In 1982, Lawrence H. Bergmann, Ph.D. founded Post Trauma Resources when the Veterans' Administration awarded him a contract to provide mental health services to Vietnam veterans and their families. Prior to this time, Dr. Bergmann had extensive experience with various survivor groups. Until 1985, the firm focused on their work with veterans and also provided training in stress disorders throughout South Carolina.

In 1985, the contract provider program ended and Post Trauma Resources expanded its services to non-combat survivors. During the next few years, contracts and referral agreements were signed with local solicitors and victim service agencies to provide mental health services to survivors of crime. Public safety departments (law enforcement, fire service, corrections and emergency medical services) began asking for assistance after major disasters and other incidents (police shootings, child victimization, etc). As a result, the staff developed an innovative approach for trauma response and humanitarian assistance programs.

Post Trauma Resources has gained national exposure through these innovations and trained personnel throughout the U.S. and internationally. Public sector clients have included the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, Family Service America, National Academy of Corrections, National Fire Prevention Association.  Corporate clients clients have included Amoco, USAirways, Monsanto, Club Car, Colonial Pipeline, Kimberly Clark, and more than one-hundred others.

Professional presentations have been made to the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (five presentations), American Correctional Association, Employee Assistance Professional Association, Family Service Biennial, National Safety Council, National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Trauma Specialists, International Society of Fire Service Instructors as well as numerous regional and local groups. The staff has also written over 25 publications in the area of post trauma response.

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice recognized Post Trauma Resources by making it the only private firm in the U.S. to be included its "promising practices" agenda for the next century.

During the last ten years, Post Trauma Resources has focused its efforts in the private sector and has developed program and intervention models to fit the needs of business and industry. The agency is under contract to businesses such as banks, retail outlets and manufacturing. The goal of Post Trauma Resources is to assist organizations before potentially traumatic incidents so that they might respond as efficiently as possible. However, the firm has also been asked to provide emergency responses and in the past has been involved with businesses and industries after industrial fatalities, vehicular and aircraft accidents, layoffs and natural disasters.

Post Trauma Resources has also been very involved in the development and implementation of violence prevention efforts for schools, hospitals and businesses.  Typical  violence prevention efforts include the development of flexible zero tolerance policies, threat assessments or resource teams, training, and protocol for managing threats.

The firm continues to actively work with public safety throughout the U.S. and has contracts and referral arrangements with EMS, law enforcement, corrections and fire service organizations. Going beyond the provision of debriefings, Post Trauma Resources has developed a more complete approach to duty-related trauma that includes education, peer support, psychological assistance and coordinated return to work efforts.