About VA JOINT AMBULATORY CARE CENTER
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System – Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola, Florida, offers primary care, laboratory services and mental healthcare. Their mental health services are provided in an outpatient setting and aim to help those who serve to lead fulfilling lives and achieve long-term stability.
The facility can help you recover from the most common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and OCD. Addiction and substance use disorder is also part of this condition. Their outpatient substance abuse and mental health treatment involves consultation, clinical evaluation and assessment as well as group and individual counseling.
The counseling sessions can help veterans identify the root cause of the psychiatric challenges fueling their addiction, develop robust coping strategies against such triggers, rebuild self-esteem, and foster healthier relationships for long-term recovery.
Emphasis is on fast-tracking recovery from unhealthy alcohol and life-threatening drug addiction as well as mental health problems. In addition, the facility may treat co-occurring disorders which is when a person suffers from substance use disorder and mental health issues at the same time.
Most often, veterans struggling with mental health conditions like PTSD due to past combat missions may take to drugs and alcohol to cope with such situations. Over time, they become addicted to these substances, worsening their mental health and making recovery even more challenging. Through co-occurring treatment, veterans can address both their substance use and mental health issues simultaneously, leading to a more comprehensive and effective recovery.
One great thing about this facility is that they offer same-day assistance and may allow walk-ins, especially for emergency health services. It’s also possible to receive treatment if you’re not enrolled in the VA health care system.
The best part is that they accept multiple insurance options, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, as well as various private insurance plans. If uninsured, you can pay out of pocket in person, online, by phone or via mail. Financial aid is also available via VA financial hardship assistance to help you fund your treatment if you cannot. In essence, funding your treatment in this facility is hassle-free.
Past clients seem to have had mixed experiences with this facility. Most criticized the overall quality of services, citing staff’s unprofessionalism and poor customer service, while some praised the facility for efficient and quality care, citing their competent and friendly staff.
Payment Options
- Private insurance
- Self-pay options
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Military Insurance
Levels of Care
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.
Aftercare
Rehab aftercare programs are a collection of highly individualized services designed to promote long-term recovery. These services evolve as your needs change. Case managers and recovery teams typically begin formulating the rehab aftercare service plan early in the recovery process to facilitate your reintegration back into the home, workplace, and community.
12-Step
12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
Sober Living Homes
A sober living home in Florida often serves as a transitional residence for individuals coming out of inpatient rehab. This helps those in recovery avoid isolation that can sometimes happen after they return home from treatment. It offers a supportive environment where they can practice skills learned in rehab. Offering a combination of structure and freedom, men's or women's sober living is a good stepping stone to independent life in recovery.
Intervention Services
If a person with a substance use disorder continually denies their problem or refuses to get treatment, a drug intervention in Florida may be necessary. Intervention services can help mediate the intervention by providing an addiction expert. This professional can de-escalate situations and facilitate a healthier discussion between the individual and their loved ones. Specialists can also help families handle issues they don't know how to navigate on their own.
Medically Assisted Detox
The first step of the recovery process involves the removal of all drugs and alcohol from your system while under 24/7 medical supervision. Known as a medically assisted detox, you are closely monitored by medical staff who can provide medications, if necessary, to help alleviate any potential withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox is usually followed by a period of inpatient addiction treatment.
Programs
Adolescence program
Adult program
Program for men
Program for women
Young adult program
Elderly program
HIV/AIDS program
LGBTQ program
Military program
Settings & Amenities
- Day school
Treatment
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 Florida provides quality treatment to help individuals overcome dependency related to a wide range of addictive substances. Programs address both the physical and mental aspects of addiction in order to help you make a full recovery.
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.
Clinical Services
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.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy in Florida consists of individual therapy and group instruction. This structured program is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates the development of skills for managing emotions and relationships.
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.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
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.
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.
Nutrition Therapy
Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream without smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine to help people stop smoking. The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Accreditations
SAMHSA
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992 by congress, SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American's communities.
SAMHSA Listed: Yes
CARF
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.
CARF Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 243639
Joint Commission
The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.
Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 2313