Lasting recovery is built on a comprehensive foundation that addresses every aspect of a veteran's well-being. We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, our approach is a powerful blend of therapies designed for total well-being, combining leading Evidence-Based Therapies with grounding Holistic Therapies and the essential connection of Process Groups.
At Solara Mental Health, our treatment philosophy is built upon a foundation of clinically-proven, evidence-based therapies. These are the specific, research-backed modalities that form the core of your recovery plan. Each therapy is delivered by clinicians with deep expertise in military culture and the unique psychological landscape of the veteran community.
Our commitment is to provide not just therapy, but the right therapy, skillfully applied to address the root causes of trauma and help you build a resilient,
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented psychotherapy focused on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. For veterans, CBT provides a practical, mission-focused approach to building resilience, where you and your therapist work as a team to define the mission (your goals) and the tactics (the skills) needed to achieve them.
CBT is founded on the principle that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. It posits that by identifying and changing dysfunctional thoughts and learned behaviors, we can fundamentally change our emotional state.
In collaborative sessions, you will learn to use specific tools, such as "thought records," to identify cognitive distortions. You will also engage in "behavioral activation" to overcome avoidance and "exposure hierarchies" to gradually face fears in a manageable way.
Expect an active, structured partnership with your therapist. Sessions are goal-oriented and feel like a training exercise for your mind. You will leave with clear, practical skills and have assignments between sessions to practice and master what you’ve learned in real-world situations.
The effectiveness of CBT is supported by decades of research. It is a gold standard for treating depression, anxiety, and panic, making it highly effective for veterans looking to build a toolbox of tangible skills to manage day-to-day stressors.
Our clinicians use CBT to empower you with skills for daily life. We focus on collaborative goal-setting, ensuring that the strategies you learn in therapy translate into lasting change and a renewed sense of personal command.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific type of CBT designed to help veterans heal from trauma's impact by focusing on how it changes thoughts and beliefs—the "stuck points" that keep the trauma present. CPT is considered a first-line therapy for PTSD and is strongly recommended by the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines.
CPT is based on the idea that we naturally try to make sense of events. When a traumatic event shatters prior beliefs, we can get "stuck" with conflicting thoughts about why it happened and what it means. CPT helps create a new, more balanced understanding of the event and its aftermath.
CPT is a structured protocol, often delivered over 12 sessions. Your therapist acts as a guide, using Socratic questioning and structured worksheets to help you examine your beliefs from new perspectives, rather than simply telling you what to think.
Expect a structured, educational experience that feels like a course in reclaiming your own story. The focus is less on the graphic details of the event and more on the meaning you assigned to it. There will be writing assignments to help you articulate and challenge your stuck points about safety, trust, control, and self-esteem.
As a primary treatment for PTSD, CPT is especially effective for veterans struggling with pervasive feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame, or who feel that their view of the world and other people has been permanently altered by a traumatic experience.
Our clinicians are expertly trained to guide veterans through the CPT protocol. We understand the specific "stuck points" common to military service and provide a secure framework to help you challenge trauma's narrative and write a new one for yourself.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of CBT designed to help people manage intense emotions and improve relationships. DBT is particularly suited for veterans navigating the extreme emotional highs and lows that can follow traumatic experiences and the often-difficult transition back to civilian life.
The core of DBT is the "dialectic"—finding the "wise mind" balance between the "reasonable mind" and the "emotion mind." It teaches that we can accept ourselves for who we are right now, while also working strategically to change and build a life we experience as worth living.
DBT is a skills-based therapy. In individual sessions and group settings, you will systematically learn and practice skills across four key modules: Mindfulness (to regain control of your attention), Distress Tolerance (to survive crises without making them worse), Emotion Regulation (to understand what your emotions are telling you), and Interpersonal Effectiveness (to get your needs met while respecting yourself and others).
Expect a comprehensive and structured program. A full DBT program typically involves weekly individual therapy, a weekly group skills class (which functions like a classroom), and access to phone coaching with your therapist to help you use your skills during real-life crises.
DBT is an evidence-based practice highly effective for veterans struggling with emotional dysregulation, self-harm behaviors, impulsivity, chronic thoughts of suicide, and the intense interpersonal conflicts that can arise from these challenges.
We provide a comprehensive DBT program led by expertly trained clinicians. We create a supportive, non-judgmental environment for learning these life-changing skills and applying them to the unique context of your military experience.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy that helps veterans heal from the symptoms and emotional distress resulting from traumatic experiences. EMDR is strongly recommended for the treatment of PTSD by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
EMDR operates on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which holds that the brain has a natural, physiological system for healing from distress. Trauma can block this system, and EMDR is designed to "unblock" it, allowing the brain to resume its natural healing process.
The therapy moves systematically through eight phases, from history-taking and preparation to processing and re-evaluation. During the processing phases, a therapist uses bilateral stimulation (e.g., guided eye movements or tapping) to reactivate the brain's processing system while you focus on a traumatic memory.
Expect a highly structured and safe process. It is not hypnosis; you are fully awake and in control. The first several sessions are dedicated solely to preparation, resource-building, and establishing trust. During processing, you are an observer of the memory, not a re-liver of it, allowing you to examine the event from a safe distance.
As a leading treatment for PTSD, EMDR is highly effective for veterans experiencing intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety, and the persistent "on-edge" feeling associated with combat or MST.
Our certified EMDR clinicians are experienced in its application for military trauma. We provide a secure, confidential environment where you can safely process memories, reduce their emotional charge, and integrate them as a part of your past, not a defining feature of your present.
Family Therapy involves including spouses, children, or other key family members in the therapeutic process. It operates on the understanding that a veteran's service impacts the entire family system.
The "client" is not just the veteran, but the family system itself. The core focus is on improving communication patterns, clarifying family roles that may have shifted during deployment, and increasing mutual support to improve the health of the entire unit.
A therapist facilitates sessions with you and your loved ones, acting as a neutral guide to improve communication and foster understanding. The goal is to create a shared language for the family's experience and to strengthen the family as a cohesive team.
Expect a facilitated, respectful conversation where everyone has a chance to be heard. It provides a forum for spouses and children to express their own fears and frustrations in a constructive way. The therapist's role is to ensure balance and safety, not to assign blame or take sides.
Veterans whose transition struggles or PTSD symptoms are affecting their marriage and home life. Family Therapy is invaluable for families working to re-establish roles and intimacy after deployments or who need help navigating a loved one's recovery.
We see family as a veteran's most vital support unit. Our therapists are skilled in navigating the unique pressures on military families, helping you strengthen your "home team" so you can heal together.
Group Therapy brings veterans together in a guided setting to practice skills, process experiences, and build connection. It leverages the power of unit cohesion and peer accountability so you do not have to carry the load alone.
Groups help members normalize their experiences, learn by observing others, and strengthen core skills through live practice. The emphasis is on safety, structure, and mutual respect so every participant can contribute and grow.
Depending on your needs, you may participate in skills groups, process groups, or specialty tracks. Skills groups teach practical tools you can use immediately. Process groups focus on patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships as they emerge in real time. Specialty groups address shared experiences such as combat trauma, recovery, identity, and family systems.
Expect a focused agenda, clear guidelines, and a trained clinician who facilitates discussion and skill practice. You will be invited to share at your own pace, give and receive feedback, and complete between-session assignments that apply group learning to daily life.
Veterans who feel isolated, want stronger relationship skills, or need steady support while working on PTSD, depression, anxiety, or recovery goals. Group Therapy is especially effective for practicing communication, boundaries, and emotion regulation in a safe environment.
We offer a comprehensive menu of groups, including DBT Skills, Seeking Safety, Interpersonal Skills, Family Systems, Life Skills and Planning, Identity and Self, Women Veterans, and Combat Veterans groups. Clinicians coordinate your group plan with your individual therapy so what you learn in the room translates into daily readiness and resilience.
Integrative Psychotherapy is a unified and flexible approach that brings together elements from different therapeutic models. Rather than a one-size-fits-all method, this approach respects that each veteran's journey is unique and may involve complex, overlapping challenges like combat trauma, moral injury, and transition stress that do not fit neatly into one therapeutic box. It requires a customized plan of action that draws from the most effective, evidence-based techniques.
The core belief is that no single theory holds all the answers. Healing is promoted by finding the right combination of therapeutic strategies that best fit the individual veteran's personality, needs, and goals. The therapeutic relationship is seen as a primary vehicle for healing.
Your clinician skillfully blends techniques from different, evidence-based models to create a cohesive treatment plan. For example, they might use the practical, skill-building tools of CBT to manage immediate anxiety symptoms, while simultaneously using Relational Therapy to explore underlying issues of trust and connection that arose from your service.
Expect a collaborative and evolving conversation. The first sessions are dedicated to building a strong therapeutic alliance and understanding your unique story. As your needs change, the therapeutic approach may shift, always with your input and understanding. Your therapy will feel personalized and responsive, not like a rigid protocol.
Veterans with complex challenges, co-occurring conditions (like PTSD and substance use), or those who haven't found success with a single therapeutic model often thrive with this approach.
This integrative model is the cornerstone of our philosophy. Our clinicians are trained in multiple modalities, allowing them to create a truly personalized treatment plan that honors the full scope of your experience.
Instinctual Trauma Response is a body-based, or "somatic," approach that focuses on the body's instinctual reactions to trauma (fight, flight, or freeze). This approach addresses the physiological imprint of trauma—the state of being "stuck on patrol"—that is stored in the nervous system.
This therapy is based on the principle that trauma's energy gets "stuck" in the body when our natural survival responses are thwarted or cannot be completed. Healing occurs by allowing the body to gently process and "complete" these instinctual responses in a safe environment.
Instinctual Trauma Response goes beyond just talking. It uses gentle techniques like mindfulness of bodily sensations to help your nervous system discharge this stored survival energy, regulate itself, and return to a state of calm and balance.
Expect a quieter, more internal experience focused on building a sense of safety in your own skin. The focus will be on noticing bodily sensations (like tension, warmth, or tingling) with your therapist as a guide. It may involve simple, gentle movements or mindfulness exercises, but it is not a physical workout.
This therapy is essential for veterans who feel perpetually "stuck" on high-alert (hypervigilance) or, conversely, feel numb and disconnected (dissociation). It is highly effective for physical symptoms like chronic muscle tension, an exaggerated startle response, and digestive issues that are linked to trauma.
Our clinicians are trained to recognize how trauma lives in the body. We integrate these somatic techniques to address the "bottom-up" physiological drivers of trauma, helping your nervous system finally stand down from its guard post so you can feel at ease.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy is a courageous, evidence-based therapy that helps veterans reduce the fear and anxiety linked to their traumatic memories. Like CPT and EMDR, PE is designated as a gold-standard, first-line treatment for PTSD by the APA and VA.
PE is rooted in learning theory: avoidance maintains fear, while exposure reduces it. The therapy works by repeatedly and safely "sounding the false alarm" (the memory or situation) until your brain and body learn that the threat is no longer real and the physiological state of high alert can be turned off.
Guided by a trusted clinician, PE involves two main parts: imaginal exposure (retelling the trauma narrative in-session to process the memory) and in vivo exposure (creating a hierarchy of feared but safe situations to gradually approach as "homework" in the real world)
Expect a courageous mission with a trusted guide. Your first sessions are dedicated to education and learning breathing techniques to manage anxiety. You will never be forced to confront anything before you are fully prepared and have collaboratively agreed on the next step in your mission.
PE is highly effective for veterans with PTSD whose primary symptom is avoidance; those who find their world has "shrunk" as they actively stay away from people, places, and activities that remind them of their trauma.
We view PE as a guided mission. Your therapist acts as your trusted partner, ensuring you are never overwhelmed. We create a controlled, supportive environment where you can systematically and safely reclaim the life you've been missing.
Relational Therapy is an approach that focuses on the profound impact that relationships have on our well-being. For veterans, it provides a crucial space to navigate the shift from military relationships defined by rank and role to civilian connections based on mutual vulnerability and authenticity.
Relational Therapy is based on the belief that emotional well-being is intrinsically tied to the quality of our relationships. It posits that healing from past relational wounds happens within the context of a new, healthy, and authentic therapeutic relationship where the therapist is an engaged, active participant.
The core of this therapy is the relationship you build with your therapist. This connection becomes a safe "proving ground" to explore your patterns of interacting with others, helping you build new and more fulfilling connections in your life outside of therapy.
Expect a less structured and more exploratory conversation. The focus is often on the "here-and-now" interactions between you and your therapist, using your direct experience within the session as a powerful tool for insight and change.
Relational Therapy is ideal for veterans struggling with the transition to civilian life, feelings of isolation, challenges with trust and intimacy, or difficulties connecting with partners and family post-service.
Our therapists understand the power of military camaraderie and the pain of its loss. We use the therapeutic relationship to help you build new patterns of connection that honor your past while allowing for a more fulfilling future.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate brain circuits involved in mood regulation. TMS is FDA cleared for Major Depressive Disorder and certain protocols are cleared for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is medication free, outpatient, and requires no anesthesia.
Brief magnetic pulses induce small electrical currents that help underactive networks fire more efficiently. Repeated stimulation promotes synaptic plasticity, which can restore healthier activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex and connected mood circuits.
A clinician maps treatment targets and calibrates your resting motor threshold to personalize intensity. Sessions typically occur five days per week for four to six weeks, followed by a taper. Protocols vary from standard high frequency to intermittent theta burst. Session length ranges from about 3 to 20 minutes depending on the protocol and device.
You sit awake in a comfortable chair while a coil rests against your scalp. You will feel tapping sensations at the treatment site. Most people resume normal activities immediately after. Common short term effects include scalp discomfort or mild headache that usually lessen over time.
Veterans with depression that has not responded to medications or who prefer a nonpharmacologic option. TMS may also reduce anxiety symptoms and help with aspects of PTSD for some individuals when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. TMS is not appropriate for people with certain implanted medical devices or metal in or near the head. Your team will review safety criteria before starting.
TMS is delivered by trained technicians under psychiatric supervision with careful target mapping, dose calibration, and progress tracking. We integrate TMS with psychotherapy and skills training so clinical gains generalize to daily life. Your plan includes baseline and ongoing measures, collaborative adjustments to protocol when indicated, and a structured taper to sustain improvement.
Intensive trauma work requires a comprehensive approach. While our evidence-based therapies address the psychological wounds of service, our holistic modalities are designed to heal the physical and spiritual aspects of the self. Trauma, stress, and hypervigilance are not just stored in the mind; they live in the body.
These complementary therapies are crucial for regulating the nervous system, reconnecting with the physical self, and providing non-verbal pathways to process experiences that words alone cannot reach. Each modality is a vital tool for rebuilding a sense of safety, purpose, and inner peace.
Aquatic-Based Therapy utilizes the unique, healing properties of water to provide a safe and supportive environment for processing trauma and calming the nervous system. Veterans can experience a profound sense of peace and physical release that is difficult to achieve on land.
The therapy is based on the principles of buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and gentle resistance. Buoyancy lessens the force of gravity, reducing physical pain and stress. Hydrostatic pressure provides a calming, swaddling sensation that can decrease anxiety and sensory overload.
A trained therapist guides you through gentle movements, stretching, and breathwork in a heated pool. The focus is on mindful movement and relaxation, using the water to support your body and calm your mind, which creates an ideal state for processing difficult emotions.
Expect a quiet, private, and deeply relaxing experience. This is not a swimming lesson or strenuous exercise. Sessions are slow-paced, focused entirely on your comfort and feeling of safety, allowing your body's "fight-or-flight" response to stand down.
This therapy is exceptionally beneficial for veterans with co-occurring chronic pain, high levels of hypervigilance (the water provides a containing, safe feeling), and those who struggle with grounding techniques.
We believe in providing our veterans with access to the best possible care. We chose to partner with Healing Wave Aquatic because of their unparalleled expertise and their exclusive focus on the military community. Your aquatic therapy is not an add-on; it is a seamlessly integrated and vital component of your personalized Solara treatment plan, prescribed and monitored by your clinical team.
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the creative process to express and explore emotions that are often too complex or painful for words. For veterans, it provides a powerful, non-verbal outlet to process combat experiences, moral injury, and grief when a direct, verbal approach is challenging.
The foundational principle is that the creative process can be healing and life-enhancing. Art Therapy bypasses the verbal centers of the brain that can be impacted by trauma, allowing for a more direct form of emotional expression. The process of creation is more important than the final product.
In a session led by a registered art therapist, you will be invited to use various materials like paint, clay, or charcoal. You may be given a prompt related to your therapeutic goals or be free to create whatever you wish, later exploring the process and product with your therapist to gain insight.
Expect a session that feels more like an art studio than a clinical office. No artistic talent or experience is required. Your therapist is a supportive guide, not an art critic, focused on providing a non-judgmental space for you to explore and express yourself.
Veterans who find it difficult to talk about their experiences, those who feel emotionally "numb" or disconnected, and anyone looking for a new, insightful way to understand their inner world.
Our Art Therapy program is facilitated by Art Therapists who integrate these sessions directly into your overall clinical treatment plan, ensuring the insights gained translate into your primary therapy work.
Biofeedback is a cutting-edge therapy that uses technology to give you direct "intel" on your body's physiological state, empowering you to gain conscious control over processes that are normally involuntary, such as heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension.
Biofeedback is based on the principle that by making unconscious physiological processes visible and understandable, we can learn to control them. This process of learning and control, known as operant conditioning, builds a profound sense of self-efficacy and self-regulation.
Gentle sensors are placed on your skin to measure biological signals like Heart Rate Variability (HRV), skin temperature, or the electrical activity in muscles. These signals are displayed on a screen in real-time, often as a graph or a simple game. Your therapist then teaches you techniques, like diaphragmatic breathing, to directly influence these signals.
Expect a calm, focused session that feels like a high-tech, guided meditation. You will be seated comfortably, observing the feedback on the screen and practicing the techniques. It is a painless, non-invasive, and empowering process of learning your body's language.
Biofeedback is extremely effective for veterans struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, hypervigilance, and stress-related physical symptoms like tension headaches, as it directly trains the nervous system to shift out of a state of high alert.
We utilize modern biofeedback technology as a key part of our integrative model, providing you with sophisticated, data-driven tools to take command of your own physiology and well-being.
Breathwork is the practice of using conscious, controlled breathing to influence your mental, emotional, and physical state. For a veteran, the breath is the most accessible and powerful tool for self-regulation—an internal resource you can deploy anywhere, anytime to regain your calm and composure.
The core principle is that the breath is the remote control for the nervous system. Specific breathing patterns can directly shift the autonomic nervous system from a sympathetic state (fight-or-flight) to a parasympathetic state (rest-and-digest), reducing stress hormones and promoting calm.
A trained facilitator guides you through specific, intentional breathing patterns. These can range from simple, calming techniques like "box breathing" (used by military and first responders) to more intensive, cathartic forms of breathwork designed to release stored emotional energy.
Expect a guided experience in a safe, comfortable setting, either individually or in a small group. You will be coached on the technique and supported throughout. The experience can be deeply relaxing or may bring emotions to the surface for release in a contained, therapeutic space.
Every veteran can benefit from breathwork. It is a foundational skill for managing in-the-moment anxiety, grounding yourself during a flashback or trigger, improving sleep, and increasing your overall resilience to stress.
We teach practical breathwork techniques as a core competency to all our clients. We believe in empowering you with tools that you can carry with you for the rest of your life, long after you leave our care.
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic plant extracts, known as essential oils, to promote physical and psychological well-being. It is a powerful tool for sensory grounding, mood management, and creating a healing environment.
The core principle is that our sense of smell has a direct pathway to the limbic system, the area of the brain that governs memory, emotion, and instinct. Because of this link, specific aromas can trigger immediate and powerful calming or uplifting physiological responses.
Major Depressive Disorder is a persistent condition that affects your mood, thoughts, and physical health. Symptoms may include deep sadness, apathy, difficulty concentrating, overwhelming guilt, disrupted sleep, and thoughts of death or self-harm. For veterans, MDD is often compounded by moral injury, grief, or a sense of lost identity after discharge. These symptoms can interfere with relationships, work, and day-to-day stability, especially when left unaddressed.
Expect to experience a more pleasant and intentionally curated sensory environment. A specific aroma, like lavender for calm or citrus for focus, might be used to create a positive atmosphere during a group or yoga session. You may also learn how to use certain oils yourself as an anchor to the present moment.
Aromatherapy is beneficial for veterans who are highly sensitive to their environment or those seeking simple, tangible tools to self-regulate their mood and manage moments of anxiety throughout the day.
We integrate aromatherapy as an element of our therapeutic milieu. It is part of how we create a calming and healing atmosphere at our facility and empower veterans with simple, accessible self-care tools for grounding and emotional regulation.
Horticulture Therapy is a practice that uses gardening and plant-based activities, guided by a therapist, to achieve therapeutic goals. Engaging with the natural cycles of growth provides powerful metaphors for patience, resilience, and nurturing life.
The therapy is based on the innate human need to connect with nature (biophilia). The act of tending to plants fosters mindfulness, reduces stress, and provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
In our therapeutic garden, a therapist guides veterans through mindful, hands-on activities like planting seeds, watering, weeding, and harvesting. The process is used to explore therapeutic themes, build frustration tolerance, and practice grounding skills.
Expect a hands-on, quiet, and meditative session outdoors. It's an opportunity to connect with the earth and focus on a tangible task. You can expect to get your hands dirty and to see the direct results of your care and effort over time.
This therapy is excellent for veterans struggling with depression, anxiety, and a need for grounding. It is particularly beneficial for those who find purpose and peace in concrete, life-affirming tasks.
Our on-site therapeutic garden is a unique and vital part of our healing environment. We leverage the beautiful Florida climate to offer this grounding therapy year-round as a complement to your clinical work.
Light and Sound Therapy is a modern, passive modality that uses specific, synchronized frequencies of light and sound to gently guide the brain toward a state of deep relaxation and calm. It is a powerful tool for helping a hypervigilant nervous system stand down and enter a restorative state.
The therapy is based on the principle of brainwave entrainment, a natural phenomenon where the brain’s electrical activity synchronizes with the rhythm of external stimuli. Pulsing lights and sounds encourage the brain to shift from an alert, active state to a more relaxed, meditative one.
A veteran rests comfortably in a chair while wearing special glasses and headphones. The system delivers carefully composed patterns of light and sound, creating an immersive experience that helps quiet mental chatter and reduce feelings of being on edge.
Expect a passive, effortless, and deeply relaxing experience. You simply sit or lie back with your eyes closed and let the technology work. Many veterans report seeing complex, beautiful geometric patterns and feel as though they have entered a deep meditation without conscious effort.
This therapy is highly effective for veterans struggling with anxiety, racing thoughts, insomnia, and the inability to "turn off" their tactical mind. It is an excellent tool for those who find traditional, active meditation challenging.
We utilize Light and Sound Therapy as a cutting-edge tool to help veterans access profound states of rest. This deep relaxation can accelerate recovery by enhancing focus and making clients more receptive to their clinical therapy sessions.
Meditation is the practice of developing focused attention and awareness. For veterans, it is a form of mental training, much like physical training, designed to strengthen the mind's ability to observe thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them, leading to increased calmness and psychological flexibility.
The core principle is that by regularly and intentionally placing your attention on a single point of focus, like the breath, you can create a space between an external trigger and your internal reaction. This practice cultivates mindfulness, the ability to be fully present in the here and now.
A skilled facilitator guides veterans through various meditation techniques. These may include focused-attention meditation on the breath, body-scan meditations to increase physical awareness, and loving-kindness meditation to cultivate self-compassion and goodwill toward others.
Expect a guided experience in a quiet, comfortable setting. The goal is not to "empty the mind," but to practice gently redirecting your focus back to your chosen anchor each time the mind wanders. It is a practice of patience and self-discipline, not perfection.
Meditation is a foundational skill for veterans dealing with anxiety, rumination (replaying events), anger, and the need to develop greater emotional control and self-awareness.
We integrate meditation as a core competency throughout our program. We believe in empowering every veteran with this lifelong skill, providing a powerful tool for maintaining balance and resilience long after treatment is complete.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of where you are and what you’re doing, without becoming overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around you. For veterans, mindfulness can be thought of as "situational awareness" for your inner world. It is the fundamental skill of shifting from being on autopilot, driven by past events or future worries, to being in conscious command of the present moment.
The practice is founded on two key principles: awareness and non-judgment. The first part involves intentionally paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. The second, and equally important part, is to observe these things without criticism or the immediate urge to fix or suppress them.
While mindfulness is strengthened through formal meditation practices, its real power comes from its application in everyday life. This can be as simple as mindful walking, where you focus on the sensation of your feet on the ground, or mindful eating, where you pay full attention to the taste and texture of your food. The goal is to integrate this present-moment awareness into all of your daily activities.
Expect mindfulness to be a skill that is woven into almost every aspect of your treatment at Solara. A therapist may begin a session with a short mindfulness exercise to help you become grounded and present. In CBT, you might use mindfulness to notice the exact moment a negative thought pattern begins, giving you the power to intervene.
Mindfulness is a foundational skill that benefits every veteran. It is especially powerful for those who feel disconnected from their lives, run by their emotions, or constantly replaying past events. It directly helps to reduce reactivity to triggers, decrease rumination, improve focus, and enhance appreciation for simple, positive moments.
We see mindfulness not just as another therapy, but as the underlying operating system for all successful recovery work. Our goal is to equip every veteran with this essential skill, empowering you to become your own best resource for managing stress and staying grounded, both during treatment and for the rest of your life.
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and deep relaxation that also promotes healing. It is a gentle, energy-based modality used as a complementary therapy to support a veteran's overall sense of peace and well-being during their treatment journey.
Reiki is based on the principle that a trained practitioner can act as a channel for universal life force energy. The goal is to deliver this energy to a recipient to help clear energetic blockages and support the body's own innate healing abilities, restoring a sense of balance.
A veteran lies fully clothed and comfortable on a massage table. The certified Reiki practitioner then gently places their hands either on or slightly above specific, non-intrusive points on the body, holding each position for several minutes to facilitate relaxation.
Expect a profoundly peaceful and restorative session. It is a completely non-invasive and gentle practice. Many people report feeling sensations of warmth, coolness, or gentle tingling, while others drift into a light, restful sleep.
Reiki is especially helpful for veterans struggling with high levels of stress, physical tension, and anxiety. It is an excellent option for those who have difficulty relaxing or who are seeking a gentle, non-verbal form of comfort and care.
We offer Reiki as a supportive component of our holistic care plan. Its ability to induce deep relaxation can help lower barriers to clinical therapy and support the nervous system, making the entire healing process more effective.
Yoga is a specialized practice designed to help individuals reclaim a sense of safety and empowerment in their own bodies. Unlike a fitness-focused yoga class, this practice is a gentle, mindful process of reconnecting the mind and body, which are often disconnected by trauma.
The practice is founded on choice, interception (internal self-awareness), and non-judgment. The goal is not to achieve a perfect pose, but to explore what feels right and safe for your own body in the present moment.
Gentle movements (asanas) are linked with breath (pranayama) to create a moving meditation. Our teachers will never push veterans past their physical or emotional comfort zones; instead, they encourage veterans to listen to their bodies and recognize those limits as they arise. To support this, the instructor uses invitational language (e.g., "If it feels right for you, you might try...") to ensure that every choice is your own.
Expect a quiet, calm, and supportive class. The lights may be dimmed, and the focus will be entirely on your internal experience—how the movements and breath feel to you, not how they look to others.
Veterans with PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain find this practice invaluable. It directly addresses the physical "armor" of trauma, helps regulate a hyper-aroused nervous system, and provides powerful grounding skills.
All yoga offered at Solara is trauma-informed and led by certified instructors who understand the veteran experience. We provide a safe space for you to listen to your body and rediscover it as a place of strength and peace
While individual therapy is essential for deep personal work, we believe that true, lasting healing happens in connection with others. For veterans, the power of peer support cannot be overstated.
Our Groups Therapy tracks are professionally-facilitated, confidential sessions where you can share your experiences, challenges, and successes with fellow veterans who truly understand.
In these groups, you will break through the isolation that often accompanies trauma, discover that you are not alone in your struggles, and practice the skills you’re learning in a safe, supportive social context. This is where camaraderie is reforged for the mission of recovery.
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This group teaches practical skills to manage the hypervigilance and anxiety that are often a direct result of military training and traumatic experiences. It focuses on recalibrating the body's internal alarm system, which was once adaptive for survival but has become maladaptive in civilian life.
The core principles are that anxiety is a physiological process that can be managed with specific tools, and that understanding the "why" behind your anxiety reduces its power and fear factor.
This group combines psychoeducation about the autonomic nervous system with the direct practice of management skills. Veterans learn and rehearse grounding techniques, various breathing exercises, and cognitive reframing of anxious thoughts.
Expect a skill-building session that feels like a practical training workshop. You will learn and practice tangible tools for managing anxiety in the moment, sharing successes and challenges with peers who are working on the same skills.
Veterans dealing with generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, or the constant, exhausting feeling of being "on edge" and waiting for a threat.
We focus on providing every veteran with a "toolkit" of proven anxiety management skills, giving them a greater sense of command over their own physiology and emotional state
This is an exclusive and protected space reserved for veterans who have shared the life-altering experience of combat. It is a group built on the bedrock of mutual respect and an unspoken understanding of what it means to have served in a war zone, an experience that is often impossible to explain to those who were not there.
The group is founded on the principles of shared identity and mutual trust. The core belief is that healing from the unique wounds of combat is most effective in the company of others who carry the same burden and understand the same unwritten rules of service.
In this facilitated group, veterans are free to share experiences, challenges, and successes related to their combat service and its aftermath. The clinician guides the conversation to be productive, safe, and focused on healing, not just recounting events.
Expect a session where you do not need to explain the basics of your experience. Expect raw honesty, dark humor, deep camaraderie, and a place to unburden yourself without fear of judgment. It is a space to process things you cannot discuss anywhere else.
This group is specifically for any veteran, from any branch or era of service, who has been deployed to a combat zone.
We hold this group as a sacred space. Sessions are kept small to foster trust and are always led by clinicians with deep expertise in combat trauma and military culture. Confidentiality is absolute and strictly enforced.
This group focuses on the unique and powerful pressures that military service places on family relationships. The cycles of deployment and reintegration, the "mission first" mindset, and the unspoken rules of military life all have a profound impact on how veterans connect with their spouses, children, and parents.
The core principle is that family is a system, and the patterns of communication and behavior we learn in our family of origin often repeat in our current relationships. Understanding these patterns is the first step to changing them for the better.
In this group, veterans explore their roles within their families, both past and present. They discuss communication styles, explore challenges in reconnecting with loved ones, and learn skills for building healthier, more resilient family relationships.
Expect an exploratory and insightful session focused on relationships. You will learn from the experiences of your peers, gaining a new perspective on your own family dynamics and learning practical communication tools.
Veterans who are struggling with marital conflict, experiencing difficulties in parenting, or feeling disconnected from family members after transitioning to civilian life.
We view this group as a proactive way to strengthen a veteran's most important support system. Our facilitators guide veterans to build the healthy family life they want and deserve.
The Gender and Sexuality Group is an affirming space for veterans to explore identity, intimacy, and relationships with clarity and confidence. The focus is on safety, self-understanding, and building skills to navigate real-world challenges.
Minority stress, stigma, and trauma can shape beliefs about self and others. This group builds resilience by normalizing experience, strengthening self-advocacy, and improving communication in families, partnerships, and workplaces.
Guided discussions and skills practice address identity development, boundaries, consent, dating, partnered intimacy, family conversations, and navigating health systems. Content integrates CBT, DBT interpersonal skills, and psychoeducation.
Expect clear agreements for confidentiality and respect, structured topics, and optional personal sharing. You will practice language for difficult conversations, role-play real scenarios, and receive supportive peer feedback.
Veterans who want an affirming peer community to process identity, strengthen relationships, and reduce anxiety, shame, or isolation related to gender or sexuality.
Clinicians with LGBTQ+ cultural fluency lead the group. Care plans coordinate with individual therapy and, when helpful, Family Therapy to improve support at home and in the community.
This group provides a compassionate space to process the profound and often complex grief experienced by veterans. Grief in this context extends beyond the loss of a comrade to include the loss of identity, purpose, mission, and the life one expected to have after service.
The core beliefs are that grief is a natural process, not a problem to be solved, and that sharing the burden makes it lighter. Witnessing the grief of another veteran serves to validate one's own feelings, reducing isolation and shame.
Members share stories of their losses in a supportive and empathetic environment. The group collectively explores healthy coping mechanisms, ways to honor what was lost, and strategies for finding new meaning in life after loss.
Expect a somber, respectful, yet hopeful space where it is safe to be vulnerable. It is a place where it is okay to not be okay. Expect to both offer and receive a profound level of support from your peers.
Veterans grieving the death of a fellow service member, as well as those navigating the significant, non-death-related losses that come with military transition.
Our facilitators are trained specifically in grief counseling and the unique nature of veteran grief. They create a safe container where all forms of loss are honored, respected, and processed with dignity.
The Interpersonal Skills Group helps veterans communicate clearly, set boundaries, and repair trust. You will learn practical tools to reduce conflict and build stronger relationships.
Effective communication is a trainable skill. By aligning words, tone, and behavior, you can ask for what you need, say no when needed, and protect relationships that matter.
You will learn and rehearse concrete frameworks drawn from DBT Interpersonal Effectiveness and CBT, including assertive requests, boundary scripts, and repair conversations.
Expect short teaching segments, live role-plays, and rapid feedback. Between sessions, you will apply one skill in a real conversation and debrief your results.
Veterans experiencing frequent conflict, people-pleasing, shutdowns during arguments, or difficulty asking for help.
We integrate group practice with your individual goals. Clinicians coordinate with your therapist so weekly skills map directly to situations at home, work, or school.
The Identity and Self Group helps veterans reconstruct a clear, values-driven sense of who they are today. Service, trauma, moral injury, and transition can blur identity. This group restores direction, purpose, and self-respect through guided practice and peer support.
Identity is built through action. By aligning daily choices with personal values, challenging the inner critic, and internalizing accurate feedback from trusted peers, you develop a durable self-concept that holds under stress.
You will map identity shifts from service to civilian life, identify the voice of the inner critic, and strengthen the inner coach. Core tools include values clarification, strengths inventories, compassionate self-talk scripts, and weekly “identity reps” that translate insight into behavior.
Expect a structured, supportive environment. Sessions include a short lesson, guided exercises, and live practice. Members act as mirrors for one another, naming strengths and progress that can be hard to see alone. Between sessions you will complete small, specific actions that reinforce your chosen identity.
Veterans who feel disconnected from who they were in uniform, struggle with shame or inadequacy, or want a clearer sense of purpose, belonging, and direction in civilian life.
Our facilitators guide this group to help veterans build a durable foundation of self-worth that is not dependent on external validation, which is essential for lasting recovery and a fulfilling post-service life.
This is a practical, "boots-on-the-ground" group focused on successfully navigating the challenges of civilian life. The skills required for success in the civilian world are often different from those that lead to success in the military, and this group is designed to bridge that gap.
The core principle is that effective, independent living requires a set of practical skills that can be learned, practiced, and mastered. Peer accountability and shared knowledge are key to reinforcing these skills during a major life transition.
This group functions as a psychoeducational and skill-building workshop. A facilitator leads discussions and exercises on concrete topics relevant to post-service life, such as financial literacy, vocational planning, effective communication, and nutrition.
Expect a practical, interactive workshop. You will learn concrete strategies and tools from both the facilitator and the shared experience of your peers that you can apply immediately to improve your day-to-day life.
All veterans, especially those who are early in their transition from military to civilian life or who feel overwhelmed by the daily logistics of managing their health, finances, and career path.
We see this group as an essential component of care, ensuring that the personal gains made in therapy are translated into real-world success, stability, and independence.
The Mindfulness Group trains attention and nervous-system regulation so you can respond rather than react. Sessions emphasize simple, repeatable practices you can use anywhere.
Present-moment awareness reduces reactivity and supports emotion regulation. Training attention improves sleep, focus, and recovery from stress.
Expect guided practice, discussion of obstacles, and planning for daily micro-practices. No prior experience is required. Movements are optional and accessible.
Veterans with hypervigilance, irritability, sleep disturbance, or difficulty concentrating who want non-medication tools to steady the nervous system.
Mindfulness is integrated with CBT, DBT, and trauma therapies. We measure progress with brief symptom and sleep check-ins to tailor practice to your needs.
We see this group as an essential component of care, ensuring that the personal gains made in therapy are translated into real-world success, stability, and independence.
The Addiction Recovery Group provides structure, skills, and community for sustaining sobriety. The program addresses both substance use and the underlying drivers of use.
Recovery grows through connection, accountability, and practical relapse-prevention skills. We emphasize motivation, skills for craving management, and values-based living.
You will learn trigger mapping, coping plans, urge surfing, and sober routine design. The group aligns with individual therapy, psychiatry, and community supports.
Expect check-ins, skills training, and real-world planning for the week ahead. You will build a crisis plan, identify high-risk situations, and rehearse refusal skills.
Veterans in early recovery, returning to treatment after lapse, or seeking stronger relapse-prevention skills alongside care for PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
This group is led by clinicians who integrate evidence-based recovery skills with your individual treatment plan. We set weekly goals, rehearse relapse-prevention tools, and track progress over time.
Seeking Safety is a present-focused, evidence-based group for veterans with trauma and substance use challenges. The goal is to build safety in thinking, emotions, behavior, and relationships.
Safety first. No exposure to traumatic memories is required. The group teaches practical coping skills while addressing trauma and substance use at the same time.
Sessions follow a structured topic list such as grounding, setting boundaries in relationships, taking good care of yourself, and asking for help.
Expect a consistent format: check-in, topic teaching, skill practice, and commitments for the week. You choose how much to share. The focus stays on the present.
Veterans who want concrete tools for staying sober while reducing trauma-related symptoms like hyperarousal, avoidance, and emotional numbing.
Certified clinicians deliver Seeking Safety as part of an integrated plan with Addiction Recovery, CBT, and medication management when appropriate.
This group provides a dedicated space to work through two of the most difficult and often hidden wounds of service: shame and anger. These powerful emotions are frequently linked to moral injury, trauma, and loss, and can be corrosive to a veteran's well-being if left unaddressed.
The core beliefs are that shame thrives in secrecy and is dissolved by empathy, and that anger is often a secondary emotion protecting a more vulnerable feeling like hurt or fear. The group operates on the principle that these are normal human emotions that can be understood and managed constructively.
In a highly confidential space, veterans explore the roots of their shame and anger. The group works on identifying triggers, developing healthy and safe ways to express emotion, challenging self-critical narratives, and practicing self-compassion.
Expect an intense but deeply validating and relieving session. This is a place to explore powerful emotions with the support of peers who understand, creating a powerful sense of connection and unburdening.
Veterans struggling with what is often called "moral injury," explosive anger, constant irritability, or a pervasive and painful sense of being "broken" or "bad."
Our facilitators are specifically trained to create a space safe enough to handle these powerful emotions, guiding veterans toward understanding and constructive release rather than destructive behaviors.
Small Group Therapy offers deeper work in a tight-knit format, typically six or fewer participants. The size allows more time per person and closer guidance.
Intensity and focus improve outcomes. Smaller groups increase trust, accountability, and tailored feedback while preserving the benefits of peer support.
Curricula mirror our standard groups but with added individualization. Members set shared goals, select topics that match current challenges, and track progress weekly.
Expect longer shares, targeted skill rehearsal, and detailed feedback. Members often maintain the same cohort for a defined block to build cohesion.
Veterans who prefer a quieter setting, need focused coaching, or are preparing to transition from higher levels of care.
Admission is by clinical fit. We coordinate your Small Group track with individual therapy to accelerate specific goals and ensure continuity of care.
This is a life-affirming and hopeful group that is handled with the utmost care and sensitivity. The focus is on strengthening resilience and actively building reasons for living, rather than solely dwelling on crisis.
The group is founded on the principles that suicidal thoughts do not have to become actions, and that deep connection and a renewed sense of purpose are powerful antidotes to despair. The act of talking about these thoughts in a professionally moderated, safe space reduces their power and shame.
Facilitated by specially trained clinicians, the group focuses on developing advanced coping skills, co-creating detailed safety plans, identifying and expanding upon reasons for living, and fostering a strong, mutually protective peer support network.
Expect a highly structured, completely confidential, and exceptionally safe environment. The conversation is direct and honest, but always oriented toward hope, strength, and the collaborative goal of building a life that members experience as worth living.
Veterans who have struggled or are currently struggling with suicidal ideation and who are committed to building skills for a resilient future.
This group is a cornerstone of our commitment to the veteran community and is led by our most experienced clinicians specializing in suicidology. Safety and hope are the unshakable foundations of every session.
The Therapeutic Writing Group uses guided, trauma-informed writing to process experience, clarify values, and strengthen meaning and purpose.
Writing organizes memory, reduces avoidance, and increases self-compassion. Putting words to experience creates distance and choice.
You will use short prompts for reflection, values clarification, and future-self planning. Optional sharing invites perspective and connection while protecting boundaries.
Expect timed writing, debrief, and gentle coaching on language that supports healing. You control what you share. No prior writing experience is needed.
Veterans who feel stuck, have trouble finding words in talk therapy, or want a structured way to explore grief, moral injury, or transition.
Facilitators blend CBT and narrative techniques with mindfulness and grounding. Writing assignments align with your individual treatment goals.
This is a core therapeutic group for veterans to process the impact of trauma in a professionally-facilitated peer setting. This group is inclusive of all traumatic experiences, including combat, military sexual trauma (MST), childhood events, and other life-altering incidents.
The group is founded on the healing power of universality, the experience of realizing "I am not alone." Witnessing others heal provides hope, and a group can safely contain and process emotions that feel too overwhelming for one person to hold.
The group explores how past trauma impacts present-day life, including relationships, self-perception, and physical well-being. Members share their experiences as they feel comfortable, offering support and validation under the guidance of a trauma specialist.
Expect a confidential and supportive environment focused on healing the impact of trauma, not on re-living graphic details. You will never be forced to share. The focus is on understanding your symptoms and building skills for a better future.
Any veteran whose life is being negatively impacted by the symptoms of past traumatic experiences, regardless of the source of that trauma.
Our Trauma Groups are kept small and are "closed," meaning the members remain consistent to build the highest level of trust and safety. They are always led by a clinician specializing in trauma-informed care.
This group provides an exclusive, safe, and supportive space for women veterans to connect and heal. We recognize that the experiences of women in the military are unique and warrant their own dedicated environment, free from the dynamics that can be present in co-ed military settings.
The group is founded on the power of shared identity and experience. The core principle is that providing a space free from the male-dominated dynamic of many military environments allows for a different, often deeper, level of openness and vulnerability.
This confidential forum allows women veterans to discuss issues specific to their service. Topics often include the challenges of MST, navigating military culture as a woman, leadership, and balancing military and family identities.
Expect a session defined by sisterhood, mutual respect, and powerful validation. It is a place to connect with other women who understand the specific challenges and triumphs of your military service without needing to explain or justify your experience.
All women veterans in our program who seek the unique support, understanding, and camaraderie that comes from a peer group of fellow women service members.
We are deeply committed to providing an empowering space for our women veterans. This group is always facilitated by a female clinician who is experienced in the specific needs and clinical issues relevant to this community.