Tactical Recovery Program: Treatment for Veterans & First Responders

Individualized Quality Care in a Unique Setting

At Cottonwood Tucson, we offer specialized addiction and mental health treatment for veterans and first responders. Our Tactical Recovery Program provides trauma-informed, holistic treatment and care in a supportive environment for those seeking help in Tucson, Arizona.

Tactical Recovery Program

At Cottonwood Tucson, we recognize the unique behavioral health and addiction issues that Veterans experience. While depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol and drug addiction rates have climbed in recent years for this population, many Veterans avoid seeking help as they don’t think treatment providers understand their experiences.

Cottonwood Tucson is honored to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care Network and PsychArmor as a Veteran-Ready program. Our team has been trained to provide a culturally competent and trauma-informed environment for each individual to heal, whether you’re looking for veterans’ PTSD treatment, military addiction treatment, or first responder treatment.

The Tactical Recovery Program provides specialized addiction and mental health treatment for veterans, active military personnel, and first responders. Our program recognizes the distinct challenges faced by those who have served, including combat-related trauma, operational stress, and the difficulties of transitioning back to civilian life.

psych armor certified - veteran ready

Cottonwood's Commitment to Veterans Mental Health

Our commitment to providing quality care to Veterans is evidenced by the variety of treatment modalities we offer. Our multidisciplinary team develops an individualized treatment plan based on each client’s needs, with program options that may include:

  • Grief and Loss Group
  • Process Group
  • Fitness Groups led by Certified Trainer
  • Naturopathic Education
  • Wim Hof Breathing Method
  • CBT Skills Group/Education
  • DBT Skills Group/Education
  • Family Education Program
  • Equine Therapy
  • Neurofeedback Training
  • HeartMath
  • 24-Hour Nursing and Psychiatric Care
  • Psychological Testing

Bridge Care for Veterans in Tucson, Arizona

When there is no availability at a VA facility, but a veteran needs immediate help, our Bridge Care program can be the answer. With proper authorization, veterans can start receiving care at one of our Tactical Recovery program locations until services can be secured at a VA facility. This bridge can support veterans when they need help the most, starting them on the road to recovery sooner.

Offered at all Tactical Recovery locations, Bridge Care offers:

  • A supportive environment where veterans can remain safe and sober
  • A veteran-centric approach offering trauma-informed care to include a variety of evidence-based practices, proven to be effective in treating the veteran population
  • Medically monitored withdrawal management

  • Collaborative coordination with VA Medical Centers to ensure a safe bed-to-bed transfer
  • A staff of licensed clinicians and medical professionals
  • Additional comprehensive levels of care as necessary, including residential treatment and outpatient services

First Responder and Veteran Treatment FAQ with Jesse Everson

Primary Therapist at Cottonwood Tucson 22 Year Retired Marine Corps Veteran

After high school, Jesse was uncertain about what he wanted to do and decided to take a factory job in the small town where he grew up. After a few years, he was unsatisfied with his life’s direction, so he joined the Marine Corps.

After 22 years of service, Jesse retired from the Marine Corps and began his journey of becoming a clinician to fulfill his new passion for helping other people, particularly those who have served. His personal and professional life challenges have provided him with the skills to listen, assess, and provide guidance to change the quality of life for the people he works with. As a Veteran, he is very familiar with the struggles endured while serving our country, and the challenges our Veterans encounter before and after they leave the service. Through working as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialist with the Department of Economic Security, he developed a strong network of support for Veterans. This experience also allowed Jesse to understand the struggles that prevent our veterans from identifying who they are and who they want to be in their lives now that they are no longer in the military. Jesse is a key element to our Veterans Services at Cottonwood.

1. What is your favorite part of working with Veterans at Cottonwood?

As Veterans, we have many similarities based on our military experience. Being a Veteran, it’s easy for me to relate to their struggles. I know exactly what it’s like to feel frustrated and uncertain about life and all its challenges. It’s not only my military experience that makes leading groups so rewarding, but it is also the fact that I have experienced many of the same life struggles before joining the military. It motivates me to listen to their stories and helps me better understand how I can help them. Working with other clients isn’t much different, we all have stories of trials and tribulations that have made us who and what we are today. Veteran or non-veteran, we all experience similar life experiences that can make life complicated, and helping people navigate through those complex challenges is an incredible honor.

2. What unique modalities do you use when working with Veterans?

When I receive Veterans in our program, I utilize as many different modalities of treatment as I can get them exposed to. I want them to experience and sample everything we offer so that when they return to their home environments, they know what to look for to continue maintaining their newfound quality of life. I utilize a lot of DBT/CBT, EMDR, Reiki, Neuro Affective Relational Model(NARM), and Equine Therapy, and I run multiple different groups focused on SUD/Addiction Recovery.

3. In your experience, why is Cottonwood so successful in treating Veterans with mental health and/or SUD issues?

Here at Cottonwood Tucson, our Veterans are provided a level of care that is very unfamiliar to what they have previously experienced. Many of our Veterans have yet to participate in a program that is as individualized and specifically designed to meet their needs. Each veteran receives a unique treatment plan, providing insight and an opportunity to heal and develop a better sense of self. Additionally, they are given the confidence to change their mindset from feeling hopeless to feeling able to accomplish whatever they want to achieve in life. I believe that SUD impacts a large majority of our Veteran population, and so does mental health. Cottonwood’s ability to address multiple issues simultaneously is the best I’ve ever seen. As Veterans, there can be a gap when transitioning back into society. This gap often creates space to allow these issues, SUD and mental health, to grow. Because of this, many Veterans struggle to develop a sense of self or find a purpose in life and, unfortunately, this can result in financial hardship, loss of relationships, suicide, SUD, and increased mental health complications. Cottonwood Tucson provides a safe space for Veterans, one in which their unique struggles are understood and addressed during their treatment process.

Begin Your New Life in Recovery Today.

Let Us Help You Get Started.
CARF - Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities NATSAP | National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs NAADAC newsweekpsych armor certified- veteran ready