PTSD & Trauma Therapy in NYC
Last updated: May 28th, 2026
The psychologists at the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy have specialized training in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you think you or a loved one are suffering from significant after-effects of a sexual assault, accident, or other traumatic event, please contact us today.
PTSD is a serious condition that can totally upend your life. Learn about symptoms and more about how therapy for trauma and PTSD can help give you your life back.
What Is PTSD?
After a traumatic event, it is certainly normal to feel scared, alone, or that things will never be the same. However, if these feelings persist for longer than a month, you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traumatic events include experiences like motor vehicle accidents, being the victim of a crime, physical or sexual abuse, combat experiences, unwanted sexual contact, and many others. These symptoms may appear soon after the trauma or may not surface until months—or even years—later. Regardless of when they emerge, relief and recovery are possible.
PTSD is more common than you might think; it affects 8% of women and 4% of men at some point in their lives. (The difference in PTSD rates reflects women’s greater exposure to traumas such as sexual and domestic violence, compared to men.)
Common PTSD Symptoms
Intrusions
Intrusions include nightmares, unwanted memories, flashbacks and other symptoms. Flashbacks are a symptom unique to traumatic stress disorders. A flashback is different from a typical memory. It is a consuming experience that makes one feel like the traumatic event is happening again. (Think of it this way: if recalling a memory is like watching a movie, having a flashback is like being in the movie.)
Avoidance
Avoidance is a common symptom of PTSD. It can take many forms. It might involve avoiding places or people that remind you of the traumatic event. For example, many people with PTSD as a result of a motor vehicle accident will not drive. This can sometimes last for years after the accident. Avoidance can also mean avoiding thoughts or feelings associated with the traumatic event. (See also our page on avoidance and its importance in anxiety.)
Changes in Thinking or Mood
A traumatic event will often affect the way we think about things. It can also affect our mood. These symptoms can be subtle but their effects can be profound. For example, following a traumatic event, some people begin to see themselves as doomed, tarnished, or incapable. They may feel detached from others, feel emotionally numb, or struggle to feel positive emotions.
Without treatment, changes like this can wreak havoc on one’s mood and self-esteem, sometimes for years to come.
Changes in Reactivity or Arousal
These two symptoms are quite common after a traumatic event, especially for those with PTSD. They include trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, or feeling “on guard” all the time. Another common characteristic of people with PTSD is an exaggerated “startle response.” When startled, someone with PTSD is more likely to have an extreme reaction than someone else. For others, anger following a traumatic event can become very easy to trigger and hard to control.
Some sufferers of PTSD can exhibit risky or destructive behavior. This symptom is, of course, very serious. It can put the sufferer or others at risk of harm or further traumatic events.
How Trauma Affects Daily Life
PTSD often goes unrecognized by those suffering from it. Sometimes this is due to a lack of familiarity with the condition. It can also stem from thinking that one is “over” a past difficult event, even though difficulties continue. People suffering from posttraumatic stress who do not realize it often blame themselves for not having been able to “just get over” the event. However, for these people, it’s not as simple as “just getting over” their difficulties — professional treatment is often necessary. Others with posttraumatic stress fall into the habit of blaming themselves for the traumatic event. Still others come to increasingly believe that the world is an unsafe place, or that other people should be seen as potentially dangerous.
PTSD and Relationships
Common Misconceptions About PTSD
Myth
PTSD is only for war veterans.
Fact
Anyone can develop PTSD — regardless of gender or age. No one is immune.
Myth
If someone has PTSD it means they’re weak.
Fact
PTSD is not about strength or weakness. Risk factors for PTSD include previous traumatic experiences, family history of PTSD, lack of social support, and ongoing stress. None of these are about strength or weakness.
Myth
PTSD is not treatable.
Fact
There are now several evidence-based treatments for PTSD. See below for more.
Trauma After Sexual Assault and Unwanted Sexual Contact
In some ways, the impact of PTSD can be more complex for those who have endured a sexual assault or other unwanted sexual contact.
Survivors of traumas like 9/11, serious car accidents, combat, assault, and traumatic loss of a loved one are more likely to discuss the traumatic event. They are also more likely to recognize their PTSD symptoms for what they are. Their PTSD often follows an event for which they don’t blame themselves. This can make it easier to recognize their PTSD symptoms as a trauma response.
For people who have been through a sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact, the situation is often different. Here are a few reasons why.
- The event is less likely to be known to the survivor’s loved ones.
- The survivor themselves may be more reluctant to discuss it than they would another type of trauma.
- They may think about the incident as something common, something they should “get over,” and thus minimize their symptoms. For example, some survivors make a distinction between “what happened to me” and “rape,” and thus conclude that their experience should not have been that impactful. Unfortunately, this often prevents people from seeking professional help, or from seeking support from friends or loved ones.
Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment
PTSD and trauma can feel overwhelming, but effective treatments are available. In fact, PTSD is one of the most thoroughly researched mental health conditions, and several therapies have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Most evidence-based treatments for PTSD are forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Rather than simply talking about the traumatic event, these treatments help people process difficult experiences, reduce avoidance, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and regain a sense of safety and control.
Research has shown that therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) can be highly effective for many people struggling with PTSD and trauma-related difficulties. While each approach works somewhat differently, all are designed to help people recover from the lasting effects of trauma and move forward with their lives.
Below are several of the most widely used evidence-based treatments for PTSD.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
See also: Overview of PTSD Treatment Options
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a treatment developed by psychologists at the VA in the 1990s. It is typically twelve sessions long, and has been proven effective in research trials. CPT emphasizes changing your thinking in order to change the way you feel. Traumatic events often change our beliefs. For those of us who develop PTSD, these changes are profound. Unfortunately, the changes are often unhelpful and feed into PTSD. CPT helps people examine and eventually to readjust their thinking in ways that are uniquely helpful.
Traumatic events often change the way we think about ourselves, other people, and the world. Someone who has experienced a sexual assault may come to believe they can never trust anyone again. Someone involved in a serious accident may begin to see the world as overwhelmingly dangerous. Cognitive Processing Therapy helps people identify and evaluate these trauma-related beliefs so they can recover from PTSD and move forward with their lives.
About prolonged exposure treatment for PTSD
Prolonged Exposure
Prolonged exposure therapy helps people to gradually improve the ability to cope with difficult memories and feelings related to a traumatic event. This treatment helps us reduce the number of things, places, memories and emotions that, typically, have been avoided since the event occurred.
STAIR
STAIR helps you with present functioning as well as with how to more healthily understand what occurred in the past. It can be particularly effective for survivors of childhood trauma or abuse, but is also effective for people who have been through other traumatic events.
How Effective Is PTSD Therapy?
PTSD does not need to last forever. Therapy for PTSD can be extremely effective. (Researchers and therapists have been working to improve it for over a hundred years!) For many people it leads to a significant reduction in the impact the traumatic event(s) have on there lives today. For some it results in full remission from PTSD. Research studies suggest that approximately 70% of people doing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) improved enough from therapy that they no longer had PTSD afterward.
Typically, CBT therapy for trauma and PTSD takes 10-20 sessions that are usually done on a weekly basis. The length of treatment can change, however, based on several factors, including:
- severity of symptoms
- whether you do the exercises your therapist assigns
- severity and complexity of trauma
- role of substance use, if any
Finding a Trauma or PTSD Therapist in NYC
Finding the right therapist for PTSD or trauma can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already struggling with the effects of a traumatic experience. While there are many therapists in New York City, not all have specialized training in evidence-based treatments for PTSD and trauma-related difficulties.
When looking for a PTSD or trauma therapist, it is helpful to seek someone with specific training in approaches that have been shown to be effective for this issue. These include treatments such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and other trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapies.
At the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, our clinicians are primarily doctoral-level psychologists with specialized training in the treatment of PTSD and trauma. We work with adults who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events, including assault, childhood abuse, motor vehicle accidents, combat experiences, sexual assault and other distressing life events.
We offer both in-person therapy in Midtown Manhattan and teletherapy for clients in selected states, including NJ, MA, FL, NJ, and VA. For many people, telehealth provides a convenient way to access specialized PTSD treatment without the need to travel into Manhattan. Others prefer the experience of meeting face-to-face in our office. Both options allow you to receive evidence-based care from a therapist experienced in treating trauma and PTSD.
Perhaps most importantly, you should look for a therapist with whom you feel comfortable. Effective PTSD treatment often involves discussing difficult memories, emotions, and experiences. A strong therapeutic relationship can help make that process feel more manageable and productive.
If you are looking for PTSD or trauma therapy in NYC, we would be happy to discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and help you determine whether our services may be a good fit for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTSD & Trauma Therapy
There is not one best therapy for PTSD, but the therapies with the most robust evidence base showing their effectiveness for PTSD are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and two subtypes of CBT called cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE).
Trauma therapy is any form of psychotherapy that helps you overcome lingering effects of a traumatic event. Such therapies are typically delivered weekly, although other formats can work as well. Some example of therapies for trauma include cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure, and eye movement desensitization retraining (EMDR).
Yes it can. Although medications are sometimes helpful in the treatment of PTSD and trauma, psychotherapies have been shown to be more important in helping people reach clinical remission from PTSD.
PTSD and trauma treatment can vary in length depending on the type of treatment, the nature of the traumatic event and on the posttraumatic themselves. Most evidence-based therapies for PTSD last somewhere between 12 and 25 sessions, although some require more.
Yes, the therapists at the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy offer in-person and video (telehealth) treatment for people suffering from PTSD and trauma.
Summary
PTSD and trauma can have a profound impact on your life, relationships, and sense of safety and control. Fortunately, effective treatments are available. Evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) have helped many people recover from trauma and significantly reduce PTSD symptoms. Whether your difficulties stem from a recent traumatic event or something that happened years ago, seeking help can be an important step toward recovery.
Please contact us
if we can help you in your efforts to find therapy for PTSD or trauma here in New York. Our CBT therapists are doctoral-level psychologists. We also have student therapists who offer reduced-fee services. Our offices are in midtown Manhattan, but we offer teletherapy services to people elsewhere in New York State, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont, and Florida. If you’re looking for therapy for PTSD in another part of the country or world, please contact us — we are happy to help!