Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

About Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Richmond VA Outpatient Clinic is a Veteran focused outpatient clinic in Richmond, Texas.

The clinic provides outpatient mental health services, primary care, social work and coordinated specialty support.

Its integrated model is designed to serve Veterans with whole person care that connects medical, behavioral and community based resources.

Key Features:

Outpatient level of care: Confidential outpatient mental health services including consultation, evaluation, individual therapy and group therapy
Conditions addressed: Support for addiction, addictive behaviors, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD and related concerns
Veteran focused care: Services are tailored specifically for Veterans within the federal VA health system
Women Veterans services: Includes mental health treatment, support for recovery from military sexual trauma and care for substance use concerns
Integrated services: Combines mental health, primary care, pharmacy and social work in one outpatient setting in Richmond
Social work support: Assistance with housing, finances, transportation, legal resources and connections to community services
Suicide prevention: Crisis support, care coordination, education and postvention services for families and friends
Access options: Virtual visits may be available for some mental health services, and Veterans Transportation Service may assist eligible Veterans
Cost: The official VA page lists care as free for eligible Veterans, with no separate addiction program pricing required

Edited by: Amy Greene

Addiction Treatment Programs

Alcohol Rehab
If you’re ready to overcome alcohol use disorder, an alcohol rehab in Texas can give you the tools you need. High-quality treatment lays a foundation for sobriety and helps prevent relapses by giving you new ways of thinking, better coping skills, and a better understanding of key life skills such as emotional regulation and communication.
Dual Diagnosis
Many people with addiction issues also have a mental health diagnosis, which is known as a dual diagnosis. Be sure to find a rehab in Texas that can treat both. A mental health diagnosis can feed into an addiction, making both worse. In a dual diagnosis program, these concerns are addressed along with typical evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
Opioid Addiction
The goal of an opioid rehab in Texas is to give you the tools and skills you need to achieve long-term recovery. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, an opioid program will help you build a new lifestyle based on healthy coping mechanisms, better relationships, and a new way of thinking about life.
Adult Program
An adult program in Texas addresses the unique need of adults, such as finding secure housing, building a career, and raising a family. Adults often have challenges related to their careers, raising a family, and handling responsibilities. These concerns are addressed during evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
Senior Rehab
Offering specialized substance use treatment for those who are older, senior rehabs in Texas provide a safe space to work on recovery. Older Americans often deal with chronic pain, loneliness, financial issues, and more. These concerns are addressed along with typical evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
LGBTQ Friendly Rehab
Offering specialized substance use treatment for the LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ friendly rehabs in Texas provide a safe space to work on recovery. Some of the common services will include counseling and classes on coping skills, emotional management, communication, and other key life skills. LGBTQ+ friendly programs can provide inpatient or outpatient treatment.
Military Rehab
A military rehab in Texas provides an understanding environment that makes it easier to work on your long-term recovery. Service members and veterans have often experienced trauma civilians can’t imagine. These concerns are addressed along with typical evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
Men's Rehab
Choosing a men’s rehab in Texas can be a great way to manage gender-specific issues while also addressing substance use. Men often have questions about building their careers, being fathers, and having healthy communication styles. These concerns are addressed along with typical evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
Women's Rehab
If you’re a woman struggling with substance use, consider a women’s rehab program in Texas. Women often have questions about building their careers, raising children, and building healthy relationships. These concerns are addressed along with typical evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
Young Adult Rehab
Young adult rehabs in Texas address a wide range of substance use issues while also helping clients transition into adulthood. Young adults often have questions about starting their careers, having a family, and living independently without overspending. These concerns are addressed along with typical evidence-based detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care.
Substance Disorders Treatment Program
The Substance Disorders Treatment Program at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston delivers assessment, treatment planning, outpatient and residential care, and recovery support for Veterans with substance use disorders.
Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment
Integrated care at the Houston VA medical center addresses Veterans facing both substance use disorders and mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder simultaneously.
Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT)
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center offers buprenorphine and naltrexone for opioid use disorder, plus naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram for alcohol use disorder as part of comprehensive addiction treatment.
Women Veterans Program
Women Veterans receiving care at this Houston VA facility can access women’s mental health services designed to support their specific needs alongside substance use disorder treatment.
LGBTQ+ Veterans Program
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center provides a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ Veterans seeking mental health and substance use disorder care in Houston.
Telehealth Services
Veterans can access substance use and mental health treatment through telehealth appointments at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, allowing care from home or while traveling.

Insurance Coverage

Self-pay options
When you use self-pay for rehab in Texas, you have a chance to choose any treatment center you like. Self-pay, also known as private pay, involves writing a check, using a medical loan from a bank or credit union, or sending money electronically. Payment arrangements may vary depending on the level of care.
Military insurance
One way for military members and veterans to pay for rehab in Texas is to use military insurance. Insurance plans vary, so it’s important to contact the insurer for details. The best way to keep costs down is to choose a treatment center in your plan’s network.
Medicare
When looking for ways to pay for rehab in Texas, consider Medicare. Your Medicare plan can pay for some or all of the costs of rehab, although you will want to check on the full details. You may have some out-of-pocket costs such as copays or deductibles.
Private insurance
When you’re planning to use private insurance to pay for rehab in Texas, there are a few details to keep in mind. Your insurance plan can cover some or all of the cost of treatment. You’ll need to contact your insurer to find out what centers are in-network with your plan and what out-of-pocket costs you may be responsible for.

Levels of Care

1
Outpatient Rehab
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center provides outpatient substance use treatment tracks, including intensive outpatient and relapse prevention services, for Veterans managing alcohol, opioid, and other drug use disorders.
2
Aftercare Support
Veterans transitioning out of substance use treatment at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center receive recovery-oriented support and relapse prevention services to sustain long-term sobriety.
3
Inpatient Rehab
The residential rehabilitation treatment program at this Houston VA facility offers 24/7 structured and supportive care for Veterans with substance use disorders needing a more intensive treatment setting.

Therapies

Cognitive Behavior Therapy
In Texas, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you identify wrong thinking that can create impulsive actions. This makes it much easier to reach long-term recovery. As you learn to identify thought disortions, your confidence in your ability to manage a wide variety of situations will grow. You’ll have the tools you need to address problems and manage triggers in a healthy way.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
In Texas, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) helps you learn healthy coping strategies and build your ability to manage stressful situations. This makes it much easier to reach long-term recovery. As you learn helpful coping strategies, your confidence in your ability to manage a wide variety of situations will grow. You’ll have the tools you need to address problems and manage triggers in a healthy way.
Family Therapy
Attending family therapy in Texas is a way to address broken relationships and dysfunction, helping you establish long-term recovery. Substance use treatment includes detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care, and family therapy may be a part of each of these stages. The goal is to help families address past events and broken relationships and develop healthy ways of relating to each other.
Group Therapy
Attending group therapy in Texas is a way to overcome shame and isolation, helping you establish long-term recovery. Sessions generally last 60 to 90 minutes and give you a chance to discover others’ experiences, hear about the impact of substance use, and learn important new life skills.
Individual Therapy
During individual therapy in Texas, clients work with a professional to address specific individual concerns. During individual therapy, you have the freedom and confidentiality to share personal issues and past experiences that may impact your substance use. Your therapist will help you work through those concerns and develop new ways of handling them.
Rational Behavioral Therapy
Rational behavior therapy in Texas helps you address the false beliefs that are holding you back from a better life. As you learn to identify wrong beliefs, your confidence in your ability to manage a wide variety of situations will grow. You’ll have the tools you need to address problems and manage triggers in a healthy way.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma-informed therapy in Texas can provide a way to process past events and create better coping strategies as you work through substance use treatment. Because trauma can be a significant trigger for substance use, trauma-informed therapy will help you understand what happened to you, realize that it was wrong, and create a healthier way of relating to that memory and the emotions you feel.
Individual Counseling
The Substance Disorders Treatment Program at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center provides one-on-one counseling for Veterans working through alcohol, opioid, and other drug use disorders as part of ongoing recovery support.
Group Counseling
Group counseling sessions at the Houston VA medical center give Veterans a structured setting to address substance use disorders alongside peers, combined with education on addiction and recovery.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center offers evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy for Veterans facing co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders, supporting relapse prevention and recovery.
Relapse Prevention Therapy
Relapse prevention services help Veterans at this Houston VA facility maintain recovery gains after completing outpatient or residential substance use treatment, reinforcing coping strategies and ongoing support.