Sample Treatment Plan for PTSD: Interventions & Local Options in Denver, Westminster & Boulder

What is PTSD? 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, natural disaster, combat, or assault. It affects how the brain processes fear and memory, often leading to symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and avoidance behaviors. PTSD doesn’t just impact veterans or first responders—it affects people from all walks of life. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 6% of the U.S. population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, and an estimated 12 million adults struggle with it in any given year. Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD, and rates are even higher among those exposed to prolonged or repeated trauma. Left untreated, PTSD can severely disrupt daily functioning, but with the right support and treatment, healing is possible.

What Does a PTSD Treatment Plan Look Like?

A PTSD treatment plan outlines the specific goals, therapeutic approaches, and tracking methods used to guide recovery. It’s a personalized roadmap developed by your care team that ensures progress is measurable and adaptable.

Each plan typically includes:

• Goals – what you want to achieve
• Objectives – smaller steps to meet those goals
• Interventions – the treatments used (e.g., therapy, medication, TMS)
• Evaluation tools – methods to assess progress

Sample PTSD Treatment Plan (With SMART Goals)

PTSD Patient Case Study: Maria, Age 32 – Westminster, CO

• Goal 1: Reduce PTSD symptoms related to a past car accident
  • Objective: Report 30% reduction in nightmares and flashbacks (measured by PCL-5) within 8 weeks
  • Intervention: Weekly trauma-focused CBT and EMDR
• Goal 2: Improve emotional regulation and reduce panic attacks
  • Objective: Use grounding skills in 3 out of 4 panic events per week
  • Intervention: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and breathing training
• Goal 3: Increase daily functioning and return to part-time work
  • Objective: Attend 2 social events or work functions per week
  • Intervention: Occupational therapy consult + case management

Evidence-Based Therapies for PTSD

We tailor treatment plans using proven methods backed by science and work with therapists who specialize in:

• Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) – Targets distorted thinking patterns and avoidance
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – Helps reframe trauma-related beliefs
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) – Safely confronts and desensitizes triggers
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Reduces emotional intensity of memories
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Enhances emotion regulation and distress tolerance

Psychiatry for CPTSD & Complex Trauma

Many patients, especially those with Complex PTSD (CPTSD), need more than therapy alone. If you've been stuck for a while, increased neuroplasticity can make therapy more effective. Our psychiatric providers offer advanced support, including:

• SSRIs and SNRIs for mood stabilization
• Prazosin for trauma-related nightmares
• Mood stabilizers for severe emotional dysregulation
• TMS or Spravato to recover from accompanying depression and anxiety and build neuroplasticity
• Ongoing psychiatric evaluations to refine medication strategy

Innovative Treatments: TMS & Spravato

When talk therapy and medication aren’t enough, Axis offers cutting-edge brain-based treatments to promote neuroplasticity and unlock healing:

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

• FDA-cleared, non-invasive therapy
• Improves mood regulation and brain activity
• Delivered in-office in under 20 minutes

Spravato (Esketamine Nasal Spray)

• Ideal for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD
• Promotes fast symptom relief and neuroplasticity
• Administered under supervision in a calming clinic setting

These treatments are available at all Denver, Westminster, and Boulder Axis locations.

How We Track Progress

We use gold-standard tools to ensure progress is measurable and transparent:

• PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist) – Evaluates symptom severity
• IES-R (Impact of Events Scale) – Measures distress linked to specific events
• Session check-ins – Brief, repeatable progress reviews with your therapist and psychiatric provider

Local Support & Community Resources

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. At Axis, we help you plug into trauma recovery support beyond the therapy room:

Boulder PTSD Groups:

• The Bouldercrest Foundation: Free programs free to members of the military, veterans, and first responder communities and their families. 
• Trauma Survivors Network: In-Person and virtual Peer Support Groups through Boulder Community Health.

Westminster PTSD Groups

• Seeking Safety is a trauma recovery group hosted by Ignite Counseling. 
• Griefshare hosts recovery supports groups in various locations in Westminster, Colorado

Denver PTSD Groups

• Trauma Survivors Network at Denver health supports patients and families looking to rebuild their lives after serious injury.
• Foundation 1010 provides resources to First Responder families
• The Center for Trauma & Resilience: provides free crisis services, legal solutions, workshops, care services and events like yoga for people recovering from trauma. 

What to Expect at Axis Integrated Mental Health

Your recovery starts with a thorough psychiatric evaluation and collaborative care plan. You’ll work with a team of therapists and psychiatric providers who understand the weight of trauma and know how to guide you through it.

Whether you need weekly therapy, medication management, TMS, Spravato, or all four, your treatment will be personalized and continually refined to match your progress.

We serve patients throughout Denver, Westminster, and Boulder with both in-person and telehealth options. Schedule your intake today or download our free treatment guide! 

FAQs

• What is a sample PTSD treatment plan and why does it matter?
• How long does PTSD treatment take at Axis?
• When is it time to consider TMS or Spravato?
• What are the differences between PTSD and CPTSD in treatment?
• Can I get therapy and psychiatric care in one place?