Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Trauma-focused therapy for PTSD — from combat, assault, accidents, and other life-altering events.
Overview
What it is.
Medically reviewed by Peter Scheid, MD
Medical Director, SILC Health
Clinically reviewed by Christina Kayanan, LMFT, LPCC
Clinical Director, Mental Health Services — SILC Health
Last reviewed: June 16, 2026
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in some people after exposure to a life-threatening or deeply distressing event — combat, sexual assault, a serious accident, the sudden loss of a loved one, childhood abuse. About 5% of U.S. adults experience PTSD in any given year, and rates are higher among veterans, first responders, and survivors of interpersonal violence.
PTSD is not weakness or a failure to "get over it." It's a neurobiological response to overwhelming experience — the brain's threat-response system stuck on alert long after the danger has passed. Effective, evidence-based treatments exist. Most people who engage in them see meaningful improvement.
Signs
What it looks like.
Recognizing the pattern is often the hardest part. None of these alone confirms a diagnosis — but a cluster of them is worth taking seriously.
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the event
- Avoiding places, people, or conversations that remind you of it
- Feeling on edge, easily startled, or hypervigilant
- Negative changes in mood — numbness, detachment, hopelessness
- Sleep disturbance, nightmares, or insomnia
- Irritability, anger outbursts, or feeling "on guard"
- Difficulty concentrating
- Self-medicating with alcohol or other substances
Our Approach
How SILC treats it.
SILC Health treats PTSD with the gold-standard trauma therapies: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Each has decades of research support and works for the majority of clients who complete a course of treatment. Level of care depends on severity and stability — residential or PHP provides the deepest container; IOP and outpatient work for many.
Trauma treatment is paced. We don't push people into the work before they're ready — stabilization, safety, and a strong therapeutic alliance come first. Pharmacotherapy (SSRIs primarily) supports treatment when symptoms are severe enough to interfere with engaging in therapy. We treat the whole person, including any co-occurring substance use or depression.
If SILC isn't the right fit, our admissions team will help you find a trusted partner facility that is.
Therapies & Modalities
FAQ
Common questions.
How do I know if I have PTSD or just trauma?
Trauma is an event or experience. PTSD is a specific diagnosis defined by symptom patterns lasting more than a month — intrusive memories, avoidance, hypervigilance, and negative mood changes that interfere with daily life. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but unresolved trauma can still warrant treatment even without a formal diagnosis.
Will I have to talk about what happened?
Trauma therapy doesn't always require detailed retelling of events — modalities like EMDR work without extensive verbal processing of the trauma narrative. Other approaches (Prolonged Exposure, CPT) do involve structured engagement with the memory, but always at a pace you and your therapist set together.
What about combat-related PTSD or veterans?
Veterans face specific PTSD presentations and often co-occurring conditions (TBI, moral injury, substance use). Our clinical team has experience with combat trauma; we also coordinate with VA care when appropriate.
What if PTSD shows up with addiction or depression?
Very common. Trauma and substance use co-occur at high rates, and untreated PTSD is a major driver of relapse. Our integrated dual-diagnosis approach treats both at the same time, with a single coordinated team.
Does insurance cover PTSD treatment?
Most major insurance plans cover medically necessary mental health treatment under federal parity laws. Our admissions team verifies benefits before you commit to anything.
Related
You may also be looking for
Anxiety Disorders
Structured, evidence-based treatment for generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and related conditions.
Trauma & Adverse Childhood Experiences
Treatment for complex trauma, childhood adversity, and the long shadows trauma can cast on adult life.
Co-Occurring Disorders (Dual Diagnosis)
Integrated treatment for substance use and mental health conditions — treated together, not one at a time.
Major Depressive Disorder
Compassionate, evidence-based treatment for depression — including treatment-resistant cases.
Talk to admissions
One conversation can change the trajectory.
Whether SILC is the right fit or not, we'll listen and help you find a path forward.