Military Program

Patriot Support Program

The Military Program at Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital provides structured, evidence-based treatment for active, reserve and National Guard service members. In our specialized military environment, you get the tools, camaraderie and support you need to heal and feel whole again.

We provide unparalleled treatment to service members, veterans, and their family members experiencing a variety of behavioral health challenges.  Recognizing the unique stressors and experiences associated with military service, our facilities offer comprehensive and personalized care for issues such as PTSD, depression, substance use and complex trauma.  Our dedicated staff, psychiatrists, and therapists, work closely with referring agencies and to ensure seamless communication and customized goals for service members. Our staff also provides high-quality care, programs and services to support veterans and family members in our tailored programs.  For more information about Patriot Support Programs, please visit www.PatriotSupportPrograms.com. 

Military Program: Why Choose Us?

We understand the need for specialized mental health treatment for the military. Our 38-bed unit is designed to meet the unique needs of military service members who may be dealing with PTSD, comprehensive or complex trauma, acute mental disorders, and substance-related and addictive disorders. Our patients come from military installations across the globe, and we are happy to discuss transportation arrangements.

Highlights of our program include:

• Military environment: Our staff members are veterans, military family members or have received extensive military culture training.
• Personalized treatment: Our staff provides military mental health assessments. We have primary care and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs), psychiatrists and licensed therapists. We work together to tailor your experience, including specific medications or therapeutic techniques.
• Dedicated gym: During personal time, you can stay active in our gym — which includes a weight room and cardio equipment — or on the basketball court.
• Open-air courtyard: Get some fresh air between meetings in our private courtyard.
• Town hall meetings: We welcome your feedback at our biweekly, staff-led town hall meetings.
• Flexible family visitation: See your loved ones two times a week, either in person or via a video call.
• Therapy dog: Our therapy dog is trained in emotional support. He frequently visits people in the Military Resiliency program and brightens their day.

Military Program Tracks

We offer four program tracks depending on your needs:

• Military Track
• Recovery Track
• Dual Diagnosis Track
• Crisis Track

Our clinical staff uses up-to-date and research-based techniques, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Military Track

Highlights of our Military Track include:

• Trauma-trained therapists: Therapists provide evidence-based treatment methods such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
• Individual and group therapy: Each person is assigned an individual therapist and attends group therapy. We offer male and female psychiatric staff.
• Targeted process groups: These sessions focus on specific issues and concerns. Groups may discuss combat trauma, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, suicide, marriage and family, parenting, grief and loss and female-specific concerns.
• Reintegration outings: You visit a setting that’s similar to where you experienced trauma or substance use. This method of exposure therapy helps you move past trauma.
• Seeking Safety curriculum: This therapy helps you heal from trauma through learning coping skills and grounding exercises.
• Crisis stabilization: We provide treatment if you are experiencing an acute mental health crisis such as suicidal ideation or psychosis.

Recovery Track

Highlights of our Recovery Track include:

• Trained addiction therapists: Therapists are trained in addiction treatment methods such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. They provide evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) coping skills. We offer male and female psychiatric staff.
• Individual and group therapy: Each person is assigned an individual therapist and attends group therapy with a comprehensive addiction curriculum.
• Targeted process groups: These sessions focus on specific issues and concerns. Groups may discuss co-dependency, setting boundaries, shame and guilt, the disease concept and stages of change.
• Relapse prevention planning: During individual and group therapy sessions, we work on how to prevent a relapse.
• Addiction interventions: We offer interventions for alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, video games or sex.
• Medication management: You get targeted treatment for substance withdrawal.

Dual Diagnosis Track

Highlights of our Dual Diagnosis Track include:

• Trained therapists: You work with licensed, trained therapists. We offer male and female psychiatric staff.
• Individual and group therapy: You are assigned an individual therapist and attend group therapy sessions divided between the Resiliency and Addiction Tracks.
• Medication management: We offer targeted treatment for substance withdrawal.
• Seeking Safety curriculum: This evidence-based treatment helps people with trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use issues.

Crisis Track

Highlights of our Crisis Track include:

• Short-term care: We address acute safety concerns during a brief inpatient stay, typically five to seven days.
• Accelerated treatment: We aim to quickly and safely return you to a lower level of care.
• Communication with referring providers: We consistently communicate with referring providers to discuss assessment findings.
• Rapid discharge planning: We work with your command and family to discharge you safely and quickly.
• Focused crisis intervention skills: You learn methods such as dialectical behavior therapy skills for a smooth transition and long-term stability.

Military Program FAQ

Visit our FAQ to get answers to commonly asked questions about our Military Program.

We’re Here to Help

For more information on the Military Program, contact:

• • Military Unit Direct: 850-532-6485
  • Military Unit Fax: 850-763-4248
  • CMSgt. (Ret.) Dawna Cnota, Military Communications Liaison: 850-763-0017 ext. 152, [email protected]