Our therapeutic approaches
Interaction between science and practice
Shocking events in the past can sometimes cause psychotrauma symptoms, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Often in combination with other psychological symptoms. ARQ provides highly specialised care for people with complex psychotrauma symptoms that previous treatments have failed to improve or who cannot be treated elsewhere for other reasons. In the Netherlands, our trauma treatments are provided: individually and in groups, to outpatients, day clinic patients and inpatients.
People living anywhere in the Netherlands can come to ARQ for treatment. Following registration, diagnosis and intake, we asses whether treatment at ARQ is necessary. Before someone starts treatment with us, there will be a consultation. During this consultation the treatment plan is discussed with the patient.
This may result in treatment at ARQ in collaboration with another institution or at ARQ only. We explore what we can treat, as a specialist treatment institution, and what can subsequently be followed up with the patient's own referrer. Treatment at ARQ will therefore usually be a small part of the overall treatment pathway.
Innovations in trauma treatment
Our patients often have a combination of symptoms and disorders and generally function poorly in multiple areas of life. This may be within the family, but also at work, within relationships and in the social environment.
Major themes within complex trauma disorders are:
- Occupation and Trauma
- War and Trauma
- Child and Family and Trauma
- Refugees and Trauma
- Grief and Trauma
- Various forms of violence, such as sexual violence
ARQ offers patients several first-choice trauma treatments, including:
- EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- Imaginal Exposure
- BEPP: Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD
- NET: Narrative Exposure Therapy
- IMRs: Imagery Rescripting
There are also innovative treatment methods, such as:
- 3MDR: Multi-modular Motion-assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation. 3MDR uses visual, auditory and physical elements. Using virtual reality and sound, the patient is exposed to the traumatic event while simultaneously performing a distracting task, while walking on a treadmill. This gradually reduces the tension.
- High-intensity treatments: short, intensive and evidence-based.
- HITT: High Intensive Trauma Therapy. HITT consists of a short inpatient stay with two sessions of EMDR and/or exposure a day. HITT is also effective for people with highly complex problems and helps them continue outpatient treatments that have reached a standstill.
- HI-NET: High Intensive Narrative Exposure Therapy. HI-NET consists of a short inpatient stay with NET therapy twice a day for five consecutive days, including a total of four sessions of creative visual therapy. This therapy focuses on the patient's life history. NET helps the patient form a better picture of their whole life.
- Medication-assisted psychotrauma therapy, using MDMA or ketamine, for example.
- Online trauma treatment at home using digital modules (e-health).
ARQ knowledge development through scientific research is essential within ARQ and aimed at improving treatment practice. Gaps in care and policy are analysed. Conversely, new research questions are formulated based on care in practice. This interaction between science and practice makes ARQ a leading institute.