Counseling & Therapy for Veterans in Tennessee

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Veterans & Mental Health

Approximately 18.5% of US service members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, and 19.5% have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Unfortunately, only slightly more than half of those, who require therapy for their mental illness, seek it. And only somewhat more than half of those who receive it obtain minimum sufficient care.¹

Furthermore, the proportion of Veterans suffering from PTSD caused by traumatic experiences or disturbing events varies depending on the military era:²

• Approximately 11-20% of those who participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) experience PTSD in a given year.
• About 12% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) Veterans have PTSD in a given year.
• At the time of research by the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study in the late 1980s, about 15% of veterans were diagnosed with PTSD. It is expected that 30% would experience PTSD in their lifetime.

What Can Therapy for Veterans Help With?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts are all mental health issues that veterans are susceptible to. Evidence based therapies have proven to help with a wide range of these mental health issues and overall well-being. These therapies are personalized to each Veteran’s needs, priorities, values, preferences, and goals.

Depending on the nature or severity of your symptoms, evidence-based therapies can work fast and efficiently, sometimes within a few weeks or months.³

What To Expect in Therapy for Veterans?

Individual counseling for veterans provides each client with a unique treatment plan. During one-on-one sessions, a servicemember and a mental health counselor collaborate closely throughout the therapy treatment to overcome addiction and prior trauma to reintegrate the Veteran into civilian life.

Individual counseling provides more privacy than peer support groups. As a result, many Veterans prefer individual counseling to talk about their substance misuse and mental health issues related to their military experience. Veterans can express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences about wartime events and recollections. Medication may be discussed and prescribed during treatment.

At Athena Care, Veterans therapy includes, but is not limited to, the following options:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Prolonged Exposure (PE)
• Social Skills Training (SST)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

One of our care coordinators can assist you with any questions regarding Veterans counseling at any three of our outpatient mental health clinics in Tennessee.

Find Mental & Behavioral Health Treatment Centers Near Me

What To Look for in a Therapist for Veterans?

When seeking Veterans counseling,⁴ it’s important to ask lots of questions and to keep the following in mind:

• Verify the clinician’s treatment approach. For example, do they have experience treating traumatized individuals?
• Look for a PTSD specialist trained in evidence-based drugs or effective PTSD talk therapy, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
• Learn what types of insurance the provider takes and how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket for treatment.
• You might find multiple therapists.

Here you’ll find a list of practitioners organized by city, along with information about their backgrounds and specialties.

Is Therapy for Veterans Confidential?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s (HIPAA) primary goal is to safeguard the privacy of those who receive healthcare services.⁵ However, during mental health therapy, the therapist may feel compelled to communicate specific information with your partner, parent, doctor, or law enforcement.

HIPAA outlines guidelines for sharing such information with those involved in a patient’s treatment. Therapists are allowed to disclose pertinent information directly linked to therapy with anyone involved in a person’s care under HIPAA if the person in treatment:

• Has consented.
• Has been given the option to object but has failed to do so.
• By bringing a partner to treatment or having someone help organize appointments and pick up prescriptions, they have signaled that they agree.
• Is unable to make decisions because they are unconscious, delirious, psychotic, inebriated, or otherwise.

In addition, therapy is confidential unless there is suspected child abuse, elder abuse, dependent adult abuse, or imminent self-harm.

How Much is Therapy for Veterans?

Managed by the Department of Defense (DOD) health agency, TRICARE insurance is a global healthcare program for active duty service members, retirees, and their families.⁶ With three TRICARE facilities across Tennessee,⁷ military health remains a top priority.

If TRICARE or other insurance providers, like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Cigna, are inaccessible, the out of pocket cost of a Veterans therapy program varies. In the United States, the average cost of psychotherapy is between $100 and $200 each session (depending on the state).⁸

Athena Care is in-network with most major insurance plans. Find out more about your insurance coverage by calling your insurance company or contacting Athena Care at 877-641-1155.

Can Veterans Get Online Therapy?

Yes, Veterans can opt for online therapy in place of or in conjunction with in-person Veterans counseling. Online counseling allows you to communicate with a licensed therapist from any computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection.⁹

Below are some of the most significant advantages of online talk therapy:

• For many mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, research suggests that online Veterans counseling can be just as helpful as in-person Veterans therapy.¹⁰
• Accessible mental health care for people in remote or rural areas
• Individuals who are disabled or housebound can obtain therapy through the internet.
• Convenience and Affordability
• Online access helps people remove the stigma that has long been associated with mental health disorders, making online mental healthcare more approachable.¹¹