Bury: Veteran offers therapy sessions at Two Tubs

Rich Jones, from Bristol, who runs Project TLS to support veterans, has taken a trip to the town to help veterans suffering from PTSD.  

The sessions are at the Two Tubs.

Having left the forces and suffered from the disorder himself, Rich discovered the use of Ultra EMDR -Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing - therapy and was so impressed with the results that he decided to learn it for himself.  

He said: “I was treated with EMDR and was so blown away by the results after just one session that I recommended it to my son who was suffering with his mental health, a couple of sessions later and he was feeling so much better. 

Rich Jones (Image: Public)

“Since then, I knew that this was something I needed to do.”  

Having been to events held by the veteran-friendly Two Tubs, Bury, Rich noticed how many veterans from similar backgrounds were still living with their PTSD. 

Read more: Stranger Things and Fleabag star filming at Two Tubs pub

He said: “That’s when I decided that I needed to come back up and start getting these guys treated as much as I can.  

“Veterans should never have to pay for this so I’m doing it for free. 

“I describe it as if I'm going into a hot battle zone to extract them from this trauma that they live in. 

Rich Jones (Image: Public)

"I relive that event with them and bring them back so we can say, that was heavy but we're out now, and you can see the change within minutes." 

The treatment only lasts around 60 minutes with 30 minutes extra for talking at the beginning and end of the session.  

Read more: Two Tubs in Bury serving £1 home comfort meals

The process aims to anchor a memory as by listening to some music for around 20 minutes in the morning and again at night before other treatments begin.  

Rich said: “The music will have a left and right style algorithm to provoke a memory to the surface, people might come up with memories that they didn't even know existed which tells me that this is going to work. 

“Then we use strobe-style lights that go from left to right inside a pair of glasses. It's not hypnosis and those lights can be increased in speed or slowed down and once we know we've locked in a traumatic event will switch to the tappers.  

“These are handles which pulse when you hold on to them and move synchronised with the lights in the glasses from left to right. This activates parts of the brain which are responsible for processing memories. 

Rich Jones (Image: Public)

“If someone's had a traumatic event, for example witnessing a crash or watching someone die, their body shuts down and the brain shuts down and doesn't let them process that, it then stays in there is a live event which is what PTSD is.” 

The therapy aims to raise brain waves and allow events that still register as live in the brain to become a memory. 

Read more: Veterans and residents honour Queen at oldest pub in Bury

Although Rich said he was shocked many hadn't heard of it, he warns patients that the therapy works suddenly, and will feel fresh but will stop the PTSD.  

He said: “What can happen is the patient might suddenly have to learn how to live with a new memory although it might have happened 10 or 15 years ago. 

“Because it's only just been processed its brand new so then you have all the usual second-guessing should have and could haves.” 

Rich, who runs Project TLS to support veterans during their transition out of the forces, has assured that the treatment is free to veterans who need it and hopes to visit Bury a few times every year to do treatments. 

There are cases where the therapy cannot be used or a number of sessions may be required so any interest has be discussed prior to treatment. 

For more information or to register your interest, you can message the Two Tubs here, or visit either of Rich’s pages  Project TLS or Iamrichjones.co.uk  

If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.