Getting Help for PTSD
PTSD Alliance Members
Helpful Resources to Find Treatment in Your Area
- ACOG offers a 24 Hour Hotline for women in abusive situations.
- ADAA links to a PTSD mobile coaching app (from the US Department of Veteran Affairs).
- ADAA provides a directory of local mental health professionals.
- ADAA lets you search for PTSD support groups in your area or walks you through the steps to start your own support group.
- ISTSS provides a Clinician Directory that allows you to search for a mental health professional based on your location, doctor’s specialty, special interests, demographic, and language.
- National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD): https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/ptsd
- Mental Health America has a resource directory for local support
- Sidran Institute offers a Help Desk to find personalized, compassionate support.
- Your family doctor
- Your OB/GYN
- Social workers
- Mental health counselors
- Community mental health clinics
- Support groups
- Private clinics
- Psychiatric services at local universities, schools, or hospitals
If you are a veteran, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800.273.8255 for assistance locating a mental health facility near you.
PTSD and Mental Health Resources by State
Florida
- National Center for PTSD – Florida: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/florida.asp
- Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs: https://floridavets.org/
- Florida Mental Health Resource Directory: https://floridahealthfinder.gov/ResourceDirectory/DirectorySearch.aspx
- NAMI Florida: https://namiflorida.org/
- Florida Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology: https://www.floridapsychoanalytic.org/
- Florida Council for Community Mental Health: https://www.fccmh.org/
- The Trauma Center: https://thetraumacenter.org/locations/south-florida/
- Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services: https://gcjfcs.org/
- Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO): https://jafco.org/
- 2-1-1 Brevard: https://211brevard.org/
More about PTSD and Florida
New York
- National Center for PTSD – New York: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/new_york.asp
- New York State Office of Mental Health: https://omh.ny.gov/
- New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services: https://oasas.ny.gov/
- New York State Psychological Association: https://nyspa.org/
- New York State Division of Veterans Affairs: https://veterans.ny.gov/
- Samaritans of New York: https://samaritansny.org/
- Mental Health Association of New York City: https://www.mhaofnyc.org/
- Safe Horizon: https://www.safehorizon.org/
- New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault: https://nyscasa.org/
- New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://www.nyscadv.org/
New Jersey
- National Center for PTSD – New Jersey: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/new_jersey.asp
- New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services: https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/
- New Jersey Association for Mental Health and Addiction Services: https://www.njamhas.org/
- New Jersey Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth: https://tlcy.rutgers.edu/
- New Jersey Psychological Association: https://njpsychology.org/
- New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: https://www.nj.gov/military/
- Mental Health Association of New Jersey: https://mhanj.org/
- Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care: https://rbhs.rutgers.edu/
- Children’s System of Care: https://www.state.nj.us/dcf/families/systemofcare/
- NJ Hope and Healing: https://njhopeforhealing.org/
Virginia
- National Center for PTSD – Virginia: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/virginia.asp
- Virginia Department of Veterans Services: https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/
- Virginia Association of Community Services Boards: https://www.vacsb.org/
- Virginia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs: https://www.vaboysgirlsclubs.org/
- Mental Health America of Virginia: https://www.mhav.org/
- Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association: https://www.vhha.com/
- Virginia Suicide Prevention Program: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/suicide-prevention/
- Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance: https://www.vsdvalliance.org/
- Virginia Community Healthcare Association: https://vcha.net/
- Prevent Child Abuse Virginia: https://www.pcav.org/
Georgia
- National Center for PTSD – Georgia: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/georgia.asp
- Georgia Department of Veterans Services: https://veterans.georgia.gov/
- Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network: http://www.gmhcn.org/
- Georgia Council on Substance Abuse: https://gasubstanceabuse.org/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Georgia: https://namiga.org/
- Georgia Psychological Association: https://www.gapsychology.org/
- Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: https://www.gamft.org/
- Georgia Division of Family and Children Services: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/
- Grady Health System: https://www.gradyhealth.org/
- Atlanta Speech School: https://www.atlantaspeechschool.org/
Massachusetts
- https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/massachusetts.asp
- Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-veterans-services
- Massachusetts Association for Mental Health: https://www.mamh.org/
- Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association: https://www.mmhca.org/
- Massachusetts Psychological Association: https://www.masspsych.org/
- Boston Trauma Center: https://www.bostontraumacenter.org/
- Massachusetts Child Trauma Project: https://childtrauma.fmhi.usf.edu/about/massachusetts-child-trauma-project/
- Samaritans of Massachusetts: https://samaritanshope.org/
- Massachusetts General Hospital: https://www.massgeneral.org/
- McLean Hospital: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/
Pennsylvania
- National Center for PTSD – Pennsylvania: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/pennsylvania.asp
- Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: https://www.dmva.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
- Pennsylvania Psychological Association: https://www.papsy.org/
- Mental Health Association of Southeast Pennsylvania: https://www.mhasp.org/
- The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute: https://traumacenter.org/
- Pittsburgh Psychological Trauma Center: https://www.pptcpgh.org/
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape: https://www.pcar.org/
- Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health: https://www.lghealth.org/
- Pennsylvania Hospital: https://www.pennmedicine.org/
- Keystone Care: https://www.keystonecare.com/
California
- https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/california.asp
- California Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.calvet.ca.gov/
- California Psychological Association: https://www.cpapsych.org/
- Trauma Recovery Center – UC San Francisco: https://traumarecoverycenter.ucsf.edu/
- Los Angeles Trauma Recovery Center: https://www.latraumarecoverycenter.org/
- San Francisco Mental Health Association: https://sfmha.org/
- California Coalition Against Sexual Assault: https://www.calcasa.org/
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists: https://www.camft.org/
- Kaiser Permanente: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/
Texas
- National Center for PTSD – Texas: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/texas.asp
- Texas Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.tvc.texas.gov/
- Texas Psychological Association: https://www.txpsych.org/
- The Trauma and Stress Disorders Institute: https://www.tsdi.org/
- Mental Health Association of Greater Houston: https://mhahouston.org/
- Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: https://www.tamft.org/
- Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Bend: https://www.rapecrisisccb.org/
- Houston Methodist Hospital: https://www.houstonmethodist.org/
- UT Southwestern Medical Center: https://utswmed.org/
- Parkland Health & Hospital System: https://www.parklandhospital.com/
Michigan
- National Center for PTSD – Michigan: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/michigan.asp
- Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: https://www.michigan.gov/dmva/
- Michigan Psychological Association: https://www.michiganpsychology.org/
- Trauma Recovery Services – University of Michigan Health System: https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/trauma-recovery-services
- Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence: https://www.mcadsv.org/
- Beaumont Health: https://www.beaumont.org/
- Michigan Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: https://www.mamft.org/
- Spectrum Health: https://www.spectrumhealth.org/
- Henry Ford Health System: https://www.henryford.com/
- Munson Healthcare: https://www.munsonhealthcare.org/
Ohio
- National Center for PTSD – Ohio: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/states/ohio.asp
- Ohio Department of Veterans Services: https://dvs.ohio.gov/
- Ohio Psychological Association: https://www.ohpsych.org/
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center: https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/
- Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence: https://oaesv.org/
- Ohio Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: https://oamft.org/
- Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/
- University Hospitals: https://www.uhhospitals.org/
- ProMedica: https://www.promedica.org/
Encouraging a Loved One to Get Help
If someone in your family suffers from PTSD, you can be a first step for them in their journey to a healthy life. Sometimes people with PTSD are hesitant to seek help for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they feel shame or anger, feel like they will lose control or be embarrassed, or feel as if no one understands what they are going through.
You can help your loved one feel safe enough to get professional help. During the course of their treatment, you will be a vital link to their full recovery. Some first steps you can take in getting help for PTSD for your loved one are:
- Avoid any language that might make them feel like you think they are crazy.
- Talk about the benefits of therapy if they are feeling hesitant about seeking help.
- Don’t suggest they need help when you are in the middle of a heated conversation or argument.
- Wait for a calm moment when you can both think clearly about the situation.
- Accept their irritations with therapy, and let them verbalize any frustrations they might have.
- Above all, take care of yourself.
It is stressful to live with someone with PTSD, and getting help for PTSD can be challenging. You need to set boundaries, have a good support system, and talk with others about how you feel through the process. Proactive self-care is a vital part of being able to support your loved one in getting help for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Loving someone with PTSD is difficult! We have more helpful tips and encouragement for family and friends of PTSD sufferers.