New Smyrna Beach · South Daytona · DeLand, FL
PTSD Treatment in New Smyrna Beach, South Daytona & DeLand, FL
If something you lived through still feels present — in flashbacks, nightmares, a body that stays on high alert, or a world that suddenly feels unsafe — you may be living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It's a natural response to an unnatural experience, and it's treatable. We provide compassionate, trauma-informed PTSD evaluation and treatment for children, teens, and adults across New Smyrna Beach, South Daytona, and DeLand, Florida.
Trauma Doesn't Stay in the Past
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, or learning that a traumatic event happened to someone close to you in certain circumstances. It doesn't only affect combat veterans, and it doesn't mean something is wrong with you. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. A qualified clinician can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether PTSD or another condition may explain what you're experiencing.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD symptoms generally fall into four groups: reliving the event, avoiding reminders, changes in mood and thinking, and feeling constantly on edge. Symptoms vary by person and age, and having some of them doesn't by itself mean you have PTSD.
Flashbacks or intrusive memories
Emotional numbness or detachment
Nightmares or disrupted sleep
Persistent guilt or shame
Constantly on edge, easily startled
Trouble concentrating
Irritability or anger
Avoiding reminders of what happened
Read more on our blog: PTSD Awareness Month, and whether PTSD qualifies as a disability.
Who We Treat
We tailor the evaluation and treatment approach to the age and life stage of the person in front of us.
Including trauma carried for years
Adults
Adolescents
Navigating a frightening experience
Caregivers included
Children (age 8+)
We currently treat individuals age 8 and older, depending on clinical needs and appointment availability.
PTSD vs. Anxiety: How can you tell? Both can involve hypervigilance, trouble sleeping, and feeling on edge. PTSD is tied to a specific traumatic experience and often includes re-experiencing it, while anxiety tends to involve more general worry. They can also occur together. See Anxiety Treatment.
How PTSD is Diagnosed
Evaluation starts with listening, at your pace. You're never asked to share more than you're ready to.
Full symptom history
How symptoms are affecting your life now
Understanding the experience, only as much as you're comfortable sharing
Enough context to guide care, without reliving details before you're ready
Evaluation for overlapping conditions
Considers anxiety, depression, and sleep problems that often accompany PTSD
Clear treatment recommendation
Discussed and decided on together
Our Approach to PTSD Care
Trauma-informed evaluation
Considers overlapping conditions like anxiety or depression
Therapy referrals
We can help connect you with trauma-focused therapy such as EMDR or trauma-focused CBT, evidence-based approaches
Collaborative care
Informed and involved in every decision
Medication management
Provided by our clinic; may help with symptoms like anxiety, low mood, or sleep problems
PTSD can occur alongside anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, or ADHD. We currently treat individuals aged 8 and older — from children processing a frightening event to adults carrying something from years ago.
Tell us a bit about what you're experiencing
01
Inquire
In-person appointments available, along with virtual options. A $100 deposit is required to book a self-pay/out-of-network initial evaluation, applied toward your total appointment cost.
What to Expect
Intake paperwork
Including insurance info, ahead of your first visit
02
Initial evaluation
Comprehensive in-person psychiatric evaluation
03
Treatment plan
Personalized, with close early follow-up
04
Meet Your Provider
Sandra MacSweeney, MHA, FNP-C, PMHNP-C
Holds a Master's degree in Advanced Practice Nursing with a specialization in psychiatric mental health from Nova Southeastern University. Florida board-certified to treat patients across the lifespan, with a focus on evidence-based, whole-person care.