VA PTSD Care
VA PTSD Care
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several treatment programs for Veterans who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). All Veterans enrolled in VA care can receive PTSD treatment, whether in person or via telehealth. Learn about your options.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several treatment programs for Veterans who have PTSD. Each VA Medical Center offers PTSD treatment and most large Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) also offer PTSD care.
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It’s Never Too Late to Get Treatment
"We have services available for Veterans of all theaters, and the interventions are effective for Veterans of all theaters."
Dr. Ron Acierno CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
PTSD Specialty Care Programs
All VA medical facilities are required to offer PTSD specialty care, either in a PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) or with a PTSD Specialist. Specialty care for PTSD is outpatient-based, offering at least one of the most highly recommended treatments for PTSD, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Learn more about PTSD Treatment Basics.
In any VA setting, you will work with a provider who is able to treat PTSD, regardless of the type of traumatic event you experienced, or when you served in the military. If you have other related problems, the providers in PTSD Specialty Care will also work with you to address those concerns.
What services do PTSD specialty care programs provide?
If you are referred to PTSD specialty care, the following services are available to you:
- Evaluation and assessment of your symptoms and concerns related to PTSD
- Treatment planning focused on your goals, values, and preferences
- Evidence-based psychotherapy (or “talk therapy”) and access to medications (or a referral to a provider who can prescribe) for PTSD treatment
- Flexible options are available to meet your needs, including face-to-face therapy or telehealth (video) appointments
PTSD specialty care is focused on treatment. Information regarding VA benefits related to PTSD can be found at Veterans Benefits Administration.
Can a Veteran get PTSD treatment outside of specialty care?
PTSD treatment is available outside of PTSD specialty care. The treatment settings described below provide different types of services to help you recover from PTSD.
- Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI). PC-MHI includes services in primary care, where you may be screened for PTSD and connected with a mental health provider, if needed. In PC-MHI, you may receive education about PTSD, short-term therapy, or medication management. If you need additional treatment, you can continue services in PC-MHI while you are being referred to a BHIP team or PTSD specialty care.
- Behavioral Health Team-based Care (BHIP). BHIP is a team of mental health professionals working together to focus on Veteran mental health and well-being. You will have a BHIP Care Coordinator as a main point of contact. The BHIP team can refer you to specialty services, including PTSD specialty care, military sexual trauma (MST) services, and more.
- Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). Residential treatment is also referred to as domiciliary care. In an RRTP, you receive care in a structured, supportive, and comfortable residential environment. If you are in a residential program for PTSD, services are also available to treat conditions that are related to PTSD, such as chronic pain, substance use, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that offer a wide range of services. Many Vet Center counselors and staff are Veterans who are experienced in the transition out of the military. Services are confidential and include counseling for PTSD, among many other resources for military families.
Summary
The goal of VA is to provide the best care for our Veterans. You can use the VA Locator to find services near you. On the locator, enter your zip code (or city, state), choose “VA health” for Facility type, and choose “Mental health” for Service type. Call the mental health or main number for the facility closest to you and ask to make an appointment for PTSD assessment or treatment. /p
Or call VA's Health Benefits Hotline to learn about and apply for VA health care benefits or get information about transitioning from TRICARE: 1-877-222-VETS (8387).
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