ABSTRACT
It is suggested that it is the centrality accorded to the trauma that is the driving force for debility post-trauma, not only in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also in a diverse range of responses including depression, body dysmorphic disorder and panic disorder. To the extent that clients utilise the trauma as their window on themselves and their world, they are likely to suffer impairment in functioning, both personally and interpersonally. With regards to PTSD, it is suggested that its hallmark is a state of terrified surprise a combination of exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance, which is misinterpreted as a threat from the local environment. In this new perspective, the client's pre-trauma view of themselves and their personal world is validated. Restorative cognitive behaviour therapy (RCBT) is about restoring the trauma victim to a sense of their former selves or rebuilding a sense of self. The process is akin to restoring an old property to its’ former glory or constructing a rebuild on the site. As such the prime focus is on the self, rather than how the property became dilapidated. Mental time travel is a feature not only of PTSD but of the spectrum of trauma responses, this leads to a refinement of the traditional treatments for other disorders.
