Professional Help

The resources in this section will focus on treatments for PTSD. Keep in mind that if you have another type of mental health problem, such as depression, alcohol abuse, or panic disorder, there is help available and the information we provide will prepare you for getting proper mental health care regardless of the type of problem you are struggling with.

Learn about the steps to getting mental health treatment:

• What to look for
• What to expect
• How to prepare

Barriers to getting mental health treatment:

• Lack of mental health professionals in your area
• Lack of mental health care providers who are trained in PTSD and combat issues
• You may feel uncomfortable telling a stranger about your problems
• Think being in therapy is a sign of weakness
• Think you don't deserve to feel better

Learn to overcome these barriers. We want to take the mystery out of mental health treatment and provide you information on mental health care. Look at different treatment options, so that you can think about what is right for you.

If you have tried to get help in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your experience, we want to help you make sure this doesn't happen again.

There are 3 main types of mental health care:

1. Psychotherapy is a form of mental health treatment that targets specific mental health problems such as PTSD, provided by a mental health professional. A mental health professional can be clinical psychologist, counselors, licensed social workers, and psychiatrists.
2. Supportive counseling is a type of talk-therapy that does not target specific mental health problems and is usually provided by a counselor (but can also be provided by any of the other mental health professionals listed above).
3. Medications are prescribed by a doctor, usually a psychiatrist (who is a medical doctor).  Medication is often in conjunction with therapy.