The Veteran Specialty Treatment Track
All of our clinical staff are “Addiction Treatment in Military & Veteran Culture” certified by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.
Journey Hillside Tarzana’s Veteran Specialty Track is complemented by an upscale, private environment with high-end amenities where clients can address their emotional and spiritual needs in an understanding environment.
PTSD, unresolved trauma and self-medicating are common problems that make a veteran’s journey a very difficult one. We understand that many veterans have a hard time re-integrating back into society and interacting with their loved ones when returning home.
Our highly experienced DBT certified staff are trained by NAADAC in Military and Veteran culture and provide individualized care that addresses Veteran substance-use and co-occurring disorders. Journey Hillside Tarzana offers intensive one-on-one therapy, daily group therapy, medication assisted treatment, 24/7 nursing in addition to holistic and experiential therapies like yoga and sound healing in an upscale setting that welcomes Veterans, first responders, and their peers.
Veterans admitted to our program will receive medically managed stabilization (detoxification), proven evidence-based treatment, case management, and aftercare planning to ensure long-term success. We specialize in treating depression, loss of purpose and meaning, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), moral injury, chronic pain, military sexual trauma (MST), and other
traumatic experiences which all contribute to Veteran substance abuse and mental health problems.
When evidence-based practices meet cultural competence, treatment works, and Veterans learn to live self-directed lives filled with meaning and purpose. Journey Hillside Tarzana utilizes evidence-based therapies to help Veterans process trauma, restore relationships, regulate emotions, and have their needs fulfilled.
The Special Issues Facing Veterans
Veterans are Americans who served in active military, naval, air or space services and were discharged or released under honorable conditions. Military personnel who see combat are often exposed to horrible, life-threatening experiences that create a lasting impact on their lives upon return home from deployment.
The trauma that Veterans deal with on a day to day basis has a tremendous cumulative effect on these personnel. This includes life threatening situations, disturbing images, frightening sounds, and high stress.
These factors have been identified as creating a higher than average risk for misusing substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs or street drugs. It is common for personnel in these professions to seek comfort in alcohol or other drugs as a way to alleviate stress and promote social interaction within their community of peers.
As a result, substance abuse rates for Veterans are higher than the general population. For example, a recent study by the American Psychological Association found that Veteran substance-use disorder range from 16 to 24% with many of these individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health disorders, incarceration, homelessness, and even suicide attempts.
The Role of PTSD
The Mayo Clinic identifies PTSD, diagnostically, as the following:
“Diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an event that involved the actual or possible threat of death, violence or serious injury.”
Your exposure can happen in one or more of these ways:
- You directly experienced the traumatic event
- You witnessed, in person, the traumatic event occurring to others
- You learned someone close to you experienced or was threatened by the traumatic event
- You are repeatedly exposed to graphic details of traumatic events (for example, if you are part of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and were repeatedly exposed to serious or fatal injuries)
You may have PTSD if the problems you experience after this exposure continue for more than a month and cause significant problems in your ability to function in social and work settings and negatively impact relationships.”
The Role of Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
The VA defines Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as the following:
“Sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service.”
This trauma can be experienced by all genders and also applies to individuals who have been other-than-honorably discharged from service.
Studies have found that MST is correlated with nearly every type of mental health disorder, including PTSD.
Co-Occurrence of PTSD and Substance Abuse
Current data shows that Veterans experience PTSD at the following rates:
- Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom: 11-20%.
- Gulf War: 12%
- Vietnam War: 30%
- Rates of Substance Abuse for Veterans range from 16-24%, with many of these individuals experiencing both substance-use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Veteran Specialty Track Key Clinical Components at Journey Hillside Tarzana
- Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology
- Group Therapy
- Individual Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- Stress Inoculation Training
- Relapse Prevention Therapy
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
Core Issues Facing Veterans
Purpose and Meaning
Many Veterans struggle when transitioning to civilian life. Let’s face it- many jobs in the private sector simply do not match up to the responsibilities held by military personnel. After experiencing military service, many civilian jobs feel boring and unimportant. Through a combination of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and existential therapy, our clients learn to cope with these changes and find meaning in ways that they never thought possible. Our DBT certified and culturally competent therapist will help you find your higher calling and put meaning back into your life.
Moral Injury
Moral injury is defined as a distressing emotional, psychological, or behavioral reaction that occurs after a Veteran observes behavior that contradicts deeply held morals and values. Although “Moral Injury” is not an official DSM-V diagnosis, this issue causes significant distress for Veterans who are adapting to civilian life. Veterans often blame themselves for these observed moral transgressions or constantly replay the scenarios in their minds while asking themselves why they “did nothing.” Through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Veterans learn to challenge these thoughts and respond more adaptively to decrease distress and live in the present moment so that they can be there for themselves and the one’s they love.
Needs Fulfillment
During military service, many basic needs are provided to military personnel without thought or consideration. Through a combination of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and communication skills training, Veterans will learn how to meet these needs on their own through planning and skill-building to increase independence and self-reliance. Journey Hillside Tarzana’s case management program will allow Veterans to practice new skills and self-advocate with community service providers during their treatment episode allowing for achievement through individual effort.
Emotion Dysregulation
Veterans are some of the strongest and adaptive individuals on the planet. Despite a culture of mental toughness and resilience, continuous negative experiences and a history of trauma can wear down anyone. Journey Hillside Tarzana uses a combination of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), bilateral stimulation, and other evidence-based treatments to address issues such as impulsive anger, aggression, and mood swings. Veterans can expect to learn to better manage their emotions while at Journey Hillside Tarzana so that they can maintain important relationships, improve interactions with others, become independent, and better manage their mental health symptoms (such as anger, anxiety, and depression).
Relationship Rebuilding and Repair
Military service puts a unique strain on Veterans and their families making family involvement in treatment necessary to ensure the Veteran’s long-term recovery. Journey Hillside Tarzana provides culturally appropriate couples/family therapy that addresses the Veterans needs while tending to broader relationship dynamics. Couples/Family therapy is used to support interdependence between the Veteran and their significant other, creating a balanced intimate relationship that is fulfilling for both partners. Couples/family interventions address common relationship issues among Veterans, such as the avoidance of problems, emotional detachment, social isolation, re-experiencing trauma, managing emotions and arousal, setting boundaries, managing family roles, and improving communication.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when military personnel receive a physical injury to the brain due to impact, collision, or penetration. There are many types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that may impact the Veteran’s ability to engage with treatment material and TBIs vary in severity. In fact, many of the symptoms of TBI mimic those of many mental health problems and Journey Hillside Tarzana staff are sensitive to these instances. Journey Hillside Tarzana offers neurofeedback which has shown improvements in TBI symptoms such as pain, memory, coordination, thought processes, and sleep.
Continued Care Plan and Alumni Outreach Program for Veterans
At Journey Hillside Tarzana, we believe that discharge planning and continuing care planning start on the day of admission. The Assessment period takes into consideration the overall environment of the Veteran. Their living situation and environment are crucial in determining their long-term chance for recovery after treatment is completed. In addition, their immersion in local treatment resources like meetings, sponsorship, support groups and continued therapy are all crucial elements in their discharge plan, which begins to form at day one of treatment. Other factors, such as progress in treatment, the need for psychiatric services, family therapy and individual therapy are also key to a carefully prepared discharge plan.
Once these elements have been established, a continuing care plan will be put into place. The Treatment Team will meet with the Veteran to go over the essential elements of the plan and family sessions will be conducted to ensure that all family participants agree with the plan and are supportive of the plan. This will also include services the family is receiving together, which is why their support is critical. The family unit will play a large part in the success of this plan.
Journey Hillside Tarzana’s commitment doesn’t stop there. It really is just the beginning. Our Alumni Outreach Director will be fully apprised of the continuing care plan and will become a part of the Veteran and his/her family’s support system from that point forward. This includes regular contact, telephonically or by videoconferencing, to assess the compliance of the family and Veteran with the elements of the plan. If modifications need to be made or if additional services are needed, the Alumni Outreach Director, with the help of the Clinical Director, will coordinate the care for those services.
CONTACT JOURNEY HILLSIDE TARZANA
At Journey Hillside Tarzana, we are committed to providing care for a variety of residents with differing needs, backgrounds or goals. We wholeheartedly believe that there is no “one size fits all” approach to recovery and strive to provide care that goes beyond standard treatments. Our expert team of licensed professionals is uniquely qualified to treat individuals with high-stakes careers and help them rediscover life without drugs or alcohol.
If you, a colleague or someone you care about needs to seek treatment for substance use, contact or call Journey Hillside Tarzana in Los Angeles, California, today to learn more about our rehab for professionals and how it can help.
