How soon after a traumatic event can PTSD be diagnosed?

PTSD is typically diagnosed after symptoms have lasted at least a month, though care and support are useful right away regardless of a formal diagnosis. If something traumatic happened recently, it’s still worth talking to someone.

What's the difference between PTSD and general anxiety?

General anxiety isn’t tied to a specific event and often centers on everyday worries. PTSD is rooted in a particular trauma and includes symptoms anxiety alone doesn’t — like flashbacks, avoidance of trauma reminders, and nightmares connected to the event itself.

Do I need medication, or is therapy enough?

It depends on the person. Many people do well with trauma-focused therapy alone. Others benefit from adding medication, especially when symptoms like severe insomnia or panic make it hard to engage in therapy at all. We evaluate this with you rather than deciding it in advance.

Is online PTSD treatment as effective as in-person care?

For most patients, yes. Research on telehealth for PTSD generally shows outcomes comparable to in-person care, and for some people, the privacy of being at home actually makes it easier to open up. We offer both options so you can choose what feels right.

PTSD Treatment in Florida

Same-day visits are often possible

See us in our Fort Lauderdale office or by video anywhere in Florida. Ages 6 and up. We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and most major insurance plans. Se habla español.

Request an appointment Call (754) 270-6322

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can follow something frightening, like an assault, abuse, a serious crash, combat, a disaster or a sudden loss. Feeling shaken afterward is normal, and most people recover over time. With PTSD, the fear and stress stay switched on long after the danger is gone.

Adults 18 and older can take our free PTSD test (PC-PTSD-5) as a private first step. It takes about two minutes, and you can ask for care at any score.

PTSD isn’t a sign of weakness, and it’s treatable. We treat it at our Fort Lauderdale office and by video anywhere in Florida.

Signs of PTSD

Reliving it

Flashbacks, nightmares, and memories that won’t stop, sometimes with a racing heart or sweating.

Avoiding reminders

Staying away from places, people or thoughts linked to what happened, like not driving after a crash.

Feeling on edge

Startling easily, feeling tense, trouble sleeping or focusing, angry outbursts or reckless behavior.

Changes in mood and thinking

Guilt or shame, blaming yourself, losing interest in things, feeling cut off from people, or finding it hard to feel good.

Symptoms usually start within 3 months, but they can show up later. In adults, PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than a month and get in the way of daily life.

PTSD in Children and Teens

Young children may wet the bed again, stop talking, act out the event in play or become very clingy. Older kids and teens may look more like adults, or act out, feel guilty or think about revenge. We see patients from age 6, and a parent or guardian is part of every visit.

How We Treat PTSD

It starts with a full psychiatric evaluation. Your provider asks what you’re going through now. You don’t have to tell the whole story of the trauma at the first visit.

Medicine

Two SSRI antidepressants, sertraline and paroxetine, are FDA-approved for PTSD. They can ease sadness, worry, anger and feeling numb. Other medicines may help with specific problems like sleep or nightmares. Ongoing care is part of medication management.

Therapy

Therapy is a main treatment for PTSD, often over 6 to 12 weeks. Trauma-focused CBT helps you face memories safely, step by step, and rethink guilt or blame that isn’t yours to carry. We offer therapy, though openings depend on our therapists’ schedules, so ask our staff what’s available.

The rest of the picture

PTSD often comes with depression, anxiety, sleep problems or substance use. Treating those too helps recovery. If you’re still in an unsafe situation, like an abusive relationship, getting safe is part of the plan.

How to Get Started

1. Ask for an appointment

Call (754) 270-6322 or request an appointment online. We’re open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and same-day visits are often possible.

2. We call you back

Our staff check your insurance, send your intake packet and confirm the time of your visit and whether it’s in our Fort Lauderdale office or by video.

3. Your first visit

Your provider goes over your symptoms, history, past treatment and current medications, then talks through a plan with you. You can bring someone you trust, and you can take breaks whenever you need.

Common Questions

What medicines treat PTSD?

Sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD. Other medicines may help with sleep or nightmares. Your provider decides what fits.

Do I have to talk about the trauma?

Not at the first visit. Your provider focuses on how you’re doing now, and you set the pace.

Can PTSD be treated by video?

Yes. Evaluations and follow-ups can be done by video while you’re in Florida.

Do you treat veterans?

Yes. We accept Tricare, and our staff can check your coverage.

How long does treatment take?

It varies. Therapy often runs 6 to 12 weeks or longer, and medicine is reviewed at follow-ups.

Insurance and Cost

We take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Optum, and we have sliding-scale rates if you’re paying yourself. We check your coverage before the visit. The price of the medication itself depends on your pharmacy and plan. More on insurance.

We see patients from age 6, and same-day visits are often possible. Several of our providers and staff speak Spanish. Request an appointment or call (754) 270-6322.

Who You’ll See

Your care is with our team of physicians, psychiatric nurse practitioners and a physician assistant. Visits are available in English, Spanish, Russian, Urdu and Hindi. You can meet our providers before you book, and our staff can help you choose someone who’s a good fit.

Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DOPsychiatrist

Dr. Murtaza Ali, DOAddiction specialist and family physician

Dr. Heather Brathwaite, PhD, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitioner

Michelle KovalPsychiatric nurse practitioner. Speaks Russian

Neal Fouke, PAPsychiatric physician assistant

Muhammad Nawaz, PMHNP-BCPsychiatric nurse practitioner. Speaks Urdu and Hindi

We aren’t an emergency service. If you’re thinking about suicide or you’re in crisis, call or text 988. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew C. Rucker, DO, psychiatrist, on October 6, 2026.

Sources: NIMH: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; MedlinePlus: Sertraline; MedlinePlus: Paroxetine. This page is general information, not medical advice.

Request an Appointment

Tell us how to reach you. Our team calls back the same business day, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Your appointment is confirmed once staff call you to set the time and place.

Prefer to talk to someone? Call (754) 270-6322.

Our Office

3015 N Ocean Blvd, Ste C101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Phone: (754) 270-6322. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Video visits are available anywhere in Florida. Directions and parking.