VA Palo Alto Health Care System: Women’s Trauma Recovery Program (WTRP)

The WTRP is an intensive residential program with a strong emphasis on enhancing interpersonal functioning through psycho-education and skill building classes. Classes focus on the development of coping skills, such as emotion regulation, relapse prevention, anxiety management and effective communication. Residents practice these skills with one another and out in the community on weekend passes. They work together to problem-solve, learn effective coping strategies to better manage their symptoms, and utilize each other for support. Community members have opportunities to make observations and provide each other with feedback that can assist residents in making important changes and improving their quality of life.

Women are admitted to the program via a rolling admissions process so that there are always senior community members available to support newer members. Each resident is assigned to a “big sister” who serves to answer questions, offer support, and provide relevant information about the program, which is particularly helpful in the early stages of a newer member’s treatment. The length of stay in the WTRP varies in accordance with each individual’s needs, but typically lasts approximately 60 days; shorter lengths of stay may be recommended. Longer lengths of stay generally are associated with participation in a Cognitive Processing Therapy Group.

Many of the women who are referred to the program have experienced traumas that include but are not limited to Military Sexual Trauma (MST), combat trauma, and training accidents.

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM