800-784-1361
About Syracuse VA Medical Center – Oswego Community Based OP
Oswego VA Clinic is an outpatient treatment facility. The clinic is located in Oswego, New York. They provide primary care and various specialty health services. This includes mental health services, women’s health care, and nicotine replacement therapy. The latter is for veterans who need help to quit smoking. Their mental health services include treatment for substance addictions. This is in addition to depression, anxiety and PTSD among others.
Their comprehensive mental health program includes consultation, evaluation and individual and group counseling. Telehealth is available across most of their services including mental health care. They leverage secured digital technology to provide video conferencing and home telehealth services. This innovative technology even supports store-and-forward telehealth that lets you securely send or receive your health information to experts at VA facilities.
Accessing health care services without leaving your home enhances flexibility and convenience. In addition, they provide same-day appointments and walk-in express care for urgent health conditions. You may even qualify for treatment without enrolling in VA health care. However, referrals are required.
Speaking of healthcare plans, another cool thing about them is that they accept Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and many private insurance plans. If uninsured, you can pay out of pocket in person, online, by phone or by mail.
In addition, you can access financial aid through VA financial hardship assistance if you can’t pay due to economic hardship. Most clients praised the facility’s quality care, citing their staff’s friendliness and attention to detail. However, some complained about them not returning calls and the carefree attitude among some of their care personnel.
Payment Options
Military insurance 
Per session 
Self-pay options 
Private insurance 
Medicare 
Financial aid 
Sliding scale payment assistance 
Free - 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.
Intensive Outpatient
Intensive Outpatient programs are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). Intensive Outpatient Services is ideal for those suffering more serious mental health concerns, it offers more contact and treatment time.
Aftercare Support
Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Sober Living Homes
Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.
Programs
Adult program
Elderly program
HIV/AIDS program
VA recommends HIV testing for all patients, even those who do not believe they are at high risk for HIV. Testing can provide an earlier diagnosis for infected persons. Early diagnosis can provide for a longer, healthier life now that successful treatments have turned HIV into a condition that can be managed. A positive HIV test no longer means a patient will die from AIDS. It means certain steps are necessary to stay healthy.
LGBTQ program
Syracuse Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic (BHOC) offers individual therapy for Veterans identifying as LGBT. Staff are provided with annual LGBT sensitivity training, as well as a Transgender Mental Health Services training. Additional services included family and couples therapy for LGBT Veterans. Therapy is available for Veterans wanting to explore their sexual orientation/identity further. The LGBT population is also welcome to receive other treatment modalities based on their needs.
Military program
Program for men
Program for women
Young adult program
Settings & Amenities
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Private setting -
Lakeside -
Executive setting
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
When you choose drug rehab in New York, you'll participate in a variety of treatments that are designed to help you live a drug-free lifestyle. Common methods of treatment include group, individual, and family counseling, medication management, nutrition, exercise, and management of co-occurring mental health disorders.
Dual Diagnosis
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.
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.
Fitness Therapy
Fitness therapy blends exercise with psychotherapy for a fun, inspiring, and effective way of treating addiction and other issues. By incorporating movement into counseling sessions, clients become more empowered, motivated, and goal-oriented, all while strengthening their bodies and becoming more flexible. Fitness Therapy is usually used to complement a course of treatment (inpatient or outpatient) to make it even more successful. Increasing the connection between a patient’s mind and body helps both with healing as well as in creating new, healthy habits.
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.
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.
Nutrition Therapy
Syracuse VA Medical Center has an outpatient Nutrition Clinic staffed by registered dietitians. Their mission is to help improve the nutritional status of the population they serve by addressing their nutritional concerns. Whether your nutrition questions arise due to a medical condition or simply the desire to live a healthier life, their clinical staff can help you plan meals and snacks that will contribute to better health.
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.
Accreditations
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: 2280
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
Contact
(315) 207-0120 
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