PTSD & Trauma Treatment in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
Trauma Lives in Your Body, Not Just Your Mind. We Treat Both.
Our proprietary Neuromodulation Protocol combines ketamine therapy, stellate ganglion block, vagus nerve stimulation, 40Hz gamma entrainment, and structured breathwork to address trauma at every level — from nervous system dysregulation to metabolic dysfunction to the stories your body still holds.
- Proprietary 5-Modality Protocol
- Dual Board-Certified Physician
- Compassionate Inquiry Trained
- 3,500+ Treatments
Your Body Is Still Fighting a War That’s Over
PTSD isn’t a memory problem. It’s a nervous system that never got the message that the danger has passed. The amygdala remains hypervigilant, the vagus nerve tone is depleted, sympathetic activation is chronically elevated, and the HPA axis floods your system with cortisol and norepinephrine. You may startle easily, avoid places and people, struggle to sleep, feel emotionally numb, or experience hypervigilance that exhausts you. Traditional talk therapy asks you to think your way through trauma that your body hasn’t released.
Exposure Therapy and SSRIs Aren’t Enough for Many
Empirically supported PTSD treatments are less effective, acceptable, and feasible for many patients — especially active duty service members and those with complex trauma. Dropout rates from trauma-focused CBT and prolonged exposure therapy can exceed 30%. SSRIs address only serotonin while ignoring the autonomic nervous system dysregulation at the core of PTSD. There’s growing recognition that the body must be included in trauma treatment.
The Metabolic Impact of Trauma
Chronic stress and trauma fundamentally alter metabolism. Sustained cortisol elevation drives insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, gut permeability, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These metabolic changes then perpetuate psychiatric symptoms in a vicious cycle. Research shows PTSD is associated with increased markers of oxidative stress, inflammation (IL-6, TNF-alpha), and accelerated cellular aging. Addressing trauma requires addressing its metabolic consequences.
Why Traditional PTSD Treatment Often Leaves People Stuck
Most conventional depression treatment focuses narrowly on symptom suppression. While SSRIs can be helpful for some patients, they represent just one small piece of a much larger biological puzzle.
- Talk therapy alone can’t override a dysregulated autonomic nervous system
- SSRIs address serotonin but not sympathetic hyperactivation, vagal tone depletion, or HPA axis dysfunction
- Exposure therapy has high dropout rates (30%+) and is less effective for complex trauma
- No metabolic assessment: inflammation, cortisol dysregulation, gut dysfunction, and nutrient depletion go untreated
- No direct nervous system interventions: vagal tone, sympathetic blockade, and gamma entrainment are not offered
- One-size-fits-all approach rather than precision medicine guided by genetics and metabolomics
The Seaside Method: A Smarter Path Forward
RAPID RELIEF
The Seaside Neuromodulation Protocol: a proprietary combination of five evidence-based therapies designed to reset the nervous system at multiple levels simultaneously.
- IV Ketamine Therapy: rapid neuroplasticity, breaking rigid trauma-encoded neural patterns
- Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB): direct sympathetic nervous system reset via ultrasound-guided injection
- Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS): non-invasive parasympathetic activation, reducing hyperarousal
- 40Hz Gamma Light & Sound Stimulation: entraining gamma rhythms to enhance BDNF, promote glymphatic clearance, and reduce neuroinflammation
- Structured Breathwork Protocol: evidence-based cyclic breathing to regulate the autonomic nervous system
ROOT CAUSE
Comprehensive assessment of trauma’s biological impact through Seaside Longevity.
- Full metabolic panel + cortisol (4-point diurnal) + DHEA-S
- Inflammatory markers: hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha
- Gut health: GI-MAP (trauma-gut connection)
- Hormonal assessment: trauma alters sex hormones, thyroid function
- Nutrient status: trauma depletes magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3s
- HRV assessment for autonomic function baseline
- Pharmacogenomic + metabolomic testing
REWIRE & REBUILD
Trauma-specific integration therapies leveraging the neuroplastic window.
- Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): processing trauma during enhanced neuroplastic state
- Compassionate Inquiry (Gabor Maté methodology): exploring what happened TO you, not what’s wrong with you
- The Gupta Program: retraining the amygdala and insula’s threat response patterns
- Adapted 12-Step Framework: surrender, personal inventory, amends, daily practice
- Somatic processing and body-based regulation techniques
RESILIENCE
Building a trauma-resilient life.
- Anti-inflammatory nutrition and metabolic optimization
- Exercise programming for vagal tone and endorphin support
- Sleep restoration protocols (trauma significantly disrupts sleep architecture)
- Daily breathwork and meditation practice
- Community and purpose work
- Ongoing maintenance and relapse prevention
The Seaside Neuromodulation Protocol™: A First-of-Its-Kind PTSD Treatment
No other clinic in San Diego combines these five evidence-based modalities into a single, integrated treatment protocol for PTSD and trauma. Each therapy targets a different layer of nervous system dysregulation, creating synergistic effects that no single modality can achieve alone.
Ketamine Therapy (IV / IM / Spravato®)
1️⃣ Ketamine Therapy (IV / IM / Spravato®)
Ketamine rapidly enhances neuroplasticity by modulating the glutamate system and increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This disrupts rigid, trauma-encoded neural circuits and opens a time-sensitive window for psychological processing and nervous system recalibration.
Unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks, ketamine often acts within hours.
Clinical Evidence
70%+ response rate in treatment-resistant conditions
Rapid onset of action (hours rather than weeks)
Demonstrated synaptogenesis in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus
Esketamine is FDA-approved under the brand name Spravato for treatment-resistant depression.
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
2️⃣ Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
An ultrasound-guided injection of local anesthetic near the stellate ganglion that directly reduces sympathetic nervous system overdrive associated with PTSD and severe anxiety.
By lowering central norepinephrine output, SGB helps calm amygdala-driven hypervigilance and threat reactivity.
Clinical Evidence
Randomized controlled trial published in JAMA (2019, n=113): significant CAPS-5 reduction vs. sham (p=0.01)
Largest retrospective study (n=327): 80%+ clinically meaningful response
Study in Translational Psychiatry (2024): ~50% anxiety reduction in 285 patients
Level 1B evidence
Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS)
3️⃣ Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS)
A non-invasive modality that stimulates the vagus nerve to increase parasympathetic tone, reduce inflammatory cytokines, and modulate the HPA stress axis.
tVNS helps shift the nervous system from chronic sympathetic dominance toward physiological homeostasis.
Clinical Evidence
Double-blind RCT: reduced sympathetic responses to traumatic stress
Published in Frontiers in Neuroscience (2025): progressive heart rate reductions in PTSD
Sleep research in veterans: improved sleep depth and autonomic stability
Clinical guidance from the Vagus Nerve Society
40Hz Gamma Light & Sound Stimulation
4️⃣ Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS)
Non-invasive audiovisual stimulation at 40Hz entrains gamma oscillations — rhythms often dysregulated in PTSD and anxiety disorders.
Research suggests gamma entrainment may:
Enhance neuroplasticity
Increase BDNF expression
Improve glymphatic clearance (brain waste removal)
Reduce neuroinflammation
Research Foundation
Ongoing research from the MIT Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Decade review published in PLOS Biology (2025)
Animal studies show improved anxiety behaviors and increased hippocampal/prefrontal BDNF
Human trials ongoing for multiple neurological conditions
Structured Breathwork Protocol
5️⃣ Structured Breathwork Protocol
Evidence-based breathing techniques, including Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), that rapidly regulate autonomic function and restore vagal tone.
Breathwork bridges physiology and psychology, equipping patients with a self-directed tool for ongoing nervous system regulation.
Clinical Evidence
100+ independent studies
Randomized trial in JAMA Network Open (2024): significant burnout reduction in physicians
Vietnam veterans: effect size 2.9 for PTSD symptom reduction
Non-inferiority to Cognitive Processing Therapy demonstrated in BMJ Open RCT (2022)
73% response rate and 41% remission in treatment-resistant anxiety
WHAT TO EXPECT
Free Consultation
Discuss your trauma history and symptoms to determine which combination of therapies is right for you.
Comprehensive Evaluation
Detailed trauma assessment, autonomic function evaluation, safety screening, and metabolic lab orders.
Personalized Protocol Design
Your Neuromodulation Protocol is customized based on your specific trauma presentation, nervous system patterns, and metabolic findings.
Treatment & Integration
Multi-modality sessions in our calm, oceanfront setting with continuous monitoring. Trauma-specific integration support between sessions.
Recovery & Resilience
Progressive reduction of symptoms, autonomic normalization, and building of independent regulation tools for lasting recovery.
FAQ
Q: Can ketamine therapy help with PTSD?
A: Yes. Ketamine promotes rapid neuroplasticity, helping the brain break free from rigid, trauma-encoded patterns. Research shows 70%+ response rates in treatment-resistant conditions. When combined with psychotherapy integration, ketamine creates a window of enhanced neuroplasticity that allows deeper processing of traumatic material.
Q: What is the Seaside Neuromodulation Protocol for PTSD?
A: Our proprietary protocol combines five evidence-based modalities: ketamine therapy, stellate ganglion block, transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation, 40Hz gamma light and sound stimulation, and structured breathwork. Each targets a different aspect of the nervous system dysregulation that characterizes PTSD. No other clinic in San Diego offers this integrated approach.
Q: What is a stellate ganglion block and how does it help PTSD?
A: A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an ultrasound-guided injection of local anesthetic near a cluster of nerves in the neck that controls the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nervous system. By temporarily blocking sympathetic outflow, SGB can rapidly reduce hyperarousal, hypervigilance, and anxiety. A large RCT published in JAMA showed significant symptom reduction, and over 80% of patients in the largest retrospective study experienced clinically meaningful improvement.
Q: How does 40Hz gamma stimulation help with trauma?
A: 40Hz gamma stimulation uses light and sound at a specific frequency to entrain the brain’s gamma rhythms. Research from MIT’s Picower Institute shows this enhances neuroplasticity, increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and promotes glymphatic flow (brain waste clearance). Animal studies demonstrate improvements in PTSD-associated anxiety behaviors. This is a non-invasive, emerging therapy we incorporate as part of our multi-modality protocol.
Q: What is Compassionate Inquiry and how does it relate to trauma treatment?
A: Compassionate Inquiry, developed by Dr. Gabor Maté, is a therapeutic approach that explores the question “What happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?” It helps patients recognize how early experiences shaped their current patterns of anxiety, depression, and self-protection. We work with trained Compassionate Inquiry providers as part of our integration and rewiring phase.
Q: Is breathwork actually effective for PTSD?
A: Strongly yes. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is the most studied breathwork technique, with over 100 independent publications. A study in Vietnam war veterans showed a massive effect size of 2.9 for PTSD symptom reduction, substantially larger than the 0.5 typically seen with antidepressant medications. An RCT published in BMJ Open demonstrated non-inferiority to Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD in military veterans.
Q: Do you treat complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?
A: Yes. Complex PTSD — resulting from repeated or prolonged trauma, often in childhood — is one of our areas of focus. C-PTSD typically involves deeper nervous system dysregulation, attachment disruption, and identity impacts that require a comprehensive, multi-modality approach like The Seaside Method.
Q: How does trauma affect metabolism?
A: Chronic trauma and stress fundamentally alter metabolism. Sustained cortisol elevation drives insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, gut permeability, and mitochondrial dysfunction. PTSD is associated with increased inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and accelerated cellular aging. Through Seaside Longevity, we assess and address these metabolic consequences of trauma.
Q: Can ketamine help me process trauma, not just feel better temporarily?
A: Absolutely. That’s the core of our approach. Ketamine creates a neuroplastic window — a period of enhanced brain flexibility — that allows deeper therapeutic processing. When combined with KAP (ketamine-assisted psychotherapy), Compassionate Inquiry, or other integration modalities, patients can access and process traumatic material that has been locked in the nervous system, leading to lasting transformation rather than temporary symptom relief.
Q: How long does PTSD treatment take?
A: Treatment duration varies significantly based on trauma complexity, severity, and individual response. Many patients experience meaningful relief within the first few sessions of ketamine and SGB. Deeper nervous system rewiring and integration typically unfold over 2-4 months. Our goal is lasting recovery, not indefinite treatment.
Your Nervous System Has Been Carrying This Alone. It Doesn’t Have To Anymore.
If trauma is still running your body’s threat response, there are biological solutions that go far beyond talk therapy. The first step is a free, confidential conversation.
No pressure. No obligation. Compassionate, physician-led care in a safe, oceanfront setting.