PTSD & Trauma · Ages 10 and up
Care for PTSD and trauma, at your pace.
Difficult experiences can leave a lasting mark, sometimes long after they are over. Great Minds offers individualized care for PTSD and trauma-related concerns. We see patients ages 10 and up, including children, adolescents, and adults, in person in Chester, Virginia by appointment, or by secure telehealth.
- Now accepting new patients
- In person or telehealth
- Ages 10 and up
If you are thinking about suicide or harming yourself, you don't have to wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) any time, day or night, or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Great Minds does not provide emergency or crisis services.
How trauma can show up
After a hard experience, many people notice some of these. For some, they fade; for others, they stay or grow. Common signs include:
- Unwanted memoriesMemories that come back when you don't want them to.
- Nightmares or poor sleepDistressing dreams, or trouble falling or staying asleep.
- Feeling on guardBeing easily startled, or always watchful for danger.
- Avoiding remindersSteering clear of people, places, or conversations that bring it back.
- Feeling numb or distantFeeling detached from others, or cut off from your own feelings.
- Changes in moodLingering fear, guilt, shame, or anger that is hard to shake.
- Trouble concentratingFinding it hard to focus or stay present.
- Strong reactions to remindersYour body or emotions reacting as if it were happening again.
These are common reactions after trauma, not a diagnosis. An evaluation can help sort out what you are dealing with and what may help.
When it may be time to get help
Consider an evaluation if:
- Reactions have lasted more than a month after the experience
- They are getting in the way of sleep, work, school, or relationships
- You are avoiding more and more to keep reminders away
- You feel on edge, or numb, most of the time
- You find yourself relying on alcohol or other substances to cope
Trauma rarely travels alone
Trauma-related symptoms often overlap with anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and trouble concentrating. A comprehensive evaluation looks at the whole picture, so your care addresses what is actually going on.
How Great Minds helps
- A comprehensive evaluation
A 45 to 60 minute first visit to understand your symptoms, history, functioning, concerns, and goals.
- A personalized treatment plan
An individualized approach based on your evaluation. Medication recommendations are individualized, never automatic.
- Supportive therapy when it helps
Supportive therapy may be incorporated into your care when clinically appropriate.
- Ongoing follow-up
Follow-up visits to monitor progress and adjust your plan when appropriate.
Personalizing medication decisions
If medication is part of your plan, GeneSight pharmacogenomic testing may show how your body responds to many commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. Ask about it at your visit.
In person or by telehealth
In person at our Chester, Virginia office by appointment, or by secure telehealth. You must be physically located in one of these states at the time of your appointment:
Costs
| Initial psychiatric evaluation | $250 self-pay |
| Follow-up visit | $150 self-pay |
Virginia patients can also use one of 15 accepted insurance plans. See plans. Washington State patients can use one of 10 accepted plans, and Washington, D.C. patients can use CareFirst. In other states, care is self-pay while insurance credentialing is underway.
PTSD & Trauma care questions
Do I have to talk about what happened?
You can share at your own pace. Your evaluation focuses on how you are doing now: your symptoms, how they affect your daily life, and your goals.
Do you treat trauma-related concerns in children and teens?
Yes. Great Minds sees patients ages 10 and up, including children, adolescents, and adults.
Will I be prescribed medication for PTSD?
Not automatically. Medication recommendations are individualized and depend on the psychiatric evaluation, clinical history, and treatment needs.
Do you offer therapy for PTSD?
Supportive therapy may be incorporated into psychiatric care when clinically appropriate. Great Minds is not a standalone weekly psychotherapy practice. If a trauma-focused therapy is recommended, we will refer you to an appropriate therapist.
Can PTSD be treated by telehealth?
Yes, subject to applicable state telehealth requirements. Telehealth visits are available in Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Washington State, Colorado, Connecticut, Arizona, and Massachusetts, and you must be physically located in one of those states at the time of your appointment. In-person visits are available at our Chester, Virginia office by appointment.
Are there conditions you do not treat?
Yes. Great Minds is primarily a telehealth practice. For safety and appropriate evaluation, we do not provide care for suicidal crises, psychosis, or schizophrenia, which need in-person evaluation and a higher level of support. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.
What if I am having thoughts of suicide?
Please reach out now. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24 hours a day, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Great Minds does not provide emergency or crisis services.
More questions? See our full FAQ or call (804) 295-4344.
Taking the first step is a conversation, not a commitment.
Book an evaluation online, or call us with your questions first. Now accepting new patients, ages 10 and up.