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WDVA Counseling and Wellness Program (PTSD / War Trauma Counseling)
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
WDVA's Counseling and Wellness Program (often called the PTSD War Trauma Counseling Program) creates community-based mental-health services for veterans and their families through a network of licensed mental-health professional contractors. Services include individual, couples, family, and group counseling for veterans and families. Some contractors offer group services specific to women veterans and spouses of veterans. Veterans may be referred to specialized inpatient or outpatient treatment offered by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers or Vet Centers in Washington. The program also provides in-service training and consultation to college and university counseling centers about military and veteran cultural awareness. Confidentiality is preserved at the highest level possible. WDVA also publishes a searchable Find-a-Counselor directory (~48 contracted clinicians, filterable by all 39 WA counties).
Who qualifies
Outside King County: 1) Mental-health services are not contingent on discharge status; 2) Washington State National Guard or Military Reserve members deployed in support of war or peacekeeping missions, and their family members, qualify; 3) Veterans and families need to demonstrate their mental-health needs were impacted by military service; 4) No VA service-connected disability rating is required; 5) Services are free to qualified veterans and families; 6) Priority is given to those most vulnerable or having no other reasonable options; 7) Call a counselor directly to make an appointment. In King County: open to veterans, military servicemembers (currently serving in any branch including National Guard/Reserves) and their families (spouse, domestic partner, child, child of spouse/partner, or other dependent relatives in the household).
What it covers
No-cost, clinical, outpatient, confidential counseling: individual, couples, family, and group modalities; some women-veteran-specific and spouse-of-veteran groups; trauma-informed practitioners; statewide coverage via ~48 contracted licensed mental-health clinicians.
Cost
Services are free to qualified veterans and family members. WDVA contracts directly with licensed clinicians; veterans pay nothing.
How to apply
Use the WDVA Find-a-Counselor directory to locate a contracted clinician in your county and call the counselor directly to make an appointment. To inquire about becoming a Counseling Provider or for general program info, call 1-800-562-2308. In a crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 then pressing 1.
Where to get this in Washington
One organization delivers this program.
State agency serving Washington veterans and their families. Operates four state veterans homes and administers WDVA programs (VEMP, VIP, War Trauma Counseling, county VSO locator).
Source www.dva.wa.gov/counseling/war-trauma-program