Starting Here
After a specific traumatic event—an accident, an assault, a disaster, a medical trauma—your body and mind can stay on high alert long after the danger has passed.
PTSD therapy focuses on helping your nervous system understand that the danger is over, so the event stops replaying in the present.
This Can Look Like
PTSD can look like:
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the event
- Nightmares or disrupted sleep tied to the trauma
- Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of what happened
- Hypervigilance—feeling constantly on guard or easily startled
- Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected since the event
- Negative beliefs about yourself or the world that developed afterward
How Therapy Can Help
PTSD therapy uses focused, trauma-specific approaches. We'll help you:
- Process the traumatic memory so it stops feeling like it's happening now
- Reduce the intensity and frequency of flashbacks and intrusive thoughts
- Regulate hypervigilance and a nervous system stuck in alert mode
- Reduce avoidance so your world doesn't keep shrinking
- Rebuild a sense of safety in your day-to-day life
Our Approach
We use trauma-focused approaches specifically designed for PTSD, moving at a pace that avoids overwhelming your system. The goal isn't to make you relive the event repeatedly, but to help your brain and body fully process that it's over.
Therapeutic Approaches We May Use
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — a leading approach for processing traumatic memories
- Brainspotting — accessing trauma held outside conscious awareness
- Somatic Experiencing — releasing trauma stored in the nervous system
- Trauma-Focused CBT — addressing trauma-related thoughts and avoidance
Who Might Benefit From Treatment
PTSD therapy may be a good fit if you:
- Experienced a specific traumatic event, recent or years ago
- Have flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories
- Avoid places, people, or situations connected to the trauma
- Feel constantly on edge or easily startled since the event
- Have already been diagnosed with PTSD, or suspect you meet the criteria
What to Expect in Therapy
Your first session focuses on safety and understanding your history—you won't be asked to recount the traumatic event in detail before you're ready.
Trauma-focused work like EMDR is introduced once you and your therapist have built trust and established coping tools for managing distress.
Sessions are available in person at our Midtown Nashville office or online for clients throughout Tennessee.
FAQ
How is PTSD therapy different from your Trauma Therapy page?
PTSD refers to a specific set of symptoms tied to a traumatic event and often responds well to structured, trauma-focused approaches like EMDR. Our
page covers a broader range of traumatic experiences; if your trauma was chronic or relational, our
page may fit better.
Do I need a formal PTSD diagnosis to start therapy?
No. You can start therapy whether or not you've been formally diagnosed. Your therapist can help you understand your symptoms and determine the right approach together.
Do you accept insurance?
Nashville Counseling Associates is out-of-network with insurance providers, so we don't bill insurance directly. Many clients use out-of-network benefits to get reimbursed, and we're happy to provide a superbill (an itemized receipt) for you to submit.
Session fees generally range from $130–$185 depending on the clinician, with $85 sessions available with our graduate-level interns and sliding-scale options based on financial need.
How do I get started?
Fill out our contact form or call (615) 281-9139. We'll ask a few questions about what you're looking for and help match you with a therapist whose experience fits processing a traumatic event.
Sessions are available in person at our Midtown Nashville office or online for clients located anywhere in Tennessee.
Ready to begin counseling?
You don't have to keep carrying this on your own. Reach out to Nashville Counseling Associates, and we'll help connect you with a therapist whose training and approach fit what happened and how it's still affecting you.
