We know that organisations dealing with traumatic areas such as rape and sexual abuse generally offer a helpline, information, and counselling services. Unfortunately, in many cases there are long waiting lists for people who wish to access counselling.

Given the issues surrounding PTSD are particularly sensitive, potential service-users may feel more comfortable accessing internet-based services as an initial contact.

Evidence suggests an intervention called Interapy may be of significant benefit to those users suffering from PTSD.

A controlled trial of the Interapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress was published in 2001 (Lange, van de Ven, Schrieken & Emmelkamp, 2001). Lange and colleagues found that 80% of participants showed significant clinical improvement.

The therapy consists of three phases; self-confrontation, cognitive reappraisal and sharing and farewell ritual, incorporating 10 writing assignments throughout. The effect sizes were large, and in fact, 3 times as high as those found for the equivalent face-to-face intervention reported by Schoutrop (2000) and Smyth (1998).

uMeet can be used for an Interapy-type online intervention to service those who suffer from PTSD. Coupled with the correct organisation and skills uMeet can provide service-users with immediate, secure, evidence-based and confidential help, which would be accessible from their own environment.

uMeet is designed to be used by any number of people, be it one-to-one or group support. We have designed uMeet so it meets the need of organisations and therapists alike by maintaining both flexibility of use, and reliability of function.