PTSD Treatment Specialists for Trauma Recovery

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing, witnessing, or learning about a traumatic event. PTSD can affect both the brain and body, leading to emotional, physical, and behavioral changes that interfere with daily life. Recognizing PTSD symptoms early and seeking professional PTSD treatment can help individuals begin the healing process. Common traumatic experiences associated with PTSD include:

Exposure to actual or threatened death
Serious injury or life-threatening accidents
Sexual violence or assault
Witnessing traumatic events involving others
Learning about trauma experienced by a close family member or loved one

Some individuals experience trauma-related symptoms without meeting the full criteria for PTSD. In these cases, a trauma-informed mental health professional may diagnose adjustment disorder or another stress-related condition. Even when symptoms do not meet the full PTSD diagnosis, treatment can still help improve emotional well-being and quality of life.

After a traumatic event, many people experience temporary stress reactions such as fear, nightmares, trouble sleeping, flashbacks, anxiety, or avoiding reminders of the event. These responses are part of the body’s natural fight-or-flight system and often improve over time. When PTSD symptoms persist for more than a month, intensify, or begin affecting relationships, work, sleep, or daily functioning, professional PTSD treatment may be necessary.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms generally fall into three main categories: intrusive symptoms, avoidance and mood-related symptoms, and hyperarousal symptoms. Understanding these symptoms can help individuals recognize when professional PTSD treatment may be beneficial.

Intrusion Symptoms
- Distressing memories of the event(s) that are unwanted and recurrent.
- Distressing dreams or nightmares with content related to the event(s)
- Flashbacks – experiences in which the person feels or behaves as though the event is currently happening.
- Intense or prolonged emotional or physiological distress when exposed to internal or external reminders about the event(s)
Avoidance Symptoms or Negative Changes in Mood and Thoughts
- Avoiding internal reminders of the event(s) such as memories, feelings, or thoughts
- Avoiding external reminders of the event(s) such as people, places, things, activities, and situations
- Inability to remember an important aspect of the event(s)
- Ongoing and inflated negative beliefs about the self, others, or the world in general.
- Blaming oneself or others for the event(s)
- Persistently negative feelings (such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame)
- Significant decrease in doing or being interested in important activities
- Feeling detached or estranged from others
- Persistently feeling unable to experience positive emotions (such as love or joy)
Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms
- Irritability and angry outbursts
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
- Being hyper-alert, watchful, or on guard
- Being easily startled
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Other common experiences:
- Depersonalization (frequent experiences of feeling detached from one’s thoughts or body, feeling as though one is in a dream, feeling oneself isn’t real)
- Derealization (frequent experiences of feeling one’s surroundings are not real, are distant, dream-like, or distorted).

Complex PTSD is characterized by extremely threatening or horrific traumatic events from which escape is impossible or extremely difficult, and is typically prolonged or repetitive. The symptom groups are the same as above, but there is also additional and intense dysfunction in emotion regulation, self-identity and interpersonal attachment/relationships.

What is C-PTSD?

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a form of trauma-related disorder often caused by ongoing or repeated traumatic experiences. Unlike PTSD, which is commonly linked to a single traumatic event, C-PTSD develops from prolonged exposure to threatening situations such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, captivity, or chronic neglect. In addition to traditional PTSD symptoms, individuals with C-PTSD may struggle with emotional regulation, self-esteem, trust, and relationships.

PTSD vs. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): Key Differences

Feature	PTSD	C-PTSD
Type of Trauma	Typically one distinct traumatic event	Ongoing, repeated, or prolonged trauma
Common Causes	Accidents, assaults, natural disasters	Childhood abuse/neglect, domestic violence, captivity, trafficking, chronic exposure to threat
Core Symptoms	Intrusive memories, avoidance, hyperarousal, negative mood changes	All PTSD symptoms plus difficulties with self-esteem, emotion regulation, and relationships
Duration & Pattern	Symptoms persist for at least 1 month after the event	Symptoms develop over time due to chronic threat
Impact on Sense of Self	May impact self-confidence during symptom flare-ups	Often significant and persistent disturbances in self-worth
Relationship Difficulties	Can avoid reminders but may maintain stable relationships	High sensitivity to conflict, fear of abandonment, chronic trust difficulties
Treatment Approach	Trauma-focused therapy, medication when appropriate	Longer-term trauma therapy focusing on safety, stabilization, identity repair, and relationship patterns

If trauma-related symptoms are affecting your daily life, relationships, work, or emotional health, seeking professional PTSD treatment can help. A licensed trauma therapist or psychiatric provider can evaluate your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan. Common PTSD symptoms that may indicate the need for support include:

Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories related to trauma
Feeling constantly alert, anxious, or on edge
Avoiding people, places, or situations connected to the trauma
Irritability, anger, or difficulty regulating emotions
Physical reactions that mirror the original traumatic experience
Sleep problems, insomnia, or recurring nightmares
Persistent guilt, shame, or self-blame
Feeling emotionally disconnected from others
Becoming easily overwhelmed or emotionally triggered

At Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates, we provide in person or online trauma counseling and psychiatric treatment (medication) for PTSD. You can reach out to us today to get started with assessment and treatment for concerns related to trauma.

What are the Causes and Risk Factors of PTSD?

PTSD affects millions of adults in the United States (lifetime prevalence approximately 7%) and can develop shortly after a traumatic event or months later. PTSD symptoms may improve with time for some individuals, while others experience long-term emotional and physical effects without professional treatment. Early intervention and trauma-informed care can significantly improve recovery outcomes. About half of people with PTSD recover within 3 months, but symptoms can persist for decades.

PTSD can affect individuals of any race, socioeconomic status, gender, orientation, age, and education level. Rates of PTSD are highest in survivors of sexual violence, survivors of military combat and captivity, and survivors of ethnically or politically motivated internment and genocide. In fact, one-third to over one-half of people exposed to these traumas will develop PTSD. PTSD rates are also quite high in veterans and first responders.

Other risk factors for developing PTSD include:

Pre-existing mental health conditions
Childhood adversity
Inadequate social support prior to and after the event
The severity of the trauma. threat to life, and/or physical injury
Trauma being perpetrated by a caregiver
Lack of agency and inability to escape during the trauma
Genetic factors
Being a woman
History of traumatic brain injury
And more

How Does Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates Treat PTSD & Trauma?

Our PTSD treatment specialists create personalized treatment plans based on each individual’s symptoms, trauma history, and goals for recovery. Treatment may include trauma-focused therapy, EMDR, medication management, online PTSD treatment, and supportive counseling designed to reduce PTSD symptoms and improve overall quality of life.

What to Expect During Your First PTSD Treatment Appointment

During your first PTSD treatment appointment, your provider will take time to understand your symptoms, personal history, support system, coping strategies, and treatment goals. Whether you meet with a therapist or psychiatric provider, the focus is on building a safe, supportive, and trauma-informed treatment experience.

Once information is gathered, the provider will begin to form a treatment plan, including recommendations for the next steps. They will typically be able to provide you with information about your diagnosis, although at times several visits are needed to gather all necessary information, especially when there are multiple diagnoses.

A prescribing provider (a trauma psychiatrist or nurse practitioner) may recommend medication(s) for managing your symptoms and seeing a trauma counselor for in person or online trauma therapy. Many patients with PTSD need medication support for managing serious problems with mood, anxiety, irritability, and sleep.

A non-prescribing provider will formulate a therapy treatment plan, and may recommend that you see a prescribing provider for psychiatric treatment for PTSD while receiving trauma counseling.

An appropriate trauma treatment professional of any kind will NOT require you to divulge details of your traumatic experiences that you are not comfortable discussing in order to treat your condition.

Therapy for PTSD

RPA provides in-person and online PTSD treatment through secure telehealth and office-based appointments. Our trauma therapists specialize in evidence-based approaches including EMDR therapy, trauma-focused CBT, and other proven PTSD treatment methods designed to help patients process trauma and reduce symptoms.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based PTSD treatment that helps individuals process traumatic memories in a safer and less distressing way. EMDR therapy uses guided eye movements or bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional intensity of trauma triggers, flashbacks, and PTSD symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective forms of PTSD treatment. CBT helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thoughts, emotional responses, and behaviors connected to traumatic experiences. Trauma-focused CBT may include coping skills training, gradual exposure, psychoeducation, and cognitive restructuring techniques.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a highly effective PTSD treatment approach that helps individuals gradually face trauma-related thoughts, memories, and situations in a safe therapeutic environment. Over time, this process can reduce fear responses, avoidance behaviors, and emotional distress connected to traumatic experiences.

Medication Management for PTSD

Our psychiatric providers include experienced psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who specialize in treating PTSD symptoms. Medication management may help reduce anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, and mood instability when combined with therapy and trauma-focused care.

Medications that may be considered by a PTSD psychiatrist or nurse practitioner include:

SSRIs and SNRIs (medications that increase serotonin availability which helps depression and anxiety symptoms)
Medications that can calm the nervous system and fight or flight response, such as Beta Blockers (propranolol) or short-term use benzodiazepines
Medications that can help with sleep
Medications that reduce nightmares (prazosin)
Medications that can help with mood instability, irritability, impulsivity, and anger

Online PTSD Medication Management Available In:

Delaware
Florida
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania

Please note: the prescription of controlled medications via online psychiatric appointments is dependent on state and federal regulations and provider licensing. Call our scheduling specialists for up-to-date information.

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates In-Person PTSD Treatment Locations

Start Personalized PTSD Treatment Today

Appointments with prescribers available typically within 2-3 weeks.
Expert providers who trained at Johns Hopkins Hospital, The University of Pennsylvania, Tufts Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and similar institutions.
Many of our providers currently teach, or have taught, in Academia, and have been published in peer-reviewed Medical Journals.
Thorough and Comprehensive Care; we treat a person in their entirety, not just a singular diagnosis.
Coordination with a patient’s psychologists and medical providers.
Reasonable Fees, with initial visits approximately $350 and typical follow-ups $175.
60- or 90-minute initial visits and 20-30-minute follow-ups.

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Trauma & PTSD FAQs

What are some statistics about PTSD?

Per the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

– The majority of people who experience trauma will not develop PTSD

– About 6 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives

– About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.

– About 8 of every 100 women and 4 of every 100 men will have PTSD at some point in their lives.

– Veterans are more likely to have PTSD than civilians

– Veterans who deployed to a war zone are more likely to have PTSD than those who did not deploy.

How do I find the right PTSD psychiatrist for me?

Finding the right psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in PTSD can feel daunting. It’s useful to ask trusted friends, family members, or co-workers about who they recommend. You can also ask your primary care provider or any other medical specialists you already see for other conditions. Social media groups or websites can also be really helpful, as they often have local community-oriented pages where you can ask where others got help for similar conditions.

It is very important for you to feel comfortable with the provider you are seeing. The more you are able to share with your provider, the more the provider can help you. Sometimes patients need to try a few different providers before deciding on one they will continue seeing. That is normal! Not every provider is a fit for every patient.