Veteran’s Program at Cove Forge in Williamsburg, PA

The professionals at Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center understand how important it is for military veterans to get care that can help them address their unique past experiences. You can expect to complete a mental health screening tool and be seen by our mental health-certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) regardless of any prior mental health concerns.

Veterans who are going through withdrawal must complete medical detoxification prior to entering our Veterans Program. Once detox is complete, patients who have a co-occurring concern can continue to receive medication management services on an as-needed basis.

We incorporate a variety of therapeutic interventions in our Veterans Program, including reality therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and the 12-Step recovery model.

You can expect to participate in group, family, and individual therapies. Group counseling sessions are conducted by counseling staff daily, and topics covered include mental health, substance use concerns, family concerns, and relapse. Family sessions are conducted by a family counselor or general counselor as needed, and individual sessions are conducted by counseling staff once a week or more if deemed necessary.

We also offer experiential therapies, including a ropes course and rock climbing twice a week. Veterans may choose to follow the methods outlined in our Veterans Program workbook, which is based on the crawl, walk, run approach used by the U.S. armed forces, if they are cleared to do so during the initial screening.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of treatment specifically designed to help individuals who have suffered trauma or have had other experiences that caused distress. It has proved to be very helpful in treating clients who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In EMDR sessions, clients work with a therapist who is specially trained in EMDR. Clients remain fully awake and in control as they focus on a targeted memory and engage in dual attention stimulation, such as following fingers with their eyes, using EMDR tappers (hand-held vibration devices) or headphones with bilateral tones. This engages both sides of the brain to help in the processing of traumatic experiences. The therapist then works with the client as they process their memories and then reprocess those same memories in a more adaptive way. Each client is given a notebook to journal any new insights, memories, dreams, or distress so that they can focus on those areas in their next session.

It is important to note that clients are not required to fully share the details of their traumatic experience with their therapist, unless they want to. EMDR can still help without those details being shared.

EMDR occurs in eight phases. There is an introductory time when the client receives a thorough explanation of the eight phases of EMDR treatment. The therapist gives the client detailed information and explanations on how the brain processes trauma and what happens when trauma isn’t fully processed. This can help the client fully understand the purpose of EMDR and how it can benefit them.

The therapist who is working with the client gives them a full assessment, gathering as much information about their history as possible. They then use this information to prepare the client for the EMDR sessions by teaching them coping skills and helping them practice ways to manage distress.

During EMDR sessions, the client’s therapist works with them to help instill positive beliefs, stabilize emotions, and work through any distressing material that may come up.

Clients meet once or twice a week for EMDR sessions based on their specific needs. There is always at least one day between appointments to allow clients time to process the experience.

EMDR sessions typically take 60-90 minutes. Each session is customized based on the individual client, as everyone’s needs and responses will vary.

Our admissions process is designed to be as streamlined as possible. You can reach out to the Pennsylvania Access Center for more information about the services we offer or contact our admissions department directly to schedule an assessment.

The Veterans Program provides military veterans with quality care in a safe environment that is conducive to healing. Our expert staff will conduct a thorough assessment of your medical history and current symptoms. If we feel that another facility would better suit your specific needs, we will provide you with a referral.

Before you leave our facility, you’ll receive a detailed aftercare plan. A designated case manager and counselor will work with you to determine appropriate recommendations for ongoing care. With the support of the professionals at Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center, you can rediscover a life full of health and happiness.