HELM Recovery
Navigating Healing Together.
For Veterans
A program built by a veteran, for veterans.
HELM Recovery is a structured 16-week telehealth IOP designed specifically for California veterans living with substance use challenges and co-occurring PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
If your life feels unpredictable, overwhelming, or out of rhythm — you’re not broken. You just need a system that works.
This program was built by a Navy Chief who lived through PTSD, alcohol use, deployments, and the transition home. HELM isn’t theory. It’s structure, accountability, and skills you can use immediately.
Veteran Culture Guarantee
At HELM Recovery, you never have to explain military culture. We don’t judge. We don’t lecture. We don’t talk in circles. We operate with the same structure, clarity, and discipline that defined your service.
This is a program built by a veteran, for veterans — with an approach grounded in respect, routine, and mission-focused support.
What This Program Helps With
You’re in the right place if you’re dealing with:
Substance use (alcohol or drugs)
PTSD or trauma-related symptoms
Anxiety or stress you can’t turn off
Trouble sleeping or staying focused
Feeling disconnected from family or mission
Isolation after leaving the service
Lack of structure or routine
Losing motivation or direction
Difficulty managing emotions or triggers
If any of this sounds familiar, HELM Recovery gives you the tools — and the structure — to rebuild.
Transitioning Out? HELM Is Built for That.
Leaving active duty can disrupt everything — your routine, your identity, your mission, and your sense of stability. For many veterans, this transition brings stress, anxiety, alcohol use, or a slow slide into feeling out of control.
HELM Recovery provides the structure and clarity that make the transition manageable again. Veterans rebuilding their lives don’t need chaos — they need a predictable system that works.
If you’re dealing with transition stress, this program was built with you in mind.
What to Expect
✔ A simple, predictable weekly routine
Three sessions a week. Same time. Same group. Same flow.
✔ Closed cohort — no new people suddenly added
You start with the same veterans you finish with.
✔ No judgment and no forced sharing
You share what you choose. No pressure. No expectations.
✔ Skills you can actually use
Grounding techniques
Trigger management
Emotional regulation
Relapse prevention
PTSD stabilization
Real-world coping tools
✔ Privacy & confidentiality
100% secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth.
✔ A culturally competent team
Facilitators who understand military culture, discipline, loss, transition, and the veteran mindset.
How Telehealth Works
You can join from anywhere in California.
All you need is:
A private space
A smartphone, tablet, or computer
A stable internet connection
A commitment to show up
Your camera stays on for accountability and safety — but the environment is controlled and respectful.
What the 16 Weeks Look Like
A quick overview of your journey:
Weeks 1–4
Foundations, triggers, cravings, emotion awareness.
Weeks 5–8
Lowering intensity, coping skills, relapse prevention.
Weeks 9–12
PTSD tools, grounding, hyperarousal management.
Weeks 13–16
Integration, real-world application, long-term stability. This is a structured progression — not random topics.
What Veterans Often Say They Want in a Program Like This
“A structured routine that makes life feel stable again.”
“A group that feels like us — not a general population mix.”
“Skills I can actually use when I’m overwhelmed.”
“A predictable flow so I’m not anxious about what’s coming next.”
“Accountability without judgment.”
“A place where I don’t have to explain military culture.”
If You’re Nervous — That’s Normal
Most veterans are nervous the first week.
By Week 3, the structure feels familiar.
By Week 16, you’ll have a system you can rely on — long after the program ends.
Is This Program Right for You?
HELM Recovery is a good fit if:
✔ You want structure
✔ You learn best with routines
✔ You prefer a predictable environment
✔ You want practical skills you can use daily
✔ You do well with accountability
✔ You want a veteran-only group
✔ You don’t want chaos, random topics, or unstructured venting
✔ You’re ready to rebuild with a system that actually works
This program is not about perfection. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and having a steady path forward.
Who This Program Is Not For
We keep standards high to protect everyone in the group. This program is not a fit if:
You cannot attend consistently
You are actively psychotic or medically unstable
You require detox or residential treatment
You refuse to keep your camera on
You’re looking for unstructured processing or venting
HELM is a structured skills program, not a free-flow group.
How to Get Started
HELM Recovery is authorized through the VA Community Care Network. To join, you’ll need a referral from your VA provider or case manager.
We will guide you step-by-step.