Crisis & Trauma Recovery Group (CTRG)
A cross-sector expert group and think tank developing practical recommendations to improve policy, services and practice in crisis response and trauma recovery.
Convened by the Complex Trauma Institute
Turning real problems in crisis response and trauma recovery into better policy, services and practice
CTRG brings together experienced professionals from crisis-exposed sectors, alongside clinical, operational, academic and organisational experts, to examine system gaps and develop practical recommendations.
The Group provides cross-sector leadership in policy and practice, helping services and decision-makers build clearer, safer and more proportionate crisis and trauma recovery pathways.
WHAT CTRG DOES:
Across sectors, crisis and trauma guidance can be fragmented, terminology can differ, and valuable frontline experience and research do not always reach service design, commissioning or decision-making. CTRG starts with real problems identified in practice, services and systems. It connects frontline crisis experience, operational knowledge, research and policy to develop practical responses for organisations, commissioners, service leaders and decision-makers. Outputs may include briefing papers, evidence reviews, practical guidance, recommendations, consultation responses, sector-specific resources and visual explanations for non-specialist audiences. CTI convenes the Group, coordinates contributions and supports the review, publication and dissemination of agreed outputs. CTRG is an expert forum, not a therapy or peer-support group, training course, government body or platform for promoting one profession, organisation or intervention.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM OUR WORK:
CTRG’s work can support professionals and organisations responsible for preparing for, responding to and supporting recovery after serious incidents, crises and traumatic events. This includes emergency and public safety services; defence, justice and security; health, care and specialist support; education, research and workplaces; transport, aviation and high-risk industries; and humanitarian, migration and community settings. Our work may also benefit other organisations responsible for supporting people, staff or communities during crisis and recovery.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
CTRG brings together experienced practitioners, researchers, operational leaders, educators and organisational specialists from the UK and internationally. Contributors participate according to their expertise, the subject being examined and their available capacity. They may identify important problems, share existing evidence and professional learning, review draft materials or contribute specialist and sector-specific perspectives. Participation is flexible and topic-specific. Contributors are not expected to join every project, create new research, collect new data or provide regular reports. Then place the contributor cards underneath:
ANTONIO MARTÍN BEJARANO GARCÍA
Clinical Psychologist (HCPC and GMRB Registered)
Gibraltar Medical Registration Board
Clinical Psychology | Gibraltar / Spain
Professional register
CHRIS STATHAM
Director, International Operations
Blake Emergency Services
Emergency Response / International Operations | United Kingdom
DZMITRY KARPUK
Family & Systemic Psychotherapist (MSc, UKCP Registered; AFSP Member), Counselling Psychologist
Complex Trauma Institute
Crisis, Trauma & Recovery Pathways | United Kingdom
IGOR SHULGA
Psychologist Officer · Clinical Psychologist · Psychotherapist
Military · APA
Military Psychology | Ukraine
MICHAEL GUILDING
Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, Trainer, Former NHS Counselling Services Manager
Author: ‘Fear in the Therapy Room: A survival guide for working with complex
trauma.’ Mental Health / United Kingdom
PAUL GRIFFITHS
Consultant Practitioner Psychologist (Forensic) · Integrative Embodied Therapist
PJG Psychological Services · HCPC · BPS Associate Fellow · Division of Forensic Psychology
Forensic Psychology / Psychological Trauma | United Kingdom & Commonwealth Countries
Professional profile
SYMA SANFORD
Psychotherapist
Independent Practice · NCIP Member
Psychotherapy / Bereavement & Trauma Support | Oxford, United Kingdom
NCPS & NCIP
AUÐUR ÓSK GUÐMUNDSDÓTTIR
Assistant Professor · Family & Systemic Psychotherapist (UKCP · AFSP) · Clinical Supervisor
University of Iceland · Mental Health Team Reykjavík · Private Practice
Social Work / Higher Education / Mental Health | Iceland | University profile
DR DANIELA TUMLER
Independent Researcher
Independent
Research | United Kingdom
DR GEORGE MOLESKIS
Counselling Psychologist · Clinical Supervisor · Adjunct Faculty
University of Nicosia · Cyprus
Counselling Psychology / Higher Education | Cyprus | University profile
JANE E. JONES
Service Manager, IFST-EOC & Therapeutic Service
Education and Children’s Services, Denbighshire County Council
Children’s Services / Therapeutic Services | Wales, United Kingdom
Denbighshire County Council
OLENA OSTRAKOVA
Psychotherapist · Clinical Psychologist
APA
Mental Health | Ukraine
DR ROBERT A. DAVIES
Research Associate
Department of Philosophy, University of York
Academic Research | United Kingdom
University profile
PROFESSOR TOM STONEHAM
Professor of Philosophy
Department of Philosophy, University of York
Academic Research | United Kingdom
University profile
CELIA DAWSON
Person-Centred Psychotherapist (BA, PgDip, PCAI) · Trainer · Coordinator
Complex Trauma Institute · The International Focusing Institute
Psychotherapy / Training | United Kingdom
DR DIANE HARRISON
Principal Psychologist (HCPC Registered · BPS Chartered · BABCP Accredited)
NHS — from September 2026
Health & Social Care | United Kingdom
Hans-Hermann Baertz
Trainer, Coach and Therapist; Director of the EFT-Institute Berlin; specialist in psychological trauma and trauma stabilisation / Germany
Markella Grigoriou
Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Limassol, Cyprus
University Profile
SHAGUFTA BALQUIS
SHAGUFTA BALQUIS
Systemic & Family Psychotherapist (MSc, UKCP, AFSP)
South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
Mental Health / Family Therapy | United Kingdom
ROSE MARIA HALL
Cognitive Behavioural & Psychodynamic Psychotherapist · Person-Centred Counsellor · Solution-Focused Therapist · Supervisor & Trainer (BABCP Accredited)
Dynamic Psychological Therapies
Psychotherapy / Supervision / Training | United Kingdom
Dynamic Psychological Therapies