Trauma and PTSD Psychiatrists in Randolph, MA
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops in response to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Trauma can include combat, sexual assault, childhood abuse, a serious accident, the sudden death of a loved one, or prolonged exposure to threatening situations. PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is a brain-based condition in which the nervous system becomes stuck in a chronic state of threat-response long after the danger has passed. At Engrace Behavioral Health Services in Randolph, MA, our expert PMHNP clinicians and licensed therapists provide compassionate, trauma-informed PTSD care.
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD can develop after any traumatic experience, though not everyone exposed to trauma develops PTSD. Risk factors include the intensity and duration of the trauma, prior trauma history, lack of social support after the event, family history of mental illness, and biological predisposition affecting stress hormone regulation. The condition is caused by the brain's failure to fully process and file the traumatic memory, leaving it in an active state that continues to trigger fear and alarm responses long after the event has passed.
What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD symptoms fall into four categories. Re-experiencing includes flashbacks, intrusive memories, and nightmares that feel as vivid as the original event. Avoidance involves deliberately steering clear of thoughts, feelings, people, or places associated with the trauma. Negative changes in mood and thinking include shame, guilt, emotional numbness, and feeling detached from others. Hyperarousal includes sleep problems, irritability, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response. PTSD frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety, and substance use.
How Is PTSD Treated?
Our treatment approach combines medication and therapy for the strongest outcomes. Our board-certified PMHNP specialists prescribe evidence-based medication management using FDA-approved SSRIs and SNRIs for PTSD, which reduce the intensity of flashbacks, hyperarousal, and co-occurring depression. We evaluate your history carefully before prescribing and schedule regular follow-ups to monitor and optimize your care.
Our licensed therapists offer trauma-informed therapy using CBT for PTSD and other evidence-based trauma-focused modalities. Therapy helps you process traumatic memories in a safe, controlled way, gradually reducing their power over your daily life. We also treat complex PTSD (C-PTSD) resulting from repeated or prolonged trauma such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, or neglect. Sessions are available in-person in Randolph and via secure telehealth across Massachusetts, allowing trauma survivors to engage from a private, comfortable space.
Can PTSD Be Treated and Healed?
Yes. With consistent, expert-led treatment, many people with PTSD experience significant symptom reduction or full remission. Healing is possible. No referral needed. Call (617) 203-2009 or book an appointment online. Explore all mental health conditions we treat and our areas of care. We serve patients in-person in Randolph, MA and via telehealth throughout Massachusetts.