Treatment Experience

The average length of stay at the Center of Excellence is approximately four weeks, but varies based on individual clinical needs through five levels of care:

While group therapy and psycho-education are the primary treatment modalities, patients are assigned to an individual therapist and receive ongoing individual therapy twice weekly during inpatient and PHP levels of care, and once weekly during the IOP level of care.

All patients receive a thorough psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and medication evaluation upon admission. When clinically indicated, family therapy sessions are scheduled with family members who choose to visit their loved one.

On the job and in the firehouse, fire fighters function as a highly cohesive social unit. Off the job, fire fighters are a clinically diverse patient population that requires a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches to address occupational trauma, co-occurring addiction and other complex behavioral health problems.

While roughly one-third of patients admitted to the Center of Excellence seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other commonly treated conditions include a primary substance use disorder, major depressive disorder, complicated grief, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive personality disorder and other addictions or compulsive behaviors (e.g., sex, gambling, binge eating).

Treatment approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), informed therapy,  eye movement destination reprocessing (EMDR), motivational interviewing, psycho-education and life skills, resiliency training, biofeedback (available offsite), and pain management.

While a strong psycho-therapeutic program is the foundation of treatment, the Center of Excellence is designed to provide purposeful, goal-directed activity outside of the therapy session. Alternative wellness approaches enhance recovery by restoring a broken mind, body and spirit: