PTSD and Trauma
PTSD and Trauma Therapy in Las Vegas
Sitting with your back against a wall. Jumping at loud sounds. Avoiding a road, a song, or a whole part of town. After something frightening, your body sometimes stays on alert long after the danger ends. PTSD is common, and PTSD is treatable. Take a free 1-minute screening, learn what helps, and find a therapist who treats trauma.
Last verified October 2026. Reviewed by a licensed Nevada clinician.
Free PTSD Test (PC-PTSD-5)
5 yes-or-no questions. About 1 minute. You won't be asked to describe what happened. Your answers stay on your phone unless you choose to share them.
Are you 18 or older?
In crisis? Call or text 988.
Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5). Prins, A., et al. (2015). National Center for PTSD. In the public domain.
Signs of PTSD
PTSD symptoms fall into four groups and last more than a month:
Reliving
Nightmares, flashbacks, or unwanted memories so vivid the event feels real again.
Avoiding
Steering clear of people, places, conversations, or feelings tied to what happened.
Mood and Thinking Changes
Guilt, shame, numbness, losing interest in life, or feeling cut off from people.
Feeling On Edge
Being easily startled, always watchful, irritable, or unable to sleep or focus.
Trauma isn't only war or violence. Car crashes, medical emergencies, sudden losses, and long stretches of abuse all leave marks. Two people go through the same event, and only one develops PTSD. Neither one did anything wrong.
Trauma in Las Vegas
Las Vegas carries shared trauma. The October 1, 2017 shooting touched survivors, families, first responders, hospital staff, and neighbors across the valley, and anniversaries still bring hard days for many.
Our city also has large groups who face trauma on the job: airmen at Nellis and Creech, Metro officers, firefighters, ER staff, and casino security. Crashes on I-15 and the 215, domestic violence, and sexual assault affect thousands more every year.
Whatever happened, and however long ago, help is available.
PTSD Treatment Options
Three therapies have the strongest research for PTSD. Each usually takes about 8 to 16 sessions.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT helps you notice and change stuck beliefs about the trauma, such as "it was my fault" or "nowhere is safe."
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
PE helps you safely approach memories and situations you've been avoiding, until they lose their power.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing pairs focused memory work with side-to-side eye movements or tapping. Many Las Vegas therapists offer EMDR.
Medication
Sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved for PTSD. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner also treats the sleep problems and nightmares PTSD brings.
You don't have to share every detail at your first visit. A good trauma therapist lets you set the pace.
Looking for a Trauma Therapist in Las Vegas?
About 2 minutes. Free. We’ll email you within 24 hours with providers who have openings.
PTSD Help for Veterans in Las Vegas
Veterans have three options for free or low-cost care, and same-day mental health help is available at every VA medical center.
North Las Vegas VA Medical Center
Mental health care for veterans, including PTSD programs. Same-day help available.
Address: 6900 N Pecos Rd, North Las Vegas, NV 89086
Phone: (702) 791-9000
Website: va.gov
Las Vegas Vet Center
Free, confidential counseling for veterans, service members, and their families. No VA enrollment needed to start.
Address: 7455 W Washington Ave, Ste 240, Las Vegas, NV 89128
Phone: (702) 791-9170
Website: va.gov
Trauma Resources in Las Vegas
Signs of HOPE
Free crisis support, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault. Formerly the Rape Crisis Center.
Address: 801 S Rancho Dr, Ste C-3, Las Vegas, NV 89106
Phone: (702) 366-1640
Website: sohlv.org
SAFE House
24-hour hotline, shelter, and support for survivors of domestic violence.
Phone: (702) 564-3227
Website: safehousenv.org
Family and Child Treatment of Southern Nevada (FACT)
Nonprofit trauma therapy for survivors of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. Serves kids, teens, and adults.
Address: 8080 W Sahara Ave, Ste D, Las Vegas, NV 89117
Phone: (702) 258-5855
Website: factsnv.org
Children's Mobile Crisis Response Team
Crisis help for kids and teens under 18 in Clark County, 24/7.
Phone: (702) 486-7865
Two Stories From Around the Valley
These stories are examples, not real people or reviews.
Carla, Summerlin
Carla, 44, worked as an ER nurse for 15 years. After a hard stretch of shifts, she started avoiding the hospital parking garage and woke up at 3 a.m. with her heart racing. She tried to push through for a year. Twelve sessions of CPT with Gloria, an LCSW, helped her name the guilt she'd been carrying. She still works in the ER, and she sleeps through the night again.
Mike, North Las Vegas
Mike, 33, served two deployments in the Air Force before settling near Nellis. He drank more every year and avoided crowds, even his kids' games. A buddy walked him into the Vet Center. He did prolonged exposure with a counselor there, and this fall he sat in the bleachers for his daughter's first soccer game.
What Trauma Therapy Costs in Las Vegas
Nevada Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, and most employer plans cover therapy for PTSD, including EMDR, CPT, and PE. Veterans get free counseling at the Vet Center. Without insurance, typical self-pay rates in Las Vegas:
| Type of visit | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Therapy with a post-graduate intern | About $90 to $125 |
| Therapy with a fully licensed therapist | About $125 and up |
| First psychiatric evaluation | About $150 to $375 |
| Psychiatric follow-up visit | About $100 to $250 |
See our Insurance and Cost guide, or find free and low-cost options.
Need Help Right Now?
Call or text 988 any time. Veterans, press 1 after dialing 988. Text HOME to 741741. If someone is in danger, call 911.
PTSD FAQ
How do I know if I have PTSD?
PTSD shows up as nightmares or flashbacks, avoiding reminders, feeling numb or guilty, and staying on edge, lasting more than a month after a frightening event. Take our free screening, then talk with a therapist who treats trauma.
What is the best therapy for PTSD?
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE), and EMDR have the strongest research. Each helps most people in about 8 to 16 sessions.
Where can I find EMDR therapy in Las Vegas?
Many therapists across the valley offer EMDR, in person and some by telehealth. Tell us what you need, and we'll email you within 24 hours with trauma therapists who have openings.
Do I have to talk about what happened?
Not at the start. A good trauma therapist lets you set the pace. Some treatments involve working with the memory over time, always with your consent.
Where can veterans get PTSD help in Las Vegas?
The North Las Vegas VA Medical Center offers same-day mental health help, and the Las Vegas Vet Center offers free counseling for veterans and families. For a crisis, call 988 and press 1.
Does insurance cover PTSD treatment in Nevada?
Yes. Nevada Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, and most employer plans cover PTSD therapy and psychiatry.
Can PTSD show up years later?
Yes. Symptoms sometimes start months or years after an event, often after a new stress or a reminder. Treatment works whenever symptoms start.
Ready to Talk With Someone?
Tell us what you need. Within 24 hours, we'll email you with vetted providers who have openings. Free.
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