Understanding the diagnosis
When the past will not stay in the past
Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after experiencing or witnessing a deeply distressing event, such as combat, an assault, a serious accident, a medical crisis, or the loss of someone close, among many others. It is a recognized medical condition, not a personal failing, and it can affect anyone.
PTSD tends to involve four kinds of difficulty: intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks; avoidance of reminders of the event; persistent negative shifts in mood and thinking; and a heightened state of alertness, such as being easily startled, on guard, irritable, or unable to sleep. When these symptoms last more than a month and interfere with daily life, evaluation is warranted.
For adults in Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, and the surrounding Northeast Texas communities, including the region’s many veterans and first responders, a thorough psychiatric evaluation can clarify what is happening and what will help.
A physician-led standard of care
How we approach PTSD
Diagnosis comes first
Trauma-related symptoms frequently overlap with depression, anxiety, and substance use, and these conditions often occur together. Our evaluation takes the time to understand the full picture rather than treating a single symptom in isolation.
Getting the diagnosis right, and recognizing what else may be present alongside it, is what makes a treatment plan effective rather than approximate.
Evidence-based treatment
Trauma-focused psychotherapy is a cornerstone of PTSD treatment and is often the most important element of care. Medication also has a well-established role, particularly when symptoms are severe or when depression and anxiety accompany the trauma.
When medication is appropriate, we favor treatments with a strong evidence base, explain the reasoning, and avoid approaches that carry undue risk of dependence.
Seen by a psychiatrist
Every visit at this practice is with a physician (one of the psychiatrists who own the practice), not a mid-level provider working under supervision.
Trauma deserves to be met with patience and clinical depth, in a setting that is private and unhurried. Learn who provides your care.
Medication and therapy together
Because trauma-focused therapy is so central to recovery, coordinating the right psychotherapy is part of how we think about PTSD care.
We do not provide talk therapy in-house, but when it is indicated we coordinate referrals to trusted local therapists experienced in trauma work, while the psychiatrist continues to manage the medical side of treatment.
What to expect
Starting care with us
Care begins with an initial psychiatric evaluation, a comprehensive visit focused on understanding the patient's history, clarifying the diagnosis, and building an individualized treatment plan together, at a pace that respects the sensitivity of the subject. Follow-up visits then focus on monitoring response, refining treatment, and supporting long-term recovery.
We are a private, direct-pay practice and do not contract with insurance, which allows for longer visits and treatment decisions made without insurance intermediaries. Prospective patients can review our services and fees or begin a new patient request at any time. Every request is read and considered directly by our physicians.
Related conditions we treat