Working together: Police Care UK and Dr Sarah Butler announce new study

Police Care UK and Dr Sarah Butler have announced a new collaborative research project exploring the feasibility of an intensive treatment programme for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) among serving police officers.

The study reflects an important shift in thinking about trauma treatment within high-risk professions. Policing involves repeated and cumulative exposure to traumatic events, often over many years. While traditional weekly therapy remains effective for many individuals, it is not always accessible or sufficient for those with complex and entrenched trauma presentations—particularly when operational pressures, shift work, and organisational demands disrupt continuity of care.

Why intensive therapy?

Intensive therapy models deliver evidence-based trauma treatment at a higher frequency over a shorter, structured period. Emerging international research indicates that these approaches can be both clinically effective and highly acceptable for occupational groups exposed to sustained trauma. However, UK-based evidence remains limited, particularly in relation to policing and CPTSD. This feasibility study has been designed to address that gap.

The treatment programme under evaluation has been designed by Dr Butler and is informed by over a decade of experience in trauma-focused clinical work, service development, and systems-level mental health provision. It also builds on doctoral research into intensive therapy for post-traumatic stress, integrating current trauma theory with practical delivery considerations relevant to frontline services.

About the study

The research will examine the clinical, practical, and organisational feasibility of delivering an intensive CPTSD treatment programme to serving police officers. The study aims to recruit up to 50 officers diagnosed with CPTSD, with completion anticipated in late 2026. Importantly, the focus extends beyond clinical outcomes alone. The study will explore how intensive therapy can be delivered safely, ethically, and sustainably within real-world policing contexts. Key considerations include engagement, retention, duty of care, and alignment with existing organisational support structures—factors that are critical for charities, services, and commissioners seeking scalable and responsible solutions.

Working with Police Care UK

Partnering with Police Care UK ensures the research remains grounded in the lived realities of policing. Whether serving or retired, police staff or volunteers, the charity supports those who have been harmed as a result of their policing work. Its mission is underpinned by the belief that police officers and their families should always have someone to turn to—someone who understands their situation and can respond effectively to their needs.

Police Care UK complements the duty of care held by police organisations by identifying gaps in provision and addressing them through targeted services, projects, and programmes. This research aligns closely with that mission, exploring innovative and evidence-informed ways to strengthen long-term support for those most affected by trauma.

Looking ahead

This feasibility study represents a meaningful step forward in the development of credible, research-led intensive therapy models for high-risk professions. It contributes to a growing body of work aimed at moving organisations beyond crisis response and towards sustainable, preventative, and evidence-based trauma care.

Organisations, charities, and services interested in discussing similar projects, research collaborations, or consultation around intensive therapy and trauma-informed service development are encouraged to make contact.

Support for this work can also be shown by donating to Police Care UK via their official website—helping ensure that those who serve are not left to cope alone.