TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Our Early Trauma Intervention Program is designed to support individuals who have experienced a recent traumatic event within the past 24 hours to 7 days.

We offer immediate sessions (ideally within 24 hours to 7 days post incident) using trauma-focused therapy and EMDR to help the brain process the event before symptoms get locked in.

A group of five friends standing outdoors at sunset with their arms around each other.
A graphic titled 'The Golden Window for Trauma Intervention' illustrating a trauma recovery timeline with a color-coded bar. The yellow section indicates 0-72 hours for maximum reduction of PTSD risk. The blue section represents 3-7 days for reduced PTSD risk, and the red section shows outcomes variable after wait-and-see, over more than 1 week.

Why timing matters?

When something deeply distressing happens like a car accident, assault, sudden loss, operational stress injury, or witnessing a traumatic event, your brain immediately starts trying to process what just occurred.

The first 3 to 7 days after the incident are known as the “Golden Window” — a brief but powerful opportunity to support your healing before long-term symptoms take hold.

During this time, your brain is actively forming and storing the memory of what happened. If the event is overwhelming, this memory can become “locked in” in a way that leads to emotional distress later on such as flashbacks, panic, sleep issues, or feeling emotionally shut down. This is how post-traumatic stress can begin.

But there’s good news:

Therapeutic support during this Golden Window can change how the brain stores the memory, reducing the chances that it becomes stuck or overwhelming. With guidance from a trained trauma therapist, you can process the event safely and gently, before the stress becomes chronic.

  • Targeted therapy within the first 7 days can modify how trauma memories are encoded, reducing flashbacks and reactivity.

    Zohar et al., 2015, European Neuropsychopharmacology

  • Trauma-focused therapy delivered within 72 hours can significantly reduce the likelihood of chronic PTSD

    Rothbaum et al. (2012)

  • Early psychological interventions—especially EMDR and CBT—are effective in preventing PTSD when delivered within the first 7 days.” —

    Roberts et al., 2019, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

  • Patients receiving brief EMDR treatment within one week of medical trauma showed faster psychological stabilization than standard care.

    Valiente-Gómez et al., 2020, Journal of Psychiatric Research

  • Participants treated with EMDR Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) within 72 hours showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms by the second session.

    Tarquinio et al., 2022, Frontiers in Psychology

  • Trauma-focused CBT started within 7 days resulted in quicker symptom improvement and reduced PTSD at 6-month follow-up.”

    Sijbrandij et al., 2016, European Journal of Psychotraumatology

What to expect

Here’s what you can expect when you access our Early Intervention Program:

  • Meeting with a Therapist: You’ll meet with a qualified trauma therapist to discuss your experience in a safe, supportive space.

  • Psychoeducation: Learn how trauma can affect the brain and body, and why your reactions are normal responses to abnormal events.

  • Coping Strategies: Gain practical tools and strategies to manage distressing symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disruption, or intrusive thoughts.

  • Processing the Incident: When appropriate, you’ll have the opportunity to begin processing the traumatic event in a gentle and guided way, tailored to your readiness.

  • Next Steps: Based on your needs, we’ll help you plan any further care, whether that means short-term support or longer-term trauma therapy.

A young woman smiling while talking to another person in a casual indoor setting, sitting on a leather sofa near large windows.
Family of six walking on a wooden bridge in a natural setting during sunset, with trees and tall grasses on either side.

Who is this program for?

Our Early Trauma Intervention Program is designed for adults (18+) who have recently experienced a distressing or traumatic event.

No matter how big or small it may seem. Early support can make all the difference.

This may include:

  • First Responders (paramedics, corrections, dispatch, police, fire) after a difficult or disturbing call

  • Health Care Providers exposed to traumatic medical events or patient loss

  • Recent Sexual Assault

  • Recent traumatic medical event; ie: traumatic birth, surgery etc

  • Recent event of intimate partner violence.

  • Those with Operational Stress Injuries (OSI), including military or frontline staff

  • Mental Health Workers or therapists coping with vicarious trauma

  • Teachers or Educators affected by crisis in the classroom or community

  • Anyone who has recently gone through a traumatic or overwhelming experience

Critical Incident Debriefing

Our staff are trained in providing critical incident debriefing. Please contact us for more details.

FAQ