What We Treat
Traumatic Stress
You’ve done the therapy. You’ve taken the meds. But traumatic stress still keeps you on edge, stuck in a loop of fear, shut-down, and exhausted. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and you’re not out of options.
Understanding Traumatic Stress
Trauma affects people differently, but one thing is consistent: it can shape how you think, connect, and cope long after the event itself.
At PSI, we offer trauma-informed, science-backed care for people living with PTSD and complex trauma — whether you’re searching for answers, cautiously exploring psychedelic options, or simply trying to feel something again.
Traumatic stress is more than everyday anxiety. It’s what happens when your nervous system gets stuck in survival mode after trauma, whether that trauma was a single event or a long history of harm. Roughly 10 million adults in the U.S. live with PTSD.
Symptoms can include:
Intrusive memories or flashbacks
Nightmares and sleep disturbance
Dissociation or emotional numbness
Hypervigilance or easy startle
Avoidance of reminders
Shame, guilt, or anger
Depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts
Substance misuse
These responses aren’t weakness; they’re adaptations to overwhelming events. But they can keep you from feeling safe, connected, or whole.
Traumatic stress can affect anyone, but rates are especially high among:
- Military veterans and first responders
- Survivors of assault or childhood abuse
- People impacted by systemic oppression
- Those who’ve lost loved ones unexpectedly
Conventional treatments like talk therapy and medication help some. But for many, symptoms remain even years later. That’s where we come in.
How PSI Approaches Traumatic Stress
At PSI and TRIP Clinics, we recognize how trauma reshapes the nervous system, relationships, memory, and self-perception. That’s why our approach isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about creating a safe space to begin reconnecting.
Our trauma-informed care is delivered by licensed therapists, physicians, and clinical researchers who specialize in complex trauma and psychedelic medicine. Whether through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy or clinical trials, every step is:
- Evidence-based
- Provided by credentialed professionals
- Grounded in consent and transparency
- Supported by preparation, integration, and follow-up
Our team has led and published results from multiple MDMA-assisted therapy trials for PTSD, and we’re poised to be among the first to offer this care legally once FDA approval is granted.
Care Options at PSI
Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine helps create a window for healing—interrupting entrenched fear patterns and reconnecting people to emotion, memory, and meaning.
At PSI and TRIP Clinics, KAP includes:
- Therapist-matched care
- Integration support before and after dosing
- Sessions in a safe, monitored setting
Clinical Trials
Our team has helped lead international MDMA trials for PTSD, and we’re actively involved in clinical research on next-generation therapies. PSI is one of the few clinics in the U.S. running trials for:
- MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD
- Psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT for treatment-resistant depression
- Novel psychedelics for trauma-related conditions
What to Expect
Trauma healing takes courage, and structure. Here’s how we guide you through care, step by step.
- Consultation: Learn about your options in a judgment-free setting.
- Intake: Review your history, symptoms, goals, and preferences.
- Preparation: Build trust with your care team, set intentions, discuss safety.
- Care sessions: Guided, medically supervised sessions in a safe space.
- Integration: Process insights and create long-term plans.
FAQs About Traumatic Stress
PTSD can develop after experiences like abuse, loss, combat, or other life-threatening events. Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD, but for those who do, it can deeply affect daily life.
PTSD is a diagnosable condition. Traumatic stress refers more broadly to the emotional and physiological responses to trauma. We treat both.
Emerging research — including from PSI’s own teams — suggests that with the right support, psychedelics like ketamine and MDMA may help people reconnect with their emotions, process memories, and find relief.
All care at PSI is medically supervised, protocol-driven, and delivered by licensed clinicians. We’ll walk you through risks, expectations, and options before anything begins.
Take the Next Step
If trauma is still shaping how you feel, think, or connect, you’re not alone, and you’re not out of options.
Whether you're exploring treatment, considering a clinical trial, or simply looking for support, we're here to help you move forward safely and at your own pace.
See what care is right for you