Specialized Trauma and Addiction Treatment for Active Military, Veteran, and First Responders
A Specialized Program for Those Who Serve
Unbroken at The Meadows™ is a specialized, evidence-based treatment program designed exclusively for active-duty military, veterans, and public safety professionals experiencing post-traumatic stress injuries and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Recognizing the unique cultural, occupational, and operational demands placed on those who serve, Unbroken provides care within a secure, mission-informed therapeutic environment that promotes trust, confidentiality, and peer connection.
The program addresses post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and related trauma-based conditions while simultaneously and safely treating alcohol or other drug use when present. Through an integrated, whole-person approach, participants engage in trauma-focused clinical care that honors their service, builds upon their strengths, and supports long-term recovery.
What We Treat
Unbroken addresses the complex and often overlapping challenges common among military and first responder populations, including:
- Post-traumatic stress and complex trauma
- Depression, anxiety, moral injury / betrayal trauma
- Alcohol and substance use disorders
- Chronic stress, burnout, and emotional numbing
- Co-occurring issues related to pain, sleep, and physical strain
- Trauma related to combat exposure, line-of-duty incidents, or sexual assault
- The cumulative effects of stacked trauma, including adverse childhood experiences
Care is grounded in the understanding that symptoms are not signs of weakness, but responses to what has happened over time. Treatment focuses on addressing both visible symptoms and the underlying neurobiological and emotional patterns.
How We Treat
Care through Unbroken is individualized and trauma-focused, with attention to the unique experiences and needs of military members, veterans, and first responders. Participants receive the same comprehensive clinical care offered across The Meadows, integrated into the larger treatment program, with additional programming shaped to reflect service-driven roles, identities, and stressors.
Treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment and screening to determine the most appropriate level of care. From there, participants engage in a clinician-directed, personalized treatment plan integrating:
- Skill-building for long-term stability
- Trauma-focused therapy
- Addiction treatment when needed
- Neuroscience-informed interventions
Key Elements of Unbroken Treatment
Cultural Competency Alongside Clinical Excellence
Care is delivered with respect for military and first responder cultures, including language, context, and understanding of duty, identity, and responsibility. Our treatment teams have specialized experience in working with military and first responder populations and understand the realities of service, exposure, and operational stress.
Trauma-Focused, Evidence-Based Care
Treatment addresses unresolved trauma from childhood, service-related experiences, betrayal, or moral injury, while supporting the development of sustainable, healthy coping skills.
Neuroscience-Informed Care
Unbroken integrates therapies from The Meadows Brain Center to support nervous system regulation and emotional resilience. Modalities may include neurofeedback, biofeedback, EMDR, and other brain-based interventions designed to help participants process trauma, manage stress, and rebuild physiological and emotional regulation.
Restoration, Repair, and Healing
Care focuses on processing lived experiences, restoring safety and trust, and reconnecting participants with themselves, their relationships, and life beyond treatment.
Peer Connection and Support
Participants engage with others who share service backgrounds, fostering trust, mutual understanding, and support, complementing their individualized care and broader treatment experience.
Whole-Person Support Grounded in The Meadows Approach to Care
Unbroken reflects The Meadows Approach to Care, addressing mind, body, and spirit. Includes a connected continuum of aftercare planning, case management, and access to a robust alumni community to support ongoing recovery.
Residential Unbroken Treatment
Residential Unbroken Treatment Near You
Our residential unbroken treatment centers provide intensive, daily support in a structured environment. This option is ideal for those who need focused care to start their recovery journey.
Outpatient Unbroken Treatment
Outpatient Unbroken Treatment Near You
Receive expert support while continuing with your daily responsibilities, ensuring you stay on track toward recovery. Explore our 8-week intensive outpatient programs.
Our Outpatient Unbroken Treatment Centers
Modalities and Therapeutic Activities
Unbroken utilizes a range of therapeutic modalities and interventions supporting participants in addressing trauma, substance use, and related challenges while fostering coping skills, resilience, and reconnection to self, relationships, and daily life.
Participants may engage in a range of evidence-based modalities tailored to their needs, including:
- Trauma-focused individual therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training
- Group therapy with peers who share service backgrounds
- Experiential therapies such as equine-assisted therapy, art therapy, or outdoor experiential exercises
- Mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques
- Family work and systemic support
- Case management and life-skills coaching
- Physical wellness and movement-based programming
- Psychoeducation tailored to military and first responder experiences
- Nutritional Support
- Neurofeedback using research-informed protocols to support nervous system regulation and brain-based healing
- EMDR and other bilateral stimulation approaches informed by trauma neuroscience
- Biofeedback to increase awareness of physiological stress responses and strengthen self-regulation
- Additional brain-based interventions designed to support emotional regulation, sleep, and stress recovery
The Meadows Brain Center
The Meadows Brain Center uses neuroscience-based therapies to strengthen the connection between brain and body and support nervous system regulation. These interventions are informed by research in trauma, neuroplasticity, and stress physiology, translating brain science into practical, effective clinical care.
Modalities like neurofeedback help “retrain” the brain, creating healthier pathways that support recovery from trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges. By targeting the autonomic nervous system, which governs sleep, digestion, heart rate, and the stress response, these therapies help restore balance, resilience, and overall functioning, promoting self-regulation, emotional and physiological well-being, and whole-person, trauma-focused healing.
Restoring Strength, Stability, and Purpose
Unbroken is built on the belief that those who dedicate their lives to protecting others deserve care that truly understands the weight they carry.
By addressing trauma and substance use together, honoring service-driven identities, and supporting reintegration into daily life, Unbroken helps participants return to families, careers, and communities with clarity, coping skills, and a restored connection to purpose.
At The Meadows, protecting the protectors™ means more than treating symptoms. It means helping people move forward whole.
Veteran Ready Organization Certified
The Meadows is proud to be recognized as a Veteran Ready Organization, a designation that reflects our commitment to understanding and serving the unique needs of veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families. Through specialized training and education, our team has strengthened our understanding of military culture, the challenges associated with service and transition, and the strengths that veterans bring to treatment and recovery.
BEING A VETERAN READY ORGANIZATION MEANS:
- Our staff has received training on military culture and the veteran experience.
- We understand the unique challenges that can accompany military service, deployment, transition, and family life.
- We recognize the strengths, resilience, and leadership veterans bring to treatment and recovery.
- We strive to create an environment where veterans and military families feel understood, respected, and supported.
- We are committed to delivering culturally competent care tailored to the needs of the military-connected community.
Program Leadership
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Bill Reynolds, PA-C
Psychiatric Provider & Program Leader, Unbroken
Read MoreBill Reynolds is an experienced psychiatric provider and program leader with a 30-year U.S. Navy career and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. During his Navy service, Bill worked in diverse operational environments, including submarine duty, supporting the U.S. Marine Corps in combat, and serving as the medical officer for a U.S. Navy SEAL Team. He brings firsthand understanding of the challenges of military service and years of experience working with first responder communities, along with deep expertise in mental health care, addiction medicine, post-traumatic stress, and military leadership.
As the founder and architect of highly regarded programs for active-duty military, veterans, and first responders, Bill combines clinical skill with operational and leadership experience in high-pressure environments. At The Meadows, he provides both clinical and strategic leadership, guiding program development and care with a focus on respect for service, cultural insight, and lasting recovery.
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Dr. Aaron Wilson
Chief Medical Officer
Read MoreDr. Aaron Wilson brings extensive expertise in the treatment of trauma, addiction, and complex co-occurring psychiatric conditions, with particular relevance to military, veteran, and first responder populations. Board certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Dr. Wilson has led medical and psychiatric services at nationally recognized treatment centers, shaping evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches for individuals impacted by high-stress and service-driven roles. His clinical leadership emphasizes diagnostic clarity, integrated care, and multidisciplinary collaboration to support long-term recovery for those exposed to repeated trauma and operational stress.
In Collaboration with
Sentinel Resilience Solutions
The Meadows has partnered with Sentinel Resilience Solutions, founded by Bill Mazur and Joe Collins, both retired law enforcement officers with extensive experience in public safety and behavioral health. Sentinel Resilience works closely with our team, providing guidance on program development, cultural competence, and strategic planning, helping ensure Unbroken delivers the highest-quality care for those who serve.
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Military, Veteran & First Responder Treatment FAQs
What mental health conditions commonly affect military members, veterans, and first responders?
Military service members, veterans, and first responders may experience post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, moral injury, burnout, sleep difficulties, substance use, and other challenges related to repeated or high-intensity stress. Symptoms can develop after a single traumatic event or from the cumulative effects of service, occupational exposure, childhood trauma, and other life experiences.
How does treatment for veterans and first responders differ from general mental health treatment?
Effective treatment considers the culture, language, responsibilities, and experiences associated with military service and public safety work. At The Meadows, care combines comprehensive trauma and addiction treatment with programming designed to address service-related experiences, occupational stress, identity, peer connection, and the transition back to family, work, and daily life.
Can PTSD and substance use be treated at the same time?
Yes. Trauma symptoms and substance use frequently overlap and should be addressed together when both are present. Integrated treatment helps individuals understand the connection between trauma, emotional regulation, coping behaviors, and substance use while developing healthier strategies for long-term recovery.
What levels of care are available for military members, veterans, and first responders?
The Meadows offers residential, outpatient, and virtual treatment options based on each person’s clinical needs, responsibilities, and recovery goals. A comprehensive assessment helps determine the most appropriate level of care and whether treatment should include trauma therapy, addiction services, psychiatric support, family involvement, or neuroscience-informed interventions.
Where can military members, veterans, first responders, and their families find additional support?
The Meadows has developed a comprehensive military, veteran, and first responder resource page with crisis support, peer programs, family services, career and housing assistance, veteran benefits resources, service dog organizations, and profession-specific support for firefighters, law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, and other public safety professionals.
Additional Resources for Those Who Serve
Treatment is one part of a broader support system. Explore trusted national resources for veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, healthcare professionals, and their families, including crisis support, peer connections, career and housing assistance, benefits advocacy, family services, and profession-specific wellness resources.
Find Recovery Here
Reach out to our admissions team to learn more about treatment options and take the first step toward recovery.