Photo of Ravi Hariprasad, MD, MPH, FAPA, Psychiatrist
Ravi Hariprasad
Psychiatrist, MD, MPH, FAPA
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94102
I do have additional training in anxiety, ADHD, depression, sleep, PTSD, and sexual medicine.
I am a Harvard (MGH) trained psychiatrist, an engineer and a serial entrepreneur. As an integrative physician, I am ambidextrous in performing as a psychopharmacologist, an Ayurvedic healer, a therapist, and a mindful life coach. Together we collaborate closely to identify and remove obstacles to wellness, to reduce suffering, and to gain a personal understanding of the complex relationship between mental and physical health. Your personal preferences and strengths guide our approach. Quite simply, I approach problem solving and treatment planning differently.
I do have additional training in anxiety, ADHD, depression, sleep, PTSD, and sexual medicine.
I am a Harvard (MGH) trained psychiatrist, an engineer and a serial entrepreneur. As an integrative physician, I am ambidextrous in performing as a psychopharmacologist, an Ayurvedic healer, a therapist, and a mindful life coach. Together we collaborate closely to identify and remove obstacles to wellness, to reduce suffering, and to gain a personal understanding of the complex relationship between mental and physical health. Your personal preferences and strengths guide our approach. Quite simply, I approach problem solving and treatment planning differently.
(415) 360-0856 View (415) 360-0856
Photo of Bruce W. Scotton, MD, DLFAPA, CJA, Psychiatrist
Bruce W. Scotton
Psychiatrist, MD, DLFAPA, CJA
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94118
I am especially interested in working with people who see healing their wounds and problems as only one part of an ongoing effort to develop themselves as far as possible. This effort includes development beyond the personal into familial, community, global, and spiritual realms. Seeking to promote this perspective I am the senior editor of Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology for which we won the Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication. This perspective also values learning the accumulated knowledge of other cultures.
I am especially interested in working with people who see healing their wounds and problems as only one part of an ongoing effort to develop themselves as far as possible. This effort includes development beyond the personal into familial, community, global, and spiritual realms. Seeking to promote this perspective I am the senior editor of Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology for which we won the Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication. This perspective also values learning the accumulated knowledge of other cultures.
(650) 924-9400 View (650) 924-9400
Photo of John Echols, MD, Psychiatrist
John Echols
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
San Francisco, CA 94101
My care philosophy is to understand the person beneath the symptoms. To ever apply wisdom, compassion and knowledge to the art of healing. When a doctor adheres to specific methods; I have doubts about the therapeutic effect for each individual patient. I treat every patient as individually as possible, because solutions to the problems are always uniquely individual ones. I practice with a broad scope of theoretical and practical foundations, working with the patient before me to find what is most helpful.
My care philosophy is to understand the person beneath the symptoms. To ever apply wisdom, compassion and knowledge to the art of healing. When a doctor adheres to specific methods; I have doubts about the therapeutic effect for each individual patient. I treat every patient as individually as possible, because solutions to the problems are always uniquely individual ones. I practice with a broad scope of theoretical and practical foundations, working with the patient before me to find what is most helpful.
(925) 966-1305 View (925) 966-1305

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Trauma and PTSD Psychiatrists

When should I seek treatment for trauma?

Not everyone who undergoes trauma needs therapy to heal, but many do. If, after experiencing a traumatic event, you find yourself struggling with symptoms such as nightmares, dissociation, irritability, or emotional numbness—especially if these symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with your daily functioning—you may benefit from seeking out therapy with a trauma-informed provider.

How long does trauma therapy take?

Different types of therapy for trauma unfold on different timelines. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, for example, each take about three months, while trauma-informed CBT may last anywhere from 8 to 25 sessions. Other approaches, especially those that are less structured or that incorporate elements from multiple modalities, may be more open-ended, though many patients report feeling better within the first few months of treatment.

What happens if trauma is left untreated?

Unaddressed trauma can have serious—even devastating—effects on relationships, career, and day-to-day functioning. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can lead people to distrust or lash out at others, making it difficult to maintain intimate relationships; it can also trigger symptoms such as flashbacks or hyperreactivity that can interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively, personally and/or professionally. Some sufferers turn to drugs to find relief. Symptoms may lessen on their own with time, but there is no guarantee that PTSD will resolve on its own.

Can PTSD come back after treatment?

It is possible for PTSD symptoms to recur months or years after successful treatment. This is because, like most mental health disorders, it is not possible to “cure” PTSD, and stressful life events may cause symptoms to recur in even the most resilient individuals. There is no shame in re-experiencing PTSD symptoms nor in returning to therapy when such relapses occur; indeed, many forms of trauma therapy explicitly encourage periodic “maintenance sessions” to reinforce coping skills and ensure that symptoms stay manageable.