Online PTSD and trauma treatment
in California.
Trauma leaves a mark on the nervous system, not just the memory. Psychiatric medication can meaningfully reduce the intensity and frequency of PTSD symptoms — making it more possible to function, sleep, and engage with therapy.
Request an AppointmentPTSD, acute stress response, and complex trauma
Not all trauma responses are the same, and the distinctions matter clinically.
PTSD develops after exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence — either directly, as a witness, by learning it happened to someone close, or through repeated indirect exposure. It involves four symptom clusters: intrusion (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance, negative alterations in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal.
Acute stress disorder involves similar symptoms within three days to one month after a traumatic event. When symptoms persist beyond one month, the diagnosis shifts to PTSD.
Complex PTSD arises from prolonged, repeated trauma — childhood abuse, captivity, domestic violence — and involves the core PTSD symptoms plus significant disturbances in self-perception, emotional regulation, and relationships. It is not formally in the DSM-5 but is clinically recognized and increasingly well-described.
What the evaluation looks like
A trauma-informed evaluation does not require you to recount your trauma in detail. You do not need to relive what happened in order to get help. What the evaluation covers:
- Current symptoms — intrusion, avoidance, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, sleep disruption
- Functional impact — how symptoms are affecting work, relationships, and daily life
- Timeline — when symptoms started, what preceded them
- Prior treatment — therapy, medication, and what helped or didn't
- Safety — current thoughts of self-harm or suicide are assessed at every evaluation
- Co-occurring conditions — depression, anxiety, substance use, and other conditions frequently co-occur with PTSD
You set the pace. The evaluation is structured but not forced.
Medication for PTSD
Two SSRIs are FDA-approved for PTSD: sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil). Both reduce the core PTSD symptom clusters. Sertraline is typically preferred due to its tolerability profile. Venlafaxine (Effexor) and mirtazapine have evidence for PTSD even without formal FDA approval for the indication.
Prazosin — an alpha-1 blocker originally developed for blood pressure — has evidence for reducing trauma-related nightmares and is often added specifically for sleep disturbance and nightmare frequency.
Medication addresses symptom severity. It reduces the intensity and frequency of intrusions, hyperarousal, and sleep disruption. For many patients, this reduction makes it possible to engage more effectively with therapy. Medication alone does not process or resolve trauma — that requires trauma-focused therapy.
Medication decisions are individualized and depend on diagnosis, medical history, current medications, and clinical appropriateness. If you are in crisis or have thoughts of self-harm, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. This page is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice.
The role of trauma-focused therapy
The treatments with the strongest evidence for PTSD are trauma-focused therapies: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). These are specific, structured treatments — not general supportive therapy.
Umbrella Mental Health provides the psychiatric and medication management component of care. If you're not currently working with a trauma-focused therapist, a referral can be coordinated. Many patients start medication first to reduce symptom intensity enough to engage with the therapy work.
Insurance and cost
Accepted plans: Aetna, Cigna, Quest Behavioral Health, Carelon Behavioral Health, Anthem Blue Cross California. See insurance details.
You don't need to have it figured out before reaching out. Start with an evaluation.
Request an AppointmentPTSD questions,
answered plainly.
Yes. Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for PTSD is appropriate for most outpatient presentations via telehealth. A trauma-informed evaluation does not require in-person contact.
Sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD. Venlafaxine and mirtazapine have supporting evidence. Prazosin can reduce trauma nightmares specifically. Medication reduces symptom severity — trauma-focused therapy addresses the underlying condition.
Umbrella Mental Health provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management, not trauma-focused therapy. Referrals to therapists trained in EMDR, CPT, or Prolonged Exposure can be coordinated.
You don't need to recount your trauma in detail. The evaluation is trauma-informed — it goes at your pace. You share what is relevant and what you're comfortable with. Starting medication doesn't require a full trauma disclosure.
Ready to get started?
Request an evaluation and your appointment will be confirmed within one business day.