Cincinnati VA Medical Center – Ft. Thomas Division

Alcoholism

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug Addiction

Drug rehab in Kentucky often starts with detox, then includes inpatient or outpatient treatment, and continues with aftercare support. Specific methods used during each of these phases varies, but often include individual and group counseling, medication, and recreational therapies.

Dual Diagnosis

The Intensive Dual Diagnosis Treatment program provides outpatient services to Veterans who suffer from co-occurring substance use and serious psychiatric disorders. Group and individual therapy are provided, including insight-oriented therapy, supportive therapy, skill-building, and trauma work. Particular focus is on a multidisciplinary team approach to treatment.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

Opioid Addiction

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

• Private insurance
• Self-pay options
• Military insurance
• Per session
• 90 day cost: $1,316
• Financial aid

Adult program

Elderly program

Hearing impaired program

HIV/AIDS program

The Gay Men's HIV Positive Support Group is designed to offer gay male vets a safe and supportive environment in which to process their HIV positive status and the impact that it has in all facets of their lives. Topics discussed can include health care issues, relationships, trauma, stress management, and substance abuse.

LGBTQ program

The Cincinnati VAMC is committed to providing top quality care to all Veterans including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Veterans. They recognize that diverse populations have distinctive needs, and are training their staff in culturally and clinically-competent care for LGBT Veterans. They are focused on providing the most respectful health care environment possible.

Military program

Program for men

Program for women

Young adult program

Outpatient

Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.

Inpatient

The inpatient psychiatric unit consists of 20 beds and is staffed by professionals from a variety of disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy. During an inpatient admission, Veterans participate in individual treatment and group therapy. Hospital stays are generally 4 to 7 days.

Medically Assisted Detox

Using standard criteria, Veterans are evaluated for inpatient detoxification by the SUDEP physicians or advanced practice nurses. If eligible, Veterans are admitted to a medically managed detoxification unit located in an acute medical unit at the VAMC. Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Sober Living Homes

Grant and Per Diem (GPD) offers transitional housing, for up to two years per episode of care, to Veterans. It is important to note that GPD can offer housing to Veterans who are not eligible for VA medical services. They currently have 164 beds in Hamilton County: 63 at Joseph House; 50 at Volunteers of America in Mt. Healthy; 15 at Goodwill; 18 at Mt. Airy, 15 at Drop Inn Center, and 3 beds for female Veterans at the Brighton Recovery Center in Florence, KY.

Animal Therapy

Animal therapy (aka pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy) can be very healing, as it allows patients to bond with animals, who give unconditional love. This is particularly useful for those who suffered trauma by the hands of people, who may be able to trust and form closer attachments to animals than humans at certain stages of rehabilitation.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

Couples Therapy

Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.

Creative Arts Therapy

Creative Arts Therapy provides activity based resident-centered programming that integrates function, quality, and meaning to one's life to maintain or improve functional independence and enhancement of physical, cognitive, emotional, social and leisure development

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and dysfunctional eating patterns. Many psychologists and other mental health professionals consider eating disorders to be food addictions, meaning food is being used in an addictive way (similar to drug or alcohol addiction). Certain substance abuse treatment programs will have treatment for eating disorders as one of the services offered. An eating disorder may also present as a co-occuring disorder or dual diagnosis alongside drug and alcohol addiction.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

ECT is a form of treatment in which controlled electric currents are passed through the brain, sometimes causing short seizures. Treatments are done under general anesthesia. ECT appears to change brain chemistry for the better, and has been shown to provide fast and sometimes dramatic improvements in severe mental health conditions that can exist alongside addiction, including depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and suicidality. ECT is also often used by those who prefer it to taking medication.

Equine Therapy

Equine therapy, aka equine-assisted therapy (EAT), is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions and activities with horses. It does not necessarily involve riding horses, but all activities related to horses, such as feeding, grooming, haltering and leading them. A mental health professional frequently oversees the activities (often in conjunction with a horse professional), and helps patients process their thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns during and/or after the interaction.

Experiential Therapy

The Treatment Recovery and Activity Center (TRAC) program focuses on Veterans’ Strengths Needs Abilities and Preferences and is considered the last link between the hospital and the community. The program can help Veterans cope with mental illness, deal with activities of daily living, adjust to life’s challenges, develop the skills to live life to the fullest, and avoid hospitalization.

Family Therapy

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Life Skills

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center’s Community Employment Services provides information, pre-employment assessment and workforce re-entry planning services, linkage, and coordination for VA and non-VA services, and community based follow-up services to integrate Veterans into the community through competitive employment. The Compensated Work Therapy program (CWT) provides vocational opportunities for Veterans seeking employment.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

All Veterans referred to the tobacco treatment center receive a comprehensive individualized assessment, which includes a clinical interview, CO monitoring, and a blood pressure screening. Tobacco treatment intervention options include medications, classes, and individual counseling. Tobacco treatment classes occur at different times during the day and evening at the main hospital and CBOCs.

Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) provides counseling services for outpatient veterans for the Cincinnati and Fort Thomas Divisions and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics. NFS also provides healthy meals for Veterans admitted to the Medical Center. Nutrition Counseling for all medical conditions: Move weight control programs, Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease and etc.

Trauma Therapy

The Residential PTSD programs are comprised of 2 intensive 7-week programs for male and female Veterans and an intensive 8-week program for Veterans with both PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Each program provides assessment and brief treatment of PTSD. The trauma is addressed using Cognitive Processing Therapy in individual and group sessions. Additional therapy groups include Anger Management, Relaxation Skill Training, Assertiveness Training, Distress Tolerance, Communication Training, Sleep Management, and Health Issues.

• Private setting
• Yoga studio
• Music room
• Meditation room
• Massage room
• Art activities