Trauma Treatment Serving Vancouver, WA and Portland, Oregon
PTSD Treatment in Vancouver, WA
Psychotherapy and medication management from a PTSD psychiatrist who has been where you’ve been—Dr. Jerald Block, Army veteran with three combat deployments.
Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event—combat, an assault, an accident, a disaster, or repeated exposure to the aftermath of others’ trauma. The symptoms tend to cluster in four areas: intrusive memories and nightmares, avoidance of reminders, negative shifts in mood and thinking, and a nervous system stuck on high alert—hypervigilance, irritability, trouble sleeping, and an exaggerated startle response.
PTSD is not weakness, and it does not simply fade with time for everyone. It is a recognized, treatable condition. If you’re wondering whether what you’re carrying has a name, our guide to seven signs you may need PTSD treatment is a practical place to start.
A Psychiatrist Who Understands Military Trauma Firsthand
Dr. Jerald Block, our founder and lead psychiatrist, is an Army veteran who served three combat deployments as a psychiatrist in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been to forward operating bases. He understands deployment stressors, reintegration difficulties, moral injury, survivor guilt, and the realities of military command dynamics—not from a textbook, but from having lived and worked inside them.
That matters for trauma care. Many service members and veterans have had the experience of explaining military life to a well-meaning civilian provider before they could even begin talking about what happened. At Diamond Edge TMS, that translation step isn’t necessary. The same is true for first responders—police, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical providers—whose repeated exposure to critical incidents carries its own cumulative weight. We provide confidential, judgment-free care that respects the professional stakes of seeking help.
Active-duty service members, veterans, and military families can learn more on our military services page and our guide to TRICARE coverage.
How We Treat PTSD
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the foundation of PTSD treatment. Trauma-focused therapy helps you process what happened at a pace you can tolerate, reduce the power of intrusive memories, and rebuild a sense of safety and meaning. Dr. Block’s advanced psychoanalytic training supports work with the deeper injuries trauma leaves—moral injury, grief, and identity—alongside symptom relief.
Medication Management
Medications can meaningfully reduce PTSD symptoms such as hyperarousal, low mood, and sleep disruption, and are an established part of care. Thoughtful medication management means choosing agents carefully, monitoring closely, and avoiding the over-prescribing that many veterans have experienced elsewhere.
Where TMS Fits
We want to be straightforward with you: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is FDA-cleared for treatment-resistant depression and for eligible OCD patients, while PTSD, anxiety, and mild traumatic brain injury uses remain off-label or investigational and should be discussed carefully with a clinician. Research into TMS for PTSD is active and genuinely interesting—we summarize it in what current research shows about TMS and PTSD—but it is not yet an established indication.
Where TMS most often becomes relevant is co-occurring depression: many people with PTSD also meet criteria for major depressive disorder, and when that depression has resisted medication, TMS is a cleared, insurance-recognized option. Dr. Block will walk you through the evidence, the limits, and whether it makes sense in your specific situation.
For Families and Caregivers
PTSD affects households, not just individuals. Partners and family members often become the first line of support while struggling to understand behavior that can feel confusing or frightening. Our caregiver’s guide to supporting a loved one with PTSD offers concrete guidance—what helps, what backfires, and how to take care of yourself in the process. We accept many major insurance plans, including TRICARE; see the list of insurances we accept.
PTSD Treatment FAQ
No. TMS is FDA-cleared for treatment-resistant depression and for eligible OCD patients; PTSD, anxiety, and mild traumatic brain injury uses remain off-label or investigational and should be discussed carefully with a clinician. At Diamond Edge TMS, psychotherapy and medication management are the established core of PTSD care, and TMS may be considered thoughtfully in select situations, such as co-occurring treatment-resistant depression.
Dr. Block is an Army veteran psychiatrist who served three combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been to forward operating bases and understands deployment stressors, reintegration, moral injury, and military command dynamics firsthand. That experience, combined with board certification and 25+ years of clinical practice, lets him connect with service members, veterans, and first responders at a level few providers can.
Psychotherapy and medication management for PTSD are covered mental health services under most plans, including TRICARE. TMS coverage is a separate question: insurers cover TMS primarily for treatment-resistant depression, and PTSD-specific use requires individual case evaluation. We will help you verify your benefits before treatment begins.
Learn what PTSD symptoms look like, avoid pressuring your loved one to talk about the trauma before they are ready, and encourage professional care without ultimatums. Our caregiver’s guide to supporting a loved one with PTSD covers practical steps, and our overview of seven signs you may need PTSD treatment can help you recognize when it is time to seek help.
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