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Treatment for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

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PTSD is more common than people think.

Roughly 1 in 20 men and 1 in 10 women will experience post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives.

The trigger is not always combat. Car accidents, assault, medical emergencies, abuse, and sudden loss can all cause PTSD.

The good news: PTSD is highly treatable. Evidence-based therapies — including trauma-focused CBT and EMDR — produce meaningful improvement in most people within months.

At Refresh Recovery in San Diego, we treat PTSD as a real medical condition. Our clinicians are trained specifically in trauma care. Most insurance is accepted.

Traumatic Experiences

From Assault to Sexual Abuse

Traumatic experiences include:

physical assault
sexual abuse
serious accidents
wars
floods
fires
earthquakes and
other natural disasters.

Traumatic events include things that happen to you directly or to someone you are close to. For example:

Life-threatening events, Injuries or Death

If you learned that a friend or family member was involved in a life-threatening event, was seriously injured, or died suddenly, you may also develop PTSD. In other words, trauma can travel — it does not always begin with what happens directly to you.
PTSD is also common among first responders. For example, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and emergency room staff regularly witness the immediate aftermath of trauma. Over time, that exposure adds up.
If this is your story, you are not alone. Importantly, PTSD is treatable. At Refresh Recovery, we use evidence-based therapies — including trauma-focused CBT and EMDR — to help reduce symptoms and restore a sense of safety.

Disasters and Accidents

First responders, families, and witnesses can all develop PTSD.

You do not have to be the direct victim of an event to develop PTSD. Witnessing trauma — or learning of trauma to someone close to you — can be enough.

Firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and ER staff regularly see things most people never will. Over time, that exposure adds up.

Researchers call this “secondary traumatic stress” or “vicarious trauma.” The clinical features look like PTSD because they are PTSD.

Common symptoms include:

Intrusive memories of the event
Hyperarousal — feeling on edge, jumpy, unable to relax
Sleep disturbances and nightmares
Avoidance of people or places that remind you of the event
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected

These are normal stress reactions in the short term. When they persist past about a month and interfere with daily life, that is when treatment helps.

At Refresh, our trauma-informed approach is built on two principles. First, you set the pace. Second, the work happens in a safe space with clinicians trained specifically in trauma.

We also treat co-occurring substance use when it is part of your picture. Most people develop coping strategies under trauma — and not all of them are healthy.

How do you know if you are suffering from PTSD?

PTSD Symtpoms

What PTSD actually feels like.

The symptoms of post-traumatic stress can show up days, weeks, or even months after the triggering event. They cluster into four groups.

Intrusion symptoms. Unwanted memories. Flashbacks where the event feels like it is happening again. Distressing dreams.

Avoidance. Steering clear of people, places, conversations, or feelings that remind you of the event. Numbing the memory with substances or constant busyness.

Negative changes in thoughts and mood. Persistent fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame. Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. Feeling detached from others.

Arousal and reactivity. Irritability, angry outbursts, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating.

If most of these sound familiar — and they have been going on for more than a month — a clinical evaluation is the right next step.

PTSD is not something to “tough out.” Untreated PTSD often gets worse. Treated PTSD usually gets much better.

Trauma is Not Stress

The brain processes trauma differently than ordinary events.

When something traumatic happens, the experience is so overwhelming that the brain struggles to file it normally. Instead of becoming a memory you can recall and put away, it stays partially “live” — easily re-triggered.

That is why a smell, a sound, or a date on the calendar can suddenly bring back the same physical sensations you felt during the event.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain file the memory properly. So does trauma-focused CBT.

You are not broken. Your brain just needs a different approach to finish processing what happened.

PTSD Statistics and Brain Chemistry

Women are more likely to develop PTSD.

Roughly twice as many women as men will experience PTSD in their lifetime. The pattern is well-documented and consistent across cultures.

Several factors contribute. Women experience higher rates of certain trauma types — particularly sexual assault and intimate partner violence. The risk of PTSD following these traumas is especially high.

That does not mean men should “tough it out” if they have symptoms. Men are less likely to seek help — partly because of cultural pressure to be stoic. As a result, untreated PTSD in men contributes to higher rates of substance use, depression, and suicide.

If you are a man reading this and any of the symptoms apply to you: please reach out. There is no version of recovery that requires you to do it alone.

What treatment looks like at Refresh:

Trauma-focused CBT — restructures the thought patterns that keep trauma “alive”
EMDR — helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories
Prolonged Exposure (PE) — gradually reduces fear by safely engaging with trauma reminders
Group therapy — connects you with others on the same path
Medication management — when clinically appropriate, certain medications can reduce hyperarousal and improve sleep

We also address co-occurring conditions. Depression and anxiety commonly accompany PTSD. Substance use often does too. Treating all of them together produces better outcomes than treating each one separately.

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PTSD Treatment

Let Refresh Recovery Provide a Personalized Treatment Program for You

You are not stuck with this. Treatment works.

If you or someone you care for is living with PTSD, reach out for a confidential assessment.

We will verify your insurance, explain what your first week of treatment could look like, and answer every question — without pressure.

Most insurance plans cover PTSD treatment under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Refresh Recovery accepts most major plans.

You do not have to keep living with the symptoms. You do not have to figure out the path alone.

What to Expect from PTSD Treatment in San Diego

Finding the right PTSD treatment in San Diego means accessing compassionate care that addresses the root of your trauma while allowing you to maintain your daily life. At Refresh Recovery, we provide structured outpatient programs that utilize evidence-based therapies to help you safely process traumatic memories, reduce hyperarousal, and rebuild a lasting sense of safety.

The Importance of Dual Diagnosis PTSD Care

Many individuals living with unresolved trauma instinctively turn to drugs or alcohol to numb intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or severe anxiety. According to SAMHSA, individuals diagnosed with PTSD are significantly more likely to develop a co-occurring substance use disorder than the general population. This complex intersection requires a specialized clinical approach.

That is why our comprehensive mental health treatment leans heavily into dual diagnosis PTSD care. Rather than treating the addiction and the mental health condition in isolation, we treat both simultaneously. If a higher level of care, such as a medical detox, is clinically needed before beginning therapy, we seamlessly coordinate those services to ensure you are safely stabilized before starting our outpatient program.

Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment Approaches

Effective outpatient PTSD treatment relies on proven clinical methods rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you are recovering from a recent critical incident or seeking family and childhood trauma therapy to address deep-rooted wounds, our specialized clinicians utilize targeted modalities to foster healing:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): This specialized trauma treatment helps the brain naturally reprocess traumatic memories so they are no longer emotionally overwhelming or triggering.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps individuals identify, understand, and change negative thought patterns and behaviors directly related to the traumatic event.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): A specific type of cognitive therapy that teaches you how to evaluate and modify the upsetting beliefs you have developed since the trauma occurred.
Integrated Group Therapy: Connects you with supportive peers in a clinically guided environment, breaking the profound isolation that trauma often creates.

Flexible Healing in Your Community

Healing from severe trauma does not always necessitate a 24/7 residential stay. Through our San Diego outpatient programs—which include Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)—clients receive rigorous clinical support during the day while returning to the comfort of their own homes in the evenings. This structure makes PTSD treatment in San Diego highly accessible, allowing you to practice newly acquired coping skills in real-world scenarios while still receiving intensive professional guidance.

Frequently asked questions

How is PTSD treated in an outpatient program?

Outpatient PTSD treatment involves attending structured, evidence-based therapy sessions during the day or evening without living at a facility. At Refresh Recovery, this includes a personalized mix of individual psychotherapy, specialized modalities like EMDR, psychiatric medication management, and supportive group counseling. This comprehensive outpatient PTSD treatment model allows clients to heal while maintaining their family, school, and work commitments.

Can PTSD and a substance use disorder be treated at the same time?

Yes, and clinical best practices dictate that they should be. This is known as dual diagnosis care. Addressing the trauma without treating the substance use—or treating the addiction while ignoring the underlying trauma—often leaves individuals vulnerable to relapse. By treating both conditions concurrently, our clinical team helps you develop healthier coping mechanisms while safely processing the root causes of your emotional pain.