The service was established in London in 2014 by Dr Shabnam Berry-Khan, a Clinical Psychologist and Case Manager, who had been working in rehabilitation personal injury for a number of years.
It was clear to Dr Shabnam that trauma-informed support has a vital role in supporting injury clients and families – this understanding made a lot of sense in terms of how clients and families experienced their litigation and rehabilitation journeys. Trauma also offers a unique insight into emotional responses that legal, care and therapy professionals could actually work with.
In addition, as a minority ethnic herself, Dr Shabnam noticed that clients of colour and their families found that the diversity and shared values within the PsychWorks Associate team brings an important difference to the relationship: being able to talk openly about the migrant experience, acknowledging the ‘otherness’ bond, recognising the nuances of racial trauma and advocating (often with experience) the significance of ‘culture clash’ in living an authentic life.
The service has remained true to its founding purpose of combining the best of psychology and case management to maximise rehabilitation and settlement outcomes for the diverse client by a service that can represent them.
With the addition of Gabriel Berry-Khan, part-qualified Accountant with a skilled background in environmental sciences, PsychWorks Associates is developing a strategy for 2023 onwards that will make the work we do more sustainable so we do our bit for future generations.
Shabnam is a skilled case manager with many years of experience. Her expertise in Psychology is a great addition as a case manager supporting people following trauma. She now runs a skilled and culturally diverse service that is designed to meet her clients need.
Referrals are regularly made from leading national Personal injury law and case management firms such as Irwin Mitchell LLP, Rehab Without Walls, Leigh Day, HCML, Thompsons Solicitors LLP, Brownbills Associates, Fieldfisher, Kingsley Napley, NeuroHealth Case Management, to key regional players throughout London and the South East, West Country, Midlands and the North of England.
My first contact with PsychWorks Associates was when they were asked to support my client, who had become tetraplegic, and his wife who were struggling with the effects of the injury on their lives. It was very important for my client to have his wife supporting the rehabilitation programme that was being set up but there were clearly tensions between them. PsychWorks Associates was involved in providing psychological support which helped ease tensions and pave the way for the introduction of the programme. This intervention proved very useful.
