By MindWise HealthPTSD and Trauma Treatment
13 treatment centers 13 services offered
13 treatment centers on Curivya list PTSD and Trauma Treatment, across Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. 12 of them also list telehealth appointments. Insurance accepted across these listings includes Aetna, Telus formerly Behavioral Health Systems, Cigna Evernorth Behavioral Health and Devoted Health Plans, among others. Plans differ even within one insurer, so confirm your specific plan with the practice before booking. The same locations also list Medication Management, Anxiety Treatment, Depression Treatment, Telehealth Services and Mood Disorder Treatment.
PTSD and trauma treatment is for people still affected by something frightening or harmful that happened to them or that they witnessed: an assault, an accident, combat, abuse, a sudden loss. Nightmares, flashbacks, feeling constantly on guard, and avoiding reminders are common signs that the experience has not settled.
The talk therapies with the strongest evidence are trauma-focused, meaning they work directly with the memory rather than around it. Some people also take medication. Treatment is outpatient, and you control the pace. Recovery is possible even when the trauma happened many years ago.
The main approaches
The VA National Center for PTSD names three trauma-focused therapies as among the most effective: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which works on the beliefs that formed after the trauma; Prolonged Exposure (PE), which helps you approach memories and situations you have been avoiding; and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which has you recall the memory while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound. These are structured courses, often around 8 to 16 sessions.
Some antidepressants are also used for PTSD, and a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner can talk through whether medication makes sense alongside therapy or on its own.
Who provides it
Trauma-focused therapy requires specific training, so it is reasonable to ask a therapist whether they are trained in CPT, PE or EMDR rather than assume. Medication, if used, is managed by a prescriber, who may or may not be at the same practice.
Trauma affects more than memories
PTSD can show up as trouble sleeping, irritability, difficulty trusting people, feeling numb or cut off, or being startled easily, and it often comes alongside depression or anxiety. Some people lean on alcohol or other substances to cope. None of this rules you out of treatment; tell your clinician about it so the plan accounts for it. If something happened recently, it is also fine to seek support now rather than waiting to see whether symptoms fade.
Starting, and what to ask
You will not be asked to recount everything at the first appointment. Early sessions are usually about your symptoms, your safety and stability, and explaining the treatment so you can choose. The trauma work itself comes later, when you are ready.
When you call, ask which trauma therapies the clinician offers, whether sessions can be held by video, how soon a new patient can start, and whether your plan covers a structured weekly course. Veterans can also ask the VA about care and community referrals.
Common questions about PTSD and Trauma Treatment
Do I have to talk about the trauma in detail?
Trauma-focused therapies do work with the memory, but at a pace you agree with your therapist, and not at the first visit. Some approaches, such as CPT, focus more on your thoughts about what happened than on retelling it.
What is the difference between CPT, PE and EMDR?
CPT helps you examine and change beliefs that took hold after the trauma. PE helps you gradually face memories and situations you have been avoiding. EMDR has you recall the memory while focusing on a back-and-forth movement or sound. A trained therapist can help you choose.
Can PTSD be treated if the trauma happened a long time ago?
Yes. These therapies are used for trauma from childhood or from many years ago, not only recent events. It is never too late to ask about treatment.
Can trauma therapy be done by telehealth?
Many therapists offer trauma-focused therapy by video. Ask how the therapist handles a session that becomes overwhelming when you are at home, and make sure you have a private space.