Considering residential treatment? Confused about the many types of addiction treatment?
Looking for a specialized facility that understands and serves the unique needs of veterans or active-duty military? Read on to learn what this is, who it’s for, and how it works.
What Is Residential Treatment for Veterans?
Residential (or inpatient) treatment for addiction provides veterans with a comprehensive, structured program while they live at a treatment facility full-time. Veterans receive care for substance use disorders and often co-occurring mental health conditions such as PTSD from military trauma, depression, anxiety, and reintegration into civilian life [1].
Lasting typically 30 to 60 days, depending on the severity of addiction and related issues, residential treatment includes:
- 24/7 Support and Supervision: While living in residence, veterans are supported by licensed medical and mental health staff.
- Structured Environment: Developing healthy routines and building coping skills are a central part of recovery in an immersive, distraction-free setting.
- Veteran Focus: Evidence-based therapies and medication management. These are adapted to each veteran’s needs.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Both addiction and co-occurring mental health or medical issues are treated.
- Peer Support: A sense of community is developed in group therapy. Informal connections with peers provide essential support.
Who Is Residential Treatment For?
Residential treatment can benefit veterans who:
- Have substance use disorders (alcohol, drugs, or both).
- Have mental health conditions.
- Would benefit from a highly structured, supportive environment.
- Are grappling with challenges reintegrating into civilian life, such as social, employment, or housing difficulties.
- Require stable housing.
- Seek veteran-specific programming.
- Are open to support from other veterans.
Daily Life in a Veteran Residential Program
Days are full in a residential program and may include the following activities:
Structured Schedules and Therapeutic Routines
Structure provides safety and predictability for veterans during this challenging healing journey.
Morning: The day starts with personal reflection and journaling, and setting intentions for the day. Residents may share stories at breakfast, often with a few good laughs to start the day. Individual and group therapy take up the morning.
Afternoon: Informal conversations at lunch are a time residents can relax and choose to open up about their struggles and provide supportive feedback to one another. Afternoons vary between a combination of physical activity either at the gym or out in nature, individual therapy, group work, mindfulness meditation, and expressive arts.
Evening: Dinner is a time when residents share their day and relax. Evening activities may include activities such as group work, arts, drum circle, or movies. Journaling before bed provides the opportunity to process the day.
Group and Individual Therapy Sessions
Group work is a core part of residential treatment. Small groups meet regularly with a trained therapist to share experiences, provide support, and develop coping strategies. Groups do psychoeducation on issues such as anxiety, depression, or addiction.
Collectively, groups develop connection, reduce isolation, and help residents gain insight through feedback and sharing perspectives.
In individual therapy, residents meet one-on-one with a trained therapist to explore personal challenges, emotions, and behaviors. Residents have a private, supportive space to gain self-awareness, develop coping strategies, and achieve mental health goals.
Community Support and Peer Connection
Community support and peer connection are key elements of recovery in residential treatment.
Isolation is reduced, accountability is built, and empathy encouraged. Bonds are strengthened in group activities, shared meals, and therapy sessions. This helps residents feel valued and motivated in their healing journey. Emotional growth and long-term recovery success are enhanced with peer support.
Therapies Tailored to Veteran Needs
There are numerous evidence-based therapies proven to help veterans. The VA recommends three specific trauma-focused psychotherapies, Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as the most effective treatments for PTSD [2].
Trauma-Informed Modalities
Prolonged Exposure (PE): Veterans with PTSD can learn to safely process their trauma, through repeated guided exposure to images or experiences. Fear and distress are reduced and healing takes place by gradually confronting trauma-related memories, emotions, and situations they’ve avoided.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Veterans challenge and reframe unhelpful thoughts about trauma with the support of a therapist. Veterans address distorted beliefs through structured writing and cognitive restructuring exercises. CPT reduces distress, improves coping, and promotes recovery.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Helps veterans with PTSD and trauma-related conditions to process traumatic memories by using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements). This promotes healing through reprocessing negative beliefs to reduce distress.
The Benefits of Inpatient Care for Veterans
Residential (or inpatient) care can be beneficial in many ways.
Safety, Stability, and 24/7 Support
With a consistent routine, free from triggers and stressors, a residential setting offers a safe, stable environment, in which residents can focus on recovery without external threats. Trained staff offer help 24/7 with medication management, therapy, and support during crises.
Space to Heal Physically and Emotionally
Residential care provides meals, housing, and medical care, allowing veterans or active-duty military to dedicate their full attention to healing. Residential treatment significantly improves long-term outcomes compared to outpatient care alone.
Veterans establish a foundation for long-term wellness and reintegration to daily life in a supportive environment that encourages self-reflection, emotional processing, and rebuilding resilience.
Choosing a Residential Program That Understands Military Culture
A residential treatment program that understands military culture offers the most effective healing for veterans and active military. In a military-informed environment, stigma, moral injury, or survivor’s guilt is reduced, and connections with others facing similar issues are made.
It’s essential to consider facilities with staff trained in military-specific trauma and PTSD who use evidence-based therapies tailored to veterans, such as EMDR or CPT.
And programs where engagement with others is encouraged, provide peer support and camaraderie—similar to military life.
Start Your Journey with Miramar Health
Miramar Health is a veteran-owned and operated recovery program exclusively serving veterans. Our mission is to free veterans from America’s mental health and addiction crisis and to empower them to create a better future for themselves and their families.
We understand the complex nature of trauma and offer individualized treatment options that are specific to veterans. Take the first step to your recovery. You’re not alone. Reach out to our Admissions team today.
Sources
[1] US Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment.
[2] Norman, S., et al. Overview of Psychotherapy for PTSD. US Department of Veterans Affairs. PTSD: National Center for PTSD.
