Prepare | Prevent | Protect
KRTS International Ltd was founded by Dr Liz Royle and Chartered Counselling Psychologist Catherine Kerr in 2010. From entering the field of psychological crisis and trauma, over 25 years ago, we grew increasingly frustrated at seeing organisations and their employees failed – unintentionally let down by systems that were intended to support them after a crisis. 90% of the problems were caused by:
Organisations bringing in costly interventions that didn’t actually address their problem or even created new ones
Managers unintentionally making things worse or feeling helpless to support their teams
Misinformation, confusion and a lack of real expertise surrounding the topic of crisis and trauma
Counselling as the only option for support preventing many people from accessing the help that they needed
We believed that this had to change.
We listen carefully to you to understand your specific situation.
Everyone is unique. What do you need?
Confidence that we are doing the right thing |
We can work with you collaboratively to explore any gaps in your organisation and provide information on the solutions available to fill those gaps.
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To enable my managers to support their team |
Training can maximise wellness and resilience across an organisation, and enable colleagues to be part of the solution after a crisis.
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To rebuild resilience after a crisis |
Our innovative App gives 24/7 access to immediate and effective support and enables a protective organisational culture.
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Options to make support more accessible |
Up to 75% of people who need it, won’t access support after a crisis. We developed a safe, accessible way to address this.
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Who We Work With
KRTS International’s workplace trauma solutions and Critical Incident Stress Management, help any organisation, large or small, to strategically prepare for and respond to workplace trauma.
Many organisations feel out of their depth when it comes to managing psychological trauma. It is a highly specialised area but this doesn’t mean that people should feel confused about what to do or why they should take an action. Our guiding principle is to demystify, simplify and appropriately educate, developing a collaborative partnership with our customers and assisting them in crucial policy making decisions.
Benefits
Early intervention can reduce the costs of sickness absence and problems with retention
Effective treatments are targeted where most needed and the stigma of accepting help is reduced
Supportive management involvement leads to organisational empowerment whilst employees feel valued and better motivated
Our Expertise
Understanding and managing the pressures of actually dealing with major incidents and a 24/7 crisis response service within a police setting means we’re not just basing our advice on paper exercises. We bring a solid, reliable and clear focus to the area of strategic planning and operating processes.
We understand about working within challenging cultures and about building resilience in high-risk environments, including reducing the risks of vicarious and cumulative trauma.
Our experience of sensitively managing workplace trauma from the positions of operational functioning, managers and colleagues as well the individuals directly affected allows for a holistic approach that benefits all involved.
All our services are based on a breadth of experience that would be difficult to match. This experience was developed following around 40 years of practical hands on experience at the sharp end of managing traumatic events. It spanned the complete spectrum of trauma from crisis intervention as an incident unfolded, through early intervention in the critical first days and weeks, right up to clinical experience working with survivors many years after the events that triggered their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
All this real-world expertise is underpinned by an excellent academic and theoretical knowledge that keeps us at the cutting edge of the field.
Frequently Asked Questions about managing post traumatic stress
What should we consider when planning for a critical incident?
Every setting is unique and brings its own risks and protective factors so a good initial assessment of these is vital to the effectiveness of any strategy. Following this assessment, organisations may take steps to build resilience, prepare post-incident procedures and train employees in trauma recovery or psychological first aid.
How do I tell what kind of incidents might be traumatic?
There are often indicators that a particular event may prove traumatic for some or all involved in it, for example where individual safety is compromised, intense helplessness, loss of control or horror is experienced, high levels of distress are provoked or there are sudden, shocking changes to “normal” life.
Can people be trained to withstand trauma?
If people are drilled in processes and know how to react during an incident, this will help them to be resilient and “bounce back” effectively. Understanding the nature of traumatic stress and helpful coping strategies can ensure they are taking their part in healthy behaviours and feel in control of their recovery.
How do I help my employees after a traumatic event?
Your managers play a key role in supporting affected staff in the days and weeks after the incident and can be trained in how to manage an effective recovery and rehabilitation to the workplace. They should be supported by specialist mental health services for those who need a professional referral.
Can people recover from trauma?
Yes! In fact many people go on to experience a phenomenon called post traumatic growth where they can feel stronger and even have a more fulfilling life. However before then, traumatic stress reactions can be very distressing and disturbing and it’s important to provide early critical incident stress management support in order to best facilitate a full recovery.
Is counselling the right thing to provide after trauma?
For most people, supportive counselling will not be helpful after a traumatic event. Psychological first aid and trauma-focused treatments are more appropriate and should always provide education about the trauma response and strategies to manage and reduce symptoms.