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News from the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare
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A Message from Clinic Director
Dr. Amy Williams
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I hope this newsletter reaches all of you after a safe and meaningful holiday season. In 2019, we passed a milestone of having served over 1,500 veterans and family members since our opening and we are honored to be entrusted with this role. We are grateful to those who donated to the clinic last year through personal donations, Facebook drives, and North Texas Giving Day. Along with Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), you are helping our clinic with sustainability for the years to come.
Over the past year, our outreach team attended many local events as well as spread the message about our CVN Telehealth services in Abilene and Wichita Falls, Texas. We traveled to New York for an annual meeting and hosted national CVN staff several times. We sought to elevate care and take on the challenge of suicide prevention. Our staff has engaged in numerous trainings including #StopOne Talk Saves Lives, Controlled Access to Lethal Means (CALM) with Military Veteran Peer Network, and National Center for Veterans Studies’ Crisis Response Planning.
As we look ahead, we have much to be excited about. Look for an announcement soon of our collaboration with several area organizations to increase awareness and access to care in the DFW area. We are also building a community room to allow hosting of community events for those serving veterans and their families. Last, we are excited to embark on our first formal research project at the clinic with the University of Texas at Dallas. This is a multi-site study on innovative treatments for combat-related PTSD. The clinic is in the final stages of launching the project.
We have had many successes, but the work is not done. You can help. Reach out if you’re struggling. Tell a friend we are here. My hope for 2020 is that anyone who needs care can get it—we are here to answer the call.
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Meet New Clinician
Dr. Fernando Alessandri
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Fernando Alessandri, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in adjustment to life-altering experiences, as well as anxiety, depression, and social/relationship improvement. He earned his doctorate at the University of Mississippi, completed 3 years of pre- and postdoctoral training at VA Medical Centers in San Diego and Honolulu, and has since worked in primary care and integrated behavioral health settings. We are happy to welcome Dr. Alessandri to our team. Bilingual, he will be a great asset to our Spanish-speaking clientele.
En español: Fernando Alessandri, PhD, es un psicólogo clínico especializado en la adaptación a experiencias que alteran la vida. También ayuda con la ansiedad, la depresión y parejas/familias. Obtuvo su doctorado en la Universidad de Mississippi, completó 3 años de entrenamiento en centros médicos de los Veteranos (VHA) en San Diego y Honolulu, y desde entonces ha trabajado en clínicas integradas de salud mental y física.
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The
Veterans Freedom Retreat
(VFR) is a free, week-long retreat for veterans and their partners, where veterans begin their journey to being free from the stress of past traumas. It also includes free follow-on counseling. The retreat employs a holistic approach which treats body, mind, heart and soul.
VFR is a copy of the very successful National Veterans Healing and Wellness Center PTS treatment program established in 2009 in Angel Fire, New Mexico, which has held around 40 retreats. VFR has held eight retreats in Texas so far. Both groups have an average symptom reduction rate of 50 percent, addressing the needs of veteran couples and other relationships among the veteran community.
VFR conducts three retreats per year, each lasting 7 ½ days and consisting of Experiential Education, Counseling, Equine Interaction, Meditative Yoga, Reiki, Native American Ceremonies and stress reduction modalities. Since inception, VFR retreats have prevented eight suicides. Retreats in 2020 will take place
in February, May and November. See below a video overview of the VFR program. For more information, visit
www.veteransfreedomretreat.org
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The clinic is saddened by the loss of one of our former therapists, Dr. Thomas (Tom) Cook, who passed away on December 7, 2019. Dr. Cook had practiced as a psychologist for over 40 years when he helped open the clinic in 2016. As an Army veteran himself, he had a passion for serving veterans and was a cherished member of our team. He retired from the clinic in the fall of 2018 after working with many individuals and couples. We will miss his laugh and optimism. We hope to continue seeing his loving wife, Sandy Cook, who has been a long-time volunteer at the clinic.
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Friday, January 17, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Capital Factory
3102 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, TX 75219
Thursday, February 6, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare
16160 Midway Road, Suite 218
Addison, TX 75001
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