Specialized PTSD Treatment Programs in the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs
Each medical center in the Department of Veterans Affairs
provides some form of specialized expertise for veterans with
PTSD. Below we describe the main types of VA programs offered for
PTSD treatment:
Overall the VA provides a network of more than 200 specialized
treatment programs and trauma centers. Different VA’s offer
different programs. Many VA’s are now
offering walk-in clinics to help provide immediate care. By
walking into the primary care clinic, a veteran facing problems
can be seen that day by a mental health practitioner. In addition to VA Medical Centers across the country, offsite VA treatment locations include:
Outpatient clinics, CBOCs (Community Based Outpatient Clinics)
Vet Centers operated by VA's Readjustment Counseling
Service. Call toll free during normal business hours: (Eastern)
1-800-905-4675, OR (Pacific) 1-866-496-8838.
Located outside medical facilities
Many workers are returning veterans
Provide a mix of counseling and help accessing other programs
Who is covered for VA care?
VA services are provided to all veterans based solely on
active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or
Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged
under other than dishonorable conditions. This includes National
Guard members and Reservists who have completed a federal
deployment to a combat zone. At times, the VA has special
agreements to provide care to active duty service members, and
family members as well.
Who provides the care?
Each specialized PTSD program offers education, evaluation,
and treatment conducted by mental-health professionals such as
psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and
nurses.
A variety of services are available including:
Individual assessment and Psychological Testing
Medicines (Pharmacotherapy)
Individual psychotherapy and Family therapy
Group therapy: A variety of support and therapy groups
covering a range of topics such as: anger and stress, combat
support, partners, caregivers, groups for particular conflicts,
and more.
Main PTSD Specialized Programs offered at VA
Outpatient PTSD Programs (SOPPs)
Outpatient PTSD Programs
(SOPPs) include three basic types of clinics in which
veterans meet with a PTSD specialist for regularly scheduled
appointments.
PTSD Clinical Teams (PCTs): Provide group and one-to-one evaluation,
education, counseling, and psychotherapy.
Substance Use PTSD Teams(
SUPTs): Offer outpatient education, evaluation, and
counseling for the combined problems of PTSD and substance
abuse.
Women's Stress Disorder Treatment Teams (
WSDTTs): Provide women veterans one-to-one and group
evaluation, counseling, and psychotherapy.
Intensive PTSD Programs (SIPPs)
Intensive PTSD Programs (SIPPs) provide a "therapeutic community" and specialized
PTSD treatment services to veterans with PTSD and include social,
recreational, and vocational activities as well as
counseling.
Evaluation and Brief Treatment of PTSD Units (
EBTPUs) provide PTSD evaluation, education, and
psychotherapy for a briefer period ranging from 14 to 28
days.
PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Programs (PRRPs) provide
PTSD evaluation, education, counseling, and case management
that focuses on helping the survivor resume a productive
involvement in community life. PRRP admissions tend to be 28 to
90 days.
PTSD Day Hospitals
(DH) are outpatient and provide individual treatment
planning and counseling in a less restrictive environment than
in the VA Inpatient Units. Patient comes in daily or several
times a week for 4-8 hours each visit.
PTSD Domiciliary Units (PTSD Dom) provide time-limited
residential treatment focusing on rehabilitation. This program
replaced the PSU (PTSD Substance Use Units). Their mission is
to facilitate transition to outpatient mental health care.
Specialized Inpatient PTSD Units (
SIPUs) provide trauma-focused evaluation, education, and
psychotherapy for a period of 28 to 90 days of hospital
admission.
Women’s Trauma Recovery Program (WTRP) was opened
by the Palo Alto, CA VA in 1992 as part of the National Center
for PTSD. It is an intensive 60-day residential program with
and emphasis on interpersonal skills and a focus on war-zone
related stress as well as MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Special Local PTSD Programs
VA medical centers often also include some of their own local
specialized PTSD programs. For example, The National Center for
PTSD in collaboration with the White River Junction, VT VA Medical Center is
sponsoring the OIF/OEF Intensive PTSD Program:
Target Population: OEF/OIF veterans diagnosed with PTSD who
are interested in a month long psychosocial treatment program.
Program Description: Patient will be evaluated by a
multidisciplinary Treatment team that includes psychologist,
nurses, social workers, Psychiatrist, and employment specialist.
Patient will stay two weeks on the inpatient psychiatry unit at
the WRJ VA. They will then transition to the lodge at WRJ for the
second two weeks of the program. Treatment is based on the
multidisciplinary evaluation. Treatments are based on Cognitive
Processing Therapy for PTSD and will be provided in Individual
therapy. Adjunctive group treatment will also be provided. A
second focus is on physical fitness and overall wellness.
Patients will work with staff including employment specialist to
aid with their re-integration in the community.
In Summary
The goal of the VA is to provide the best care for our
veterans. Contact your local VA for information on VA PTSD
treatment programs in your area.
