Military PTSD & Substance Abuse Treatment Program

We created the C.O.R.E. program for one specific and extremely important reason: to meet the needs of military members and veterans whose lives have been impacted by substance use, addiction, trauma, and certain co-occurring mental health concerns. Within this program, services for military members aren’t limited to occasional groups or supplemental treatment tracks. Our sole focus is to ensure that current and former members of the U.S. armed forces receive superior treatment in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

When you choose the C.O.R.E. program, you will work with a team of dedicated military and civilian professionals who understand the unique challenges of military life, and whose training and experience has prepared them to provide the focused care you deserve.

No two days in the C.O.R.E. program are identical, but every day features a wide range of activities that have been designed for members of the military community and customized according to the specific needs and goals of each service member or veteran who is receiving care.

A typical day may include elements such as individual and family therapy sessions, multiple group sessions, medication management services, physical training in our on-site gym or at a local state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga, meditation, team-building exercises, and a host of additional therapeutic and educational opportunities. We also offer unique modalities such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Our daily schedule includes three nutritious meals, as well as time for relaxation and personal reflection.

The C.O.R.E. program is housed on the campus of North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital but is conducted as a distinct stand-alone program. This has allowed us to create a dynamic and highly effective treatment environment that combines world-class clinical services with many of the best features of military life. Participants in the C.O.R.E. program benefit from a structured daily schedule, a focus on personal responsibility and accountability, and an emphasis on teamwork and camaraderie.

Throughout your time in the C.O.R.E. program, you’ll be in the company of others who can identify with the challenges and obstacles you’ve experienced, who are working toward goals that are similar to yours, and who understand what it means to sacrifice in service to our nation.

At the C.O.R.E. program, we are committed to providing patients with a safe and comforting environment where they can focus on the recovery process. For this reason, we cannot allow certain items on our units, and we respectfully ask that you leave those at home. However, there are certain items that you should bring to assist in making you more comfortable during your time with us. A list of recommended and prohibited items can be found below.

C.O.R.E. Clothing Guidelines

• Three to five sets of daily clothing, including sleep attire, socks, and undergarments
• Three to five sets of exercise clothing
• Two pairs of shoes (one for exercise and one for daily wear)

Prohibited Clothing Items

• High-cut shorts more than 3 inches above the knee
• Clothing with ties, strings, cords, or laces
• Bras with underwire
• Spaghetti strap tank tops
• Tank tops that bare midriff
• Form-fitting, low-cut, or tight dresses and pants
• Heavy boots, steel-toe shoes, and high heels

Acceptable Items

• Writing utensils, including pens, pencils, and markers
• Watch with battery
• Paperback books, puzzle books, comic books, or magazines (no more than three total)
• Notebooks without spiral
• Unopened non-alcohol-based hygiene products
• Manual toothbrush
• New and unopened razors
• Nail clippers
• New and unopened non-alcohol-based makeup products (no more than two)
• Wedding bands
• Sunglasses
• Hats
• Unopened cigarettes

For your convenience, laundry facilities are available for patient use.

C.O.R.E. Contraband

• Opened tobacco products, chewing tobacco, or e-cigarettes
• Lighters and matches
• Electronics, including cellphones, iPods, computers, tablets, and cameras
• Glass or aerosol containers
• Outside food, drink, snacks, gum, and candy
• Nail files and nail polish
• Alcohol-based hygiene products
• Bobby pins, large hair ties, or headbands
• Hair dryers, corded electric shavers, curling irons, and straighteners
• Previously used pillows and linens
• Jewelry
• Objects with sharp edges
• Weapons
• Illicit substances or drug paraphernalia
• Explicit or inappropriate literature
• Spiral-bound books and notebooks
• Coat hangers and plastic bags

Not Sure About Something?

North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital is a secure mental health and chemical dependency hospital. If you bring anything that is not allowed on our grounds, we will be happy to store the item(s) and return them when you leave our facility.

If you need clarification on whether you can bring certain items, please feel free to reach out to our staff for assistance.

At the North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital C.O.R.E. program in Wesley Chapel, Florida, our streamlined admissions process is designed to ensure that military members, veterans, and retirees can access the focused treatment they need as efficiently as possible.

Admissions Criteria

The C.O.R.E. program is a stand-alone service that is designed for adults who meet the following criteria:

• Active-duty members of the U.S. military, veterans, and retired military personnel
• Struggling with substance use, addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other effects of untreated trauma, and certain co-occurring mental health challenges
• Require an intensive level of staff supervision and assistance
• Experiencing symptoms and/or exhibiting behaviors that have not responded to increased structure or a less restrictive treatment environment
• Able to engage in treatment and work toward accomplishing goals

Please note that this is a representative sample of our general admissions criteria. All admissions decisions in the C.O.R.E. program are made on a person-by-person basis following a thorough assessment of each individual’s treatment history, needs, and goals.

Exclusionary Criteria

The C.O.R.E. program is not able to accept individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Require complex medical care (such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, wound care, catheters, or dialysis, or have acute infections or uncontrolled seizures)
• Cannot eat or participate in other activities of daily living without assistance
• Have a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
• Have experienced severe head trauma

As with the admissions criteria in the previous section, this is not a comprehensive list of all the barriers that may prevent a person from being treated within the C.O.R.E. program. To learn more about our admissions policies, please contact North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital directly.

If you’re seeking comprehensive professional treatment for yourself or a loved one who has been struggling with addiction and the effects of trauma, the C.O.R.E. program can provide a smooth and stress-free admissions process. We know how important it is to make sure our services are the best match for your needs or those of a loved one, so we need to collect certain essential information prior to admission.

Highlights of our admissions process include the following:

• The admission screening process can begin over the phone, but an in-person meeting prior to admission is necessary.
• During the in-person meeting at our treatment center for military members in Wesley Chapel, Florida, you’ll complete a thorough assessment.
• This assessment will ensure that your treatment team in the C.O.R.E. program has identified and is prepared to address all the concerns that have been preventing you from living a healthier and more satisfying life.
• If at any point during the admissions process we determine that the C.O.R.E. program is not the best fit for you, we’ll refer you to a more appropriate treatment provider.
• Once you’ve completed your assessment and been approved for admission, we’ll schedule your start date so that you can begin to receive the comprehensive, personalized care you need.

We offer in-person assessments by appointment and on a walk-in basis. A member of our team is available 24/7 to conduct admissions assessments for walk-ins.

During the admissions process, we can coordinate directly with your insurance provider to confirm coverage and verify your benefits.

For additional information about our admissions policies and procedures, or for answers to any other questions you may have about any feature of treatment in the North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital C.O.R.E. program, please contact us at your earliest convenience.