About 5 in every 100 U.S. adults experience post-traumatic stress disorder in a given year. PTSD can affect people after combat, assault, abuse, serious accidents, disasters, medical trauma, or other events involving actual or threatened harm.
The effects may reach far beyond memories of what happened. PTSD can disrupt sleep, concentration, relationships, work, physical comfort, and a person’s sense of safety. Someone may understand intellectually that a threat has passed while still experiencing intense emotional and physical reactions to reminders.
At WHOA Wellness, we believe whole-person support can make recovery feel more manageable. That does not mean every service we offer is a treatment for PTSD, nor does it mean complementary care should replace trauma-focused psychotherapy or appropriate medication. It means recognizing that people may need support for different parts of their experience while receiving evidence-based mental health care.
PTSD Can Affect Thoughts, Emotions, and the Body
PTSD is not simply a painful memory that someone has failed to move past. It is a diagnosable mental health condition that can develop after exposure to trauma.
Symptoms generally fall into several overlapping groups:
- Intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
- Emotional or physical distress in response to reminders
- Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, people, places, or situations connected with the trauma
- Persistent guilt, fear, shame, anger, numbness, or negative beliefs
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Irritability, hypervigilance, or an exaggerated startle response
- Feeling detached from other people or previously meaningful activities
Physical reactions can be part of PTSD. A reminder may produce sweating, a pounding heartbeat, muscle tension, nausea, shaking, or a sudden feeling of danger. Chronic pain, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and substance use concerns may also occur alongside PTSD.
These experiences do not mean that trauma is literally “stored” in a particular muscle or body part. That phrase can be emotionally meaningful, but it should not be treated as a precise medical explanation. PTSD involves complex interactions among memory, attention, emotion, learning, physiology, environment, and personal history.
A thorough evaluation is important because other mental health conditions, medical concerns, medications, substance use, sleep disorders, and neurological conditions may produce overlapping symptoms.
Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment Remains the Foundation
A whole-person approach should begin with a clear understanding of which treatments have the strongest evidence.
The VA and Department of Defense recommend several individual, manualized trauma-focused psychotherapies for PTSD:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- Prolonged Exposure
These therapies differ in structure and technique, but each helps people work with trauma-related memories, beliefs, emotions, or patterns of avoidance in a supported clinical setting.
Several medications may also be considered when psychotherapy is unavailable, not preferred, or used as part of a broader plan. Medication decisions should be made with a qualified prescriber who can consider symptoms, medical history, side effects, interactions, and co-occurring conditions.
People who want a broader overview can read our guide to mental health treatment options in Richmond.
At WHOA Wellness, we do not present acupuncture, massage, Reiki, or TMS as replacements for established PTSD care. Our wellness services may support selected concerns around physical tension, stress, rest, and daily well-being. Clinical treatment for PTSD should remain coordinated with an appropriately trained mental health professional.
Where TMS Fits When PTSD and Depression Occur Together
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is sometimes described online as though it were an FDA-cleared treatment for PTSD. It is important to correct that impression.
The BrainsWay Deep TMS system used at WHOA Wellness is not FDA-cleared to treat PTSD.
Its adult depression indication covers depressive episodes and decreasing comorbid anxiety symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication during the current episode.
Research into repetitive TMS for PTSD is continuing, but the evidence remains uncertain. A 2024 Cochrane review found that active treatment probably made little or no immediate difference in PTSD severity compared with sham stimulation. The VA and Department of Defense likewise concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend for or against repetitive TMS as a PTSD treatment.
The distinction becomes especially important when PTSD occurs alongside major depressive disorder. In that situation, we may evaluate whether TMS is appropriate for the person’s depression. We should not describe the same treatment as FDA-cleared for PTSD or promise that treating depression will resolve every trauma-related symptom.
Our article on TMS therapy for depression explains the cleared treatment pathway in more detail. People considering treatment can also review our guide to TMS candidacy.
TMS does not require anesthesia or verbal retelling of a traumatic event. However, it still requires clinical screening for diagnosis, treatment history, seizure risk, medications, implanted devices, and other safety considerations. Results vary, and not every person with depression is an appropriate candidate.
For a deeper look at how this technology works, our article on how TMS therapy works for depression covers the underlying science in detail.
Acupuncture as an Emerging Complementary Option
Acupuncture is one complementary service that may interest people experiencing stress, sleep disruption, physical tension, or other symptoms alongside PTSD treatment.
A 2024 randomized clinical trial involving 93 veterans with combat-related PTSD found a greater reduction in symptom severity with acupuncture than with sham acupuncture. The finding is encouraging, but one study does not establish that acupuncture is equivalent to trauma-focused psychotherapy or appropriate for every person with PTSD.
The broader evidence remains limited. Current VA and Department of Defense guidance concludes that there is not yet enough evidence to recommend for or against acupuncture as a PTSD treatment.
For that reason, we describe acupuncture as an optional complementary service—not a substitute for psychotherapy, medication, or crisis care. Someone may value the structured quiet, practitioner attention, or subjective relaxation associated with a session without assuming that acupuncture has processed or discharged the trauma itself.
Our article on acupuncture and anxiety-related symptoms discusses the physical experience of distress in greater detail. Information about appointments and practitioner-led care is available on our acupuncture service page.
People considering acupuncture should disclose pregnancy, bleeding concerns, medications, medical conditions, and other relevant health information to their provider and acupuncturist.
Massage Requires Choice, Consent, and Clear Boundaries
Massage may help some people address muscular tension or create a structured period of physical rest. It should not be marketed as a treatment that removes stored trauma, regulates the nervous system permanently, or cures PTSD.
Touch can feel comforting to one person and distressing to another. This is especially important for people whose trauma involved assault, restraint, medical procedures, or a loss of bodily control.
A respectful massage experience should include:
- Clear information before the session begins
- Control over which areas are or are not touched
- Permission to change pressure or positioning
- The ability to pause or end the session at any time
- Respect for clothing, draping, conversation, and silence preferences
- No expectation that the client disclose details of the trauma
Our massage therapy services are customized around the client’s comfort, health history, and areas of concern. A consultation should determine whether massage feels supportive and whether any medical condition requires modification or prior guidance.
Massage may complement care for physical tension or general wellness, but it should not delay assessment or treatment from a trauma-trained mental health professional.
Reiki as an Optional Wellness Experience
Reiki is a complementary practice in which a practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above the body. Some people describe the experience as quiet, calming, or personally meaningful.
Those subjective experiences should be distinguished from clinical claims. Reiki has not been clearly shown to treat PTSD or another health condition, and scientific evidence does not support the existence of the energy field traditionally proposed to explain the practice.
At WHOA Wellness, Reiki should therefore be positioned as an optional relaxation-oriented wellness experience. It is not a trauma treatment, and participating in Reiki should never require someone to accept a particular spiritual or energetic explanation.
Our article on Reiki and mental wellness explains how we place the service within a broader model of support rather than using it as a standalone psychiatric intervention.
Support Does Not Always Require Retelling Every Detail
Some people delay seeking care because they fear being required to recount their trauma to every provider they meet.
A person receiving acupuncture, massage, Reiki, or a TMS evaluation should not have to share unnecessary details of a traumatic event. Providers need relevant health and safety information, but the individual should retain control over how much personal history is disclosed outside a therapeutic relationship.
PTSD psychotherapy is different. Trauma-focused treatment works directly with trauma-related memories, beliefs, emotions, or avoidance. Depending on the approach, that may involve discussing or writing about aspects of the event. It should occur with a qualified therapist, with preparation, pacing, informed consent, and a clear explanation of what the treatment involves.
Avoiding every reminder can bring short-term relief while helping PTSD symptoms continue over time. That does not mean someone should be forced to disclose before they are ready. It means a trauma-trained clinician can help the person compare evidence-based options and select an approach that feels acceptable and clinically appropriate.
Coordinating Care for PTSD and Co-Occurring Conditions
PTSD frequently occurs alongside depression, anxiety, chronic pain, sleep problems, or substance use concerns. Each condition deserves an accurate assessment rather than being folded into a general explanation about nervous system imbalance.
For example:
- TMS may be considered for eligible major depressive disorder, not automatically for PTSD.
- Acupuncture or massage may support physical comfort without replacing trauma therapy.
- Reiki may provide a personally meaningful period of rest without treating a psychiatric disorder.
- Medication may be appropriate for PTSD or a co-occurring condition under a prescriber’s supervision.
- Psychotherapy may need to address PTSD directly even when other services are helping someone feel better physically.
A coordinated plan may involve WHOA Wellness services, an existing therapist or prescriber, primary care, pain care, sleep treatment, substance use treatment, or another community resource. If you are managing both PTSD and depression at the same time, our article on depression and anxiety together: treatment may offer helpful context on addressing co-occurring conditions.
Whole-person care does not mean using every available modality. It means identifying the person’s actual needs, clarifying what each service can provide, and avoiding gaps or contradictions between providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WHOA Wellness offer FDA-cleared TMS for PTSD?
No. TMS should not be described as FDA-cleared for PTSD.
WHOA Wellness uses the BrainsWay Deep TMS system, which has an applicable clearance for eligible adults with major depressive disorder, including decreasing comorbid anxiety symptoms within that depression indication. When PTSD and major depression occur together, we may evaluate TMS for the depression while recommending appropriate PTSD-specific care.
Can I receive support without describing my trauma in detail?
Acupuncture, massage, Reiki, and a TMS consultation generally do not require a detailed verbal account of a traumatic event. Providers may still need relevant health and safety information.
Evidence-based PTSD psychotherapy may involve working directly with trauma-related memories or beliefs. A trauma-trained clinician can explain how different approaches work and help you choose one that respects your preferences and readiness.
Does acupuncture treat PTSD?
One recent randomized clinical trial in veterans produced encouraging results, but the overall evidence remains insufficient to place acupuncture alongside established first-line PTSD treatments.
We offer acupuncture as a complementary service. It should not replace Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, medication when appropriate, or another treatment recommended by a qualified clinician.
Can veterans and first responders seek care at WHOA Wellness?
Adults from these communities may request a consultation. Military service and first-response work can involve repeated exposure, moral injury, occupational stress, physical injury, and other specialized concerns.
Our wellness and TMS services should not be confused with a dedicated military or first-responder trauma psychotherapy program. We encourage coordination with clinicians who have appropriate experience with the person’s specific history and needs.
Can PTSD and depression be addressed at the same time?
Yes, but the conditions may require different interventions.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy or appropriate medication may address PTSD. TMS may be considered for eligible major depressive disorder. Complementary services may support selected wellness concerns. A coordinated plan should clarify which treatment is intended for which condition.
What makes a whole-person approach different?
A whole-person approach considers symptoms, physical health, emotional well-being, daily routines, relationships, environment, treatment history, and personal preferences.
It does not assume that every service treats PTSD or that using more modalities always produces a better result. The goal is to connect each person with appropriate clinical care while offering complementary support where it is wanted and suitable.
Key Takeaways
- PTSD can affect memories, beliefs, emotions, sleep, concentration, relationships, and physical responses.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, and Prolonged Exposure are among the most strongly recommended PTSD treatments.
- The BrainsWay Deep TMS system is not FDA-cleared for PTSD.
- When PTSD occurs with major depressive disorder, TMS may be evaluated for the depression if the person meets clinical criteria.
- Research on TMS for PTSD remains mixed, and current guidelines consider the evidence insufficient.
- Acupuncture has produced encouraging early findings, but it remains complementary rather than first-line PTSD treatment.
- Massage requires clear consent and individual control, particularly when touch could be distressing.
- Reiki may be offered as an optional relaxation experience but has not been shown to treat PTSD.
- Whole-person care works best when every service has a clearly defined role within a coordinated plan.
A Grounded Path Toward Recovery in Richmond
PTSD does not affect only one part of a person’s life. Recovery may involve changes in thoughts, emotions, sleep, physical comfort, relationships, routines, and the ability to feel safe in the present.
At WHOA Wellness in Richmond, VA, we recognize that full experience while maintaining clear clinical boundaries. Trauma-focused psychotherapy and appropriate medication remain central evidence-based options for PTSD. Our acupuncture, massage, and Reiki services may provide complementary wellness support. TMS may be considered when a co-occurring condition, such as eligible major depressive disorder, matches an applicable FDA-cleared indication.
A whole-person approach changes care when it helps the person feel seen without overstating what any service can accomplish. We begin by listening, clarifying which needs fall within our scope, and helping each individual identify a realistic next step. If you are ready to explore your options, contact us to schedule a consultation with our team in Richmond, VA.
About the WHOA Wellness Team
At WHOA Wellness in Richmond, VA, our team brings clinical treatment and complementary wellness services together in an appointment-only environment.
We recognize that mental health conditions can affect the body and daily life as well as thoughts and emotions. Our approach respects the different roles of TMS, trauma-focused psychotherapy, medication, acupuncture, massage, Reiki, medical care, and community support. We are committed to meeting people where they are while providing accurate information and realistic expectations.
Works Cited
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD. (n.d.). How common is PTSD in adults?
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder. National Institutes of Health.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs & U.S. Department of Defense. (2023). Clinical practice guideline for management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 510(k) summary: BrainsWay Deep TMS System (K222196).
Brown, R., Cherian, K., Jones, K., Wickham, R., Gomez, R., & Sahlem, G. (2024). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2024(8), CD015040.
Hollifield, M., Hsiao, A.-F., Smith, T., et al. (2024). Acupuncture for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 81(6), 545–554.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.). Reiki. National Institutes of Health.
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions require individualized evaluation. Do not begin, stop, or change medication or treatment without consulting an appropriate healthcare professional. Treatment outcomes vary, and no specific result is guaranteed.
Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm should call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 or seek emergency care when there is immediate danger.