Staff was knowledgeable, direct and transparent. I think they did a great job with me. They always went above and beyond in my case, answering my questions, and resolving any issues promptly. So polite and professional
About the Facility
Birmingham VA Medical Center offers comprehensive mental health and addiction recovery services for military personnel, veterans, and families in Birmingham, Alabama, including specialized programming for adolescents, young adults, seniors, homeless and indigent persons, LGBTQ+ persons, and persons with co-occurring disorders. They provide telehealth care, medically supervised detox, and inpatient, outpatient, and aftercare programming.
Treatment at Birmingham VA Medical Center begins with a comprehensive medical and mental health assessment, drug and alcohol screenings, and a personalized care plan. Their acclaimed programs are accredited by The Joint Commission, CARF, and SAMHSA.
Their inpatient programs allow clients to focus on their recovery in a highly structured and supportive environment featuring round-the-clock clinical supervision and premium amenities. Clients undergoing detox may be prescribed FDA-approved medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications. Clients engage in intensive individual, group, and family counseling and robust, recovery-focused life skills training addressing topics such as relapse prevention. An array of evidence-based complementary therapies is available, including acupuncture, experiential therapy, and meditation and mindfulness.
Their outpatient programs encompass multiple levels of care to align with clients’ evolving needs and include continuing addiction counseling and recovery education. Their aftercare services may include sober living transitions, 12 step program facilitation, and referrals for additional services.
In addition to military benefits, Birmingham VA Medical Center accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, United Healthcare, and others. Out of network benefits vary. Contact your provider to verify coverage.
Accreditations
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: 290867
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: 7945
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
Treatment
Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also called alcohol use disorder (AUD), is defined as an impaired ability to stop or control drinking alcohol despite negative consequences. Whether the condition is mild, moderate, or severe, effective treatment is available through alcohol rehab in Alabama. Evidence-based therapies, mutual-support groups, and medications have all proven effective treatments alcohol addiction.
Drug Addiction
Drug rehab in Alabama provides medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for drug dependency. Methods of treatment often include a combination of medication, counseling, and recreational therapies.
Dual Diagnosis
Dual-diagnosis addiction treatment in Alabama is a comprehensive approach to treat co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Expert clinicians utilize evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, or dialectical behavioral therapy to address addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges. Offering various levels of care, including outpatient, inpatient, or partial hospitalization programs — dual-diagnosis treatment programs can be tailored to meet your needs.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Mental health and substance abuse treatment in Alabama usually requires attending a dual-diagnosis facility on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Therapeutic interventions within co-occurring disorder programs include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to address negative thought patterns and behaviors related to addiction, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help with emotional regulation skills, and counseling to support your mental health. Combining these therapies ensures a comprehensive approach to address both aspects of your mental health and substance abuse.
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.
Insurance and Financial
- Private insurance
- Self-pay options
- Military insurance
- Financial aid
- Medicare
- Sliding scale payment assistance
Programs
Adult program
Elderly program
Hearing impaired program
HIV/AIDS program
LGBTQ program
Military program
Program for men
Program for women
Young adult program
Levels of Care
Outpatient
Outpatient rehab is designed primarily for clients who do not require intensive clinical supervision. This includes clients who are exiting detox or inpatient care. Outpatient treatment typically involves addiction counseling, recovery education, and life skills training. These programs encompass varying levels of care, including partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), standard outpatient (OP), and sober living/halfway house programs. Each category is defined by the frequency and intensity of treatment.
Intervention Services
Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.
Sober Living Homes
A sober living home in Alabama can be a great option for individuals who need a bridge between inpatient rehab and returning home. These halfway house residences encourage individuals to practice the healthy coping skills and habits they learned in treatment. The sober living home offers a structured, substance-free environment in which to strengthen their skills as they transition back to the “real world.”
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).
Intensive Outpatient
Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are designed for clients in early recovery and those at an elevated risk of relapse. Clients in IOP attend outpatient therapy sessions for a minimum of nine hours per week but clients may receive as many as 20 hours of IOP treatment weekly. Sessions generally occur in 3-5 hour blocks, in which time clients engage in some combination of medication assisted treatment (MAT), psychotherapy, recovery skills training, or complementary care.
Partial Hospitalization Program
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) provides comprehensive treatment to those who do not require 24/7 monitoring and offers a higher level of care than outpatient programs. Often referred to as “day treatment” patients typically attend sessions a minimum of 20 hours weekly, allowing clients to return home each day. PHP treatment is often covered by insurance and can provide daily therapeutic sessions and services such as relapse prevention and medication management.
Medically Assisted Detox
Medically assisted detox is often the first step of addiction treatment. At the medical detox level of care, you are weaning your body off drugs and/or alcohol under the care of licensed medical professionals who constantly monitor your health and treat any potential withdrawal symptoms, sometimes with the aid of medication (like Suboxone or Vivitrol).
12-Step
12 step programs are often considered the standard model for addiction recovery. They’re based on the use of spiritual principles to support a gradual psychological, emotional, and spiritual shift to remediate the root causes of one’s addiction. Treatment depends primarily on per coaching (sponsorship) and group recovery meetings. Though rooted in spiritual principles, participants do not need to be religious and sessions are non-denominational. Specialized groups, including meetings for seniors, teens, and family members, are often available.
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.
Life Skills
Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.
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
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.
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.
Settings and Amenities
- Residential setting
- Private setting
- Executive setting
- Private transportation
- Acupuncture room
Contact
700 S. 19th Street
Birmingham AL, 35233