A 39-year-old male ICU nurse presents to the PMHNP with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after working in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has nightmares and experiences depressive symptoms. In general, he says he feels detached from life and emotionally numb. He tries not to think about the patients who died, but he often cannot stop their faces from “popping” into his head at any time. What modality would be most appropriate for this patient presentation?

Choice A reason: This is correct. EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to reduce distress from traumatic memories by facilitating adaptive processing. It is particularly effective for PTSD symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbing. Choice B reason: Primal scream therapy is not supported by evidence as an effective treatment for PTSD and focuses on emotional catharsis rather than structured trauma processing. Choice C reason: Hypnotherapy may be used adjunctively but is not considered a first-line, evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Choice D reason: Psychodrama is a therapeutic technique that uses role-play and dramatization but lacks sufficient evidence as a primary treatment for PTSD.