Rio Vista Behavioral Health helps first responders, active-duty military members, and veterans who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders build a strong foundation for a better life. Our S.T.A.R. Program (Support, Treatment, Action, Recovery) provides service members with compassionate care and therapeutic healing so that they can forge a path forward toward long-term health and happiness.
S.T.A.R. Program Overview
Learn how the S.T.A.R. Program at Rio Vista Behavioral Health in El Paso, TX, serves the unique needs of first responders, military members, and veterans
Serving in the military or on the front lines of a crisis is a noble and rewarding pursuit. These individuals often demonstrate an extraordinary sense of bravery and devotion to keep their fellow Americans safe, leading to feelings of pride, purpose, and integrity.
Unfortunately, service members and public servants, including police officers and firefighters, are often at greater risk for experiencing signs and symptoms of mental health concerns, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders, such as an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. Some of the other more common conditions we treat within our S.T.A.R. Program (Support, Treatment, Action, Recovery) include:
- Adjustment disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Personality disorders
- Psychotic disorders
Coming face to face with reminders of physical and emotional distress and traumatic experiences can cause intense anxiety and stress, even years after the fact. The effects of these encounters can lead to serious negative consequences over time if left untreated.
At Rio Vista, we’ve developed our S.T.A.R. Program to help service members and public servants, including police officers and firefighters, get the life-changing care they deserve for the challenges they’re facing. We want to help these individuals begin the process of healing so that they don’t have to suffer in silence.
Our goal is to make sure every person who is under our care leaves our program either mission-ready to return to pursuing a career on the front lines or ready to transition to veteran status. With a collaborative approach that takes into account past history with military bases, if applicable, and a team of passionate psychiatrists who have experience administering evidence-based modalities, the S.T.A.R. Program at our facility in El Paso, Texas, can help you or a loved one return to the life you were meant to live.
Our Approach
Learn how the S.T.A.R. Program at Rio Vista Behavioral Health in El Paso, TX, approaches care for first responders, military members, and veterans
The needs of active-duty military members, veterans, and first responders, including police officers and firefighters, can differ from individuals who haven’t experienced the cumulative trauma of being on the front lines of a crisis.
In addition to tailoring our programming to these service members and public servants, we ensure that each person who is entrusted to our care receives an individualized plan that represents their unique strengths, needs, and goals. We don’t believe that there is a one-size-fits-all approach to treating mental health or substance use disorders.
There are still common elements to the S.T.A.R. Program, though the frequency of these interventions will depend on the individual. These include:
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Medical care
- Medication management services
Group therapy is perhaps the most essential component of our S.T.A.R. Program. Two to four times a week, you or your loved one will engage in discussions centered around topics such as life skills, chemical dependency, trauma, attachment, irrational thoughts, and proper sleep hygiene. You’ll work with a variety of compassionate professionals, including therapists, nurses, and mental health technicians, and have a chance to share common experiences with fellow service members who are uniquely positioned to understand the struggles you may be going through.
Rio Vista also offers individual therapy sessions twice a week where you can discuss any topics you feel are best reserved for one-on-one discussions. You might also participate in weekly family therapy sessions, where we dedicate time to reopening the lines of communication with loved ones and examining any relationships that may have been strained by the pain you’ve been experiencing.
If prescription medication can aid in your healing process, you can expect to meet with a psychiatrist throughout your stay at our facility in El Paso, Texas. We are also able to provide basic medical care during your time with us, and our nursing staff and clinicians are all highly familiar with the Department of Defense formulary and flexible to additional items individual military bases may require.
Treatment Modalities
Learn how the S.T.A.R. Program at Rio Vista Behavioral Health in El Paso, TX, delivers care to first responders, military members, and veterans
Rio Vista Behavioral Health is proud to provide specialized care for service members and public servants in order to allow these brave individuals to return to being mission-ready or help those who are retired transition to veteran status.
We recognize that many branches of the armed forces like to be involved in helping determine diagnoses, so our approach is highly collaborative so that all parties can remain informed throughout your time in our care.
Once you enter our S.T.A.R. Program, you’ll work with a team of clinical experts who are highly experienced in a variety of evidence-based modalities. Some of the interventions we use within our programming include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Motivational interviewing
- Refuge Recovery
As with every element of our programming, the modalities that will guide your path forward with us will be the ones we determine best fit your individual needs and provide you with the greatest opportunity for sustained health and well-being.
Certified by PsychArmor
Learn more about PsychArmor certification for the S.T.A.R. Program at Rio Vista Behavioral Health in El Paso, TX
To enhance the clinically excellent care we provide through the S.T.A.R. Program, Rio Vista Behavioral Health became certified as a “Veteran Ready” healthcare organization through a partnership between Acadia Healthcare’s Military & Family Support Services (MFS) and PsychArmor, a California-based nonprofit.
PsychArmor provides data-driven, evidence-based online training that educates civilians about military life and culture. In doing so, the goal is for service members, veterans, and their families to face fewer challenges when returning from deployments or transitioning back to civilian life.
By completing PsychArmor training, the staff at Rio Vista Behavioral Health is better prepared to provide active-duty military members, veterans, first responders, and their families with higher-quality trauma-informed care.
Admissions Process
Learn more about the admissions process for the S.T.A.R. Program at Rio Vista Behavioral Health in El Paso, TX
We offer direct admissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you’re not sure if the S.T.A.R. Program at our facility in El Paso, Texas, is right for you, we also offer consult coordination and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
The average length of stay in the S.T.A.R. Program is 28 days, depending on your individual needs and progress throughout treatment. We also provide 24/7 crisis stabilization for those who require such services.
Don’t wait for your journey toward brighter days to begin. Let the S.T.A.R. Program at Rio Vista Behavioral Health show you the way.
