PTSD

PTSD Treatment in Los Angeles

PTSD Treatment in Los Angeles

What Dr. Willison Treats

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PTSD Treatment: Psychiatrist in Westwood, Los Angeles

Trauma changes the way the brain processes the world. What happened in the past can feel impossibly present, showing up in nightmares, flashbacks, constant vigilance, and a deep sense that safety is no longer possible. Living with untreated PTSD is exhausting, and many people do not realize that what they are experiencing has a name and an effective treatment.

Dr. L. David Willison IV, MD, PhD, is a Board-certified Adult and Child/Adolescent psychiatrist in Los Angeles with extensive experience treating PTSD in both veterans and civilians. He has served as an attending psychiatrist at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, where he personally treated veterans with PTSD and trained psychiatry residents in evidence-based PTSD care. His private practice brings that same level of expertise to every patient who walks through the door.

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. It can also develop as a result of learning that a traumatic event happened to someone close, or through repeated exposure to disturbing details of traumatic events, as is common in first responders and healthcare workers.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is the brain’s attempt to protect itself after an overwhelming experience. The very processes that made survival possible, heightened alertness, rapid threat detection, powerful memory encoding, can become dysregulated in ways that make ordinary life feel dangerous long after the threat has passed.

PTSD affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. It is estimated that approximately 10 percent of adults will develop PTSD at some point during their lifetime. With proper treatment, significant recovery is possible for the majority of people who seek care.

Types of Trauma That Can Lead to PTSD

  • Combat exposure and military service
  • Physical or sexual assault
  • Childhood abuse or neglect
  • Serious accidents such as car crashes or workplace injuries
  • Natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, or hurricanes
  • Witnessing violence or sudden death
  • Medical trauma such as a life-threatening illness, emergency surgery, or a difficult childbirth
  • First responder and emergency services exposure to repeated traumatic events
  • Refugee and displacement trauma

Symptoms and Triggers

PTSD symptoms typically emerge within three months of the traumatic event, though for some people they do not appear until years later. Symptoms are grouped into four main clusters, and a diagnosis of PTSD requires symptoms from each cluster to be present for at least one month and to be causing significant distress or functional impairment.

Re-Experiencing Symptoms

Re-experiencing symptoms are perhaps the most recognized feature of PTSD. They involve the traumatic event intruding into the present in ways that feel vivid, immediate, and frightening.

  • Recurrent, intrusive memories of the traumatic event that arise without warning
  • Nightmares in which the trauma is relived or themes from the trauma appear
  • Flashbacks, which are dissociative episodes in which the person feels or acts as if the trauma is happening again in the present moment
  • Intense psychological distress when exposed to reminders of the trauma
  • Physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or trembling when triggered by trauma-related cues

Avoidance Symptoms

Avoidance symptoms develop as people try to protect themselves from the pain of re-experiencing. While understandable, avoidance tends to maintain and worsen PTSD over time.

  • Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or memories associated with the traumatic event
  • Avoiding people, places, activities, or situations that serve as reminders of the trauma
  • Withdrawing from relationships and social activities
  • Emotional numbing or feeling detached from one’s own life

Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms

The nervous system remains in a state of high alert long after the danger has passed, leading to a persistent sense of threat and difficulty relaxing or feeling safe.

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Irritability, anger outbursts, or aggressive behavior that feels out of proportion
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Hypervigilance, or a constant scanning of the environment for danger
  • An exaggerated startle response to unexpected sounds or movements
  • Reckless or self-destructive behavior

Cognitive and Mood Symptoms

PTSD profoundly affects how people think about themselves, others, and the world. These shifts in thinking and feeling are a core feature of the condition, not simply a reaction to it.

  • Persistent negative beliefs about oneself such as ‘I am broken’ or ‘I am responsible for what happened’
  • Distorted feelings of blame directed at oneself or others related to the trauma
  • Persistent negative emotions such as fear, horror, guilt, or shame
  • Diminished interest in activities that previously brought pleasure
  • Feelings of estrangement or detachment from others
  • Difficulty experiencing positive emotions such as happiness, love, or satisfaction

Common Triggers

A trigger is any sensory or situational cue that activates the trauma response, even when there is no actual danger present. Triggers vary widely from person to person and can be obvious or surprisingly subtle. Common triggers include specific sounds such as loud noises or certain types of music, smells, physical sensations, particular locations, news stories, anniversaries of the traumatic event, and interactions with people who were involved in or associated with the trauma.

Dr. Willison's Extensive VA Experience

Dr. Willison’s background in PTSD treatment is grounded in some of the most rigorous clinical training available. As an attending psychiatrist at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, he worked directly with veterans presenting with complex, often multi-layered trauma, including combat PTSD, military sexual trauma, and trauma compounded by co-occurring conditions such as TBI, depression, substance use, and ADHD.

In that role, he did more than treat patients. He taught psychiatry residents how to assess and treat PTSD using the gold-standard evidence-based approaches that the VA system has been at the forefront of developing and implementing. This means his clinical skills were not only formed through practice but sharpened through the process of teaching, where precision and depth of understanding are essential.

Evidence-Based Treatments for PTSD

PTSD is one of the most well-researched psychiatric conditions, and there are several treatments with strong evidence behind them. Dr. Willison uses these approaches in his practice and tailors treatment to each patient’s specific history, symptoms, and goals.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy is one of the two treatments most strongly recommended for PTSD by major psychiatric and psychological organizations. CPT is a structured 12-session therapy that focuses on how the traumatic event has affected a person’s thinking about themselves, others, and the world.

Many people with PTSD develop what CPT refers to as stuck points, unhelpful beliefs that developed in response to the trauma, such as ‘The world is completely dangerous,’ ‘I should have done something differently,’ or ‘I cannot trust anyone.’ These beliefs keep the person emotionally trapped in the trauma even when time has passed. CPT helps patients identify, examine, and modify these stuck points in a structured way, leading to meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms and improvements in overall functioning.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)

Prolonged Exposure Therapy is the second gold-standard treatment for PTSD, developed by Dr. Edna Foa and extensively validated through decades of research. PE is based on the principle that avoidance, while providing short-term relief, prevents the brain from processing the traumatic memory and learning that the world can be safe again.

PE involves two core components. The first is imaginal exposure, in which the patient recounts the traumatic memory in detail during sessions, allowing the brain to process it rather than continue to avoid it. The second is in vivo exposure, in which the patient gradually approaches real-world situations, places, or activities they have been avoiding because of their connection to the trauma. Over time, and with therapeutic support, the fear response diminishes and the person regains the ability to function in their life.

Medication for PTSD

Medication is an important component of PTSD treatment for many patients, either as the primary approach or in combination with therapy. The two medications with the strongest evidence base and FDA indication for PTSD are sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil), both of which are SSRIs. Venlafaxine (Effexor), an SNRI, also has substantial evidence supporting its use in PTSD.

Beyond these first-line options, Dr. Willison may consider additional medications to target specific symptoms.

  • Prazosin is commonly used to reduce trauma-related nightmares and has a strong evidence base, particularly in veteran populations
  • Atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine may be used as augmentation when first-line treatments are insufficient
  • Medications for co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or insomnia are often an important part of the overall treatment plan

Dr. Willison discusses medication options in detail with every patient and makes decisions collaboratively, taking into account each person’s medical history, other medications, lifestyle, and personal preferences.

PTSD Treatment for Veterans

Veterans face a distinct set of experiences that shape how PTSD develops and how it is best treated. Combat exposure, multiple deployments, military sexual trauma, the culture of stoicism that pervades many branches of service, and the significant adjustment involved in transitioning back to civilian life all influence how PTSD presents and how willing veterans are to seek help.

Dr. Willison has worked directly with veterans at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and understands the particular clinical complexity of this population. He is familiar with military culture, knowledgeable about combat and deployment-related trauma, and trained in the specific treatment protocols most effective for veteran PTSD.

Many veterans who seek care in Dr. Willison’s private practice do so because they want a level of personalized attention and continuity of care that is difficult to access within the VA system. In a private practice setting, appointments are longer, the therapeutic relationship is more consistent, and treatment can be tailored more closely to the individual’s specific needs and goals.

Issues Commonly Addressed in Veteran PTSD Treatment

  • Combat trauma and operational stress injuries
  • Military sexual trauma (MST) and its specific psychological effects
  • Moral injury, the deep psychological wound that comes from actions taken or witnessed during service that conflict with a person’s values
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its overlap with PTSD symptoms
  • Transition from military to civilian life, including loss of identity, purpose, and community
  • Substance use that developed as a way of managing PTSD symptoms
  • Family and relationship strain related to military service and trauma

PTSD Treatment for Civilians

PTSD is not a condition that belongs only to those who have served in the military. It develops after many types of traumatic experiences, and the civilian population carries a significant burden of trauma that is often underrecognized and undertreated.

Dr. Willison treats civilians with PTSD arising from a wide range of traumatic experiences. Every person’s trauma is valid, regardless of how it compares to someone else’s experience. What matters is not the type of event but how it has affected the individual’s brain, body, and life.

Common Sources of Civilian Trauma

  • Sexual assault and intimate partner violence
  • Childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and neglect
  • Serious motor vehicle accidents
  • Workplace accidents and injuries
  • Violent crime, robbery, or witnessing violence
  • Medical trauma including life-threatening illness, ICU stays, difficult surgeries, or traumatic childbirth experiences
  • Natural disasters and community violence
  • First responder and emergency services exposure to repeated traumatic events
  • Sudden loss of a loved one under traumatic circumstances

PTSD in civilian populations is often complicated by the same factors that affect veterans, including co-occurring depression, anxiety, substance use, and relationship difficulties. Dr. Willison provides the same evidence-based, individualized approach to all of his patients, regardless of the origin of their trauma.

What Dr. Willison Treats

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Frequently Asked Questions

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric condition that can develop after a person experiences, witnesses, or is closely affected by a traumatic event. It is characterized by four clusters of symptoms: re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks; avoiding reminders of the trauma; persistent changes in thinking and mood; and a state of heightened arousal and reactivity. PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is a recognized medical condition with effective treatments.

Re-experiencing symptoms involve the traumatic event intruding into the present in unwanted ways. These include recurrent intrusive memories of the event, distressing nightmares related to the trauma, flashbacks in which the person feels or acts as though the trauma is happening again, and intense psychological or physical distress when exposed to reminders of what happened. These symptoms can feel overwhelming and disorienting, particularly when they occur unexpectedly.

Avoidance symptoms involve deliberate or unconscious efforts to stay away from anything connected to the trauma. This includes avoiding thoughts and memories of the event as well as external reminders such as certain people, places, activities, or situations. Over time, avoidance often expands and becomes more restrictive, limiting a person’s life in significant ways. While avoidance provides short-term relief, it prevents the brain from processing the trauma and tends to maintain PTSD over the long term.

Arousal and reactivity symptoms reflect a nervous system that remains stuck in a state of high alert after the trauma. These include sleep difficulties, irritability or anger that can feel disproportionate, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response, and in some cases reckless or self-destructive behavior. These symptoms can be particularly disruptive to relationships and daily functioning.

Cognitive and mood symptoms involve changes in how a person thinks and feels that persist after the trauma. These include negative beliefs about oneself or the world, distorted blame directed inward or at others, persistent negative emotions such as guilt, shame, fear, or anger, diminished interest in activities that used to bring pleasure, feelings of detachment from others, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions. These symptoms can profoundly affect a person’s sense of identity and their ability to connect with the people they care about.

Treatment begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation in which Dr. Willison gathers a detailed history of the traumatic experience, current symptoms, any co-occurring conditions, and the impact PTSD is having on the person’s life. From there, he develops an individualized treatment plan that may include evidence-based psychotherapy such as CPT or PE, medication, or a combination of both. Treatment is adjusted over time based on the patient’s response and evolving needs. Dr. Willison works collaboratively with each patient and respects their pace throughout the process.

The length of treatment varies depending on the complexity of the trauma, the severity of symptoms, and whether co-occurring conditions are present. The gold-standard therapies for PTSD, CPT and PE, are typically delivered over 12 to 15 sessions. Many patients experience significant improvement within this timeframe. Others with more complex histories, including childhood trauma or multiple traumatic events, may benefit from longer-term work. Medication, when used, is monitored and adjusted on an ongoing basis.

Yes. The evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD, particularly CPT and PE, are highly effective and are recommended as first-line treatments regardless of whether medication is used. Many patients achieve significant and lasting improvement through therapy alone. Medication is an important option for others, particularly when symptom severity makes engaging in therapy difficult, when specific symptoms such as nightmares or depression require targeted treatment, or when a patient prefers a medication-based approach. Dr. Willison discusses all options openly and respects patient preferences.

Yes, significantly. PTSD symptoms including emotional numbing, irritability, hypervigilance, and withdrawal can create real strain in intimate relationships and family dynamics. Partners and family members often struggle to understand what their loved one is experiencing and may feel helpless, confused, or hurt. Dr. Willison works with patients to address the relational impact of PTSD as part of treatment, and family or couples therapy may be recommended alongside individual care when appropriate.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication, which makes psychiatric care the right choice when depression is moderate to severe, when therapy alone has not been sufficient, or when there may be an underlying medical or neurological component to your symptoms. Dr. Willison provides both medication management and therapeutic support, and he can coordinate care with your existing therapist if you have one. The two approaches work best together.

It is never too late. PTSD can be effectively treated at any point after the traumatic event, whether it occurred one year ago or several decades in the past. Many people live with untreated PTSD for years or even decades before seeking help, often because they did not know what they were experiencing or did not believe that treatment could help. The evidence-based therapies for PTSD work regardless of how much time has passed, and Dr. Willison has experience treating patients at every stage of their recovery journey.

Schedule a Confidential PTSD Consultation in Los Angeles

Reaching out for help takes courage, and you deserve care from someone who understands what you have been through. Whether your trauma is recent or something you have been carrying for years, effective treatment is available and recovery is possible.

Dr. L. David Willison IV, MD, PhD, is a VA-trained, Board-certified Adult and Child/Adolescent psychiatrist in Los Angeles who provides evidence-based PTSD treatment for veterans and civilians in a private, confidential setting. His clinical depth, compassionate approach, and commitment to individualized care make his practice a trusted resource for some of the most complex trauma presentations in the region.

Call 415-412-4613 or visit ldavidwillisonmdphd.com to schedule your confidential consultation today.