Did you know that about 18% of adults in Alaska report binge drinking at least once per month? Alaska is one of the highest-ranking states in terms of binge drinking, which makes alcohol treatment for the state’s residents a crucial need.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, Hope Valley Health & Wellness in Wasilla, Alaska offers alcohol rehab programs for both Veterans and active-duty service members. These programs are gender-specific and trauma-informed. Some of the therapies that are offered include equine-assisted therapy, acupuncture, and holistic wellness programs in a warm and supportive environment in our small, private, and rural homes.
The programs in the Mat-Su Valley are built specifically around the needs of those who served. Contact us today to learn more about your alcohol addiction rehabilitation options.
What We Treat
Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans & Active-Duty Service Members
How AUD Manifests Differently in the Military Community
Alcohol use disorder does not look the same in every person, and that is especially true for Veterans and active-duty service members. Military culture has long normalized drinking as a way to decompress, bond with fellow service members, or push through the stress of deployment and reintegration. For many, what starts as social drinking gradually becomes a dependency that is hard to recognize from the inside.
Some Veterans with AUD are still showing up to work, managing their households, and maintaining relationships on the surface. Others are experiencing job loss, broken families, housing instability, or legal trouble. Both are valid presentations of the same disorder, and both deserve serious treatment.
AUD in Veterans is also frequently tied to underlying trauma. Combat exposure, military sexual trauma, and the psychological weight of service can all drive alcohol use as a coping mechanism. When trauma is left untreated, alcohol often fills the gap. This is why treating AUD in isolation – without addressing what is underneath it – rarely produces lasting results.
Personalized Treatment at Hope Valley, Wasilla, Alaska
At Hope Valley, no two treatment plans look alike. When a Veteran or active-duty service member enters our program, we take the time to understand their full history – their service background, their trauma history, their mental health, and their personal circumstances – before building a plan around them.
Our residential program is gender-specific by design. Men and women live in separate homes and participate in separate therapy groups, which creates an environment where people can speak honestly about their experiences without the social dynamics that mixed settings can create. Each home holds a maximum of six residents, keeping the environment focused and the clinical relationships close.
Alcoholism rarely travels alone. Depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions frequently co-occur with alcohol use disorder, particularly in the Veteran population. Our dual diagnosis approach means we treat the whole person rather than just the drinking.
How We Treat Alcoholism at Our Wasilla, Alaska Rehab Center: Evidence-Based and Experiential Therapies
At the core of our treatment for alcoholism are evidence-based and experiential therapies. Each individual suffering from alcoholism requires a different treatment approach from another individual, which is why we utilize a variety of proven and innovative therapies to meet the needs of each patient specifically.
What to Expect in Treatment: Standard + Evidence-Based Therapies
The first step in the treatment of alcoholism is to gain an understanding of the patient’s relationship with alcohol. From there, we are able to identify their drinking triggers and help them to develop the skills necessary to overcome those triggers and form healthy habits.
Some of the therapies used at Hope Valley Health & Wellness include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps patients to identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to their alcoholism.
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): A trauma-focused therapy that uses techniques such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help patients overcome distressing memories that contribute to alcoholism in as few as 1-5 therapy sessions.
- Electromagnetic Brain Pulse (EMBP): This therapy uses gentle electromagnetic pulses to heal the brain and help patients overcome their cravings for alcohol, improve their mood, and support their recovery from alcoholism.
- Gender-Specific Therapy Groups and Housing: A therapy that places men and women in separate housing and therapy groups to address their alcoholism and the emotions that it creates in a gender-specific manner.
- Family Therapy: A therapy that helps to heal the relationships within a patient’s family, allowing them to communicate better and support
What to Expect in Treatment: Experiential + Alternative Therapies
What sets Hope Valley Health & Wellness apart from other rehab centers is the range of innovative experiential therapies we offer to our patients that encourage self-expression, resilience, and hope for the future of recovery.
These therapies complement the evidence-based treatments offered within our residential programs for Veterans, which include our partnership with the Battle Dawgs, offering them a variety of wellness adventures in nature, such as retreats, dog sledding, and more.
Our Key Experiential Therapies:
- Equine-Assisted Therapy: Patients interacting with horses experience emotional growth and healing from traumas.
- Recreation Therapy: Patients participate in leisure activities that help them build a hobby after treatment.
- Yoga: This mind and body practice uses movement, breath, and meditation to increase strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.
- Acupuncture and Relaxation Therapy: Using fine needles and relaxation techniques to release tension in the body and restore balance.
- Art Therapy: Patients create art to express their emotions and aid in the healing process.
- Massage Therapy: Patients experience muscle work to release physical pain, stress and withdrawal pain.
- Tai Chi: This practice uses gentle movements to experience balance, relaxation, focus, and stress management.
- Life Coaching: Patients learn to set and accomplish goals in their lives to overcome obstacles and create a fulfilling future for themselves.
In our healing Alaska environment, these therapies help you rediscover joy, purpose, and connection while rebuilding an alcohol-free life.
What Are the Alcoholism Treatment Options at Hope Valley Center in Alaska?
Our treatment programs include the following levels of care:
| Care Level | What It Is | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Detox | A medically supervised detox program that helps clients safely stop drinking while managing their withdrawal symptoms with comfort and care. | Individuals who have been consuming alcohol regularly over an extended period and require medical support to safely withdraw from alcohol. |
| Inpatient Treatment | Hope Valley Treatment Center offers a structured residential program with 24/7 support, therapy, and clinical care in a safe and recovery-focused environment. The facility offers gender-specific housing and programming. | This program is designed for individuals who need intensive daily support, who have co-occurring mental health concerns, or who would benefit from a space away from their triggers during the early stages of their recovery |
| Lifetime Aftercare | Support for individuals seeking to continue their recovery from substance use disorders. | Anyone who has successfully completed a treatment program for substance use disorders and desires to maintain their recovery over the long-term. |
What Causes Alcoholism in Veterans?
It is natural to wonder why some people develop alcohol use disorder while others do not. There is no one main cause of alcohol use disorder, but research into the disorder has shown that a variety of different factors contribute to the development of the condition in individuals.
Key Risk Factors
Alcohol use disorder is a condition that can be treated. However, there are a variety of factors that contribute to the development of the disorder, including the following:
- Family history and genetics: Individuals who have close relatives that suffer from alcohol use disorder are at a higher risk of developing the disorder themselves due to the genetic traits that they share.
- Early exposure: Individuals who begin consuming alcohol at a young age or are raised in environments where heavy alcohol use is the norm are at a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
- Trauma and ACEs: Individuals that have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, are at a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
- Mental health conditions: Individuals who suffer from mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or even schizophrenia, are at a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
- Brain chemistry: Some people have heightened sensitivity to dopamine (the brain’s reward chemical) which makes alcohol more reinforcing to those individuals.
- Socioeconomic factors: Individuals with lower income or limited resources experience more stress and barriers to access.
At Hope Valley Health & Wellness, we address these root causes of alcohol use disorder through personalized, trauma-informed care.
Signs You May Need Alcohol Treatment
Having risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), but paying attention to your drinking patterns can help you catch problems early.
How to Assess Your Drinking
1. Check Your Intake
A standard drink equals 12 oz beer (5% ABV), 5 oz wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz spirits (40% ABV). Recent CDC guidance recommends limiting alcohol overall, but traditional moderate limits were 1 drink/day for women and 2 for men. Consistently exceeding that, especially in one sitting, warrants reflection.
2. Monitor Tolerance
Needing more alcohol to feel effects signals your body has adapted. This is a key early warning sign.
3. Examine Behaviors
Common red flags include:
- Neglecting work, family, or responsibilities
- Isolating or hiding drinking
- Using alcohol to cope with stress or emotions
- Spending excessive time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol
4. Withdrawal and Shame
Experiencing physical withdrawal (shakes, sweats, anxiety) or feeling guilt/shame about drinking suggests AUD.
AUD affects people differently, but these signs indicate professional help could restore balance. In 2023, about 12.8 million Americans received substance use treatment, proving recovery is accessible and effective.
At Hope Valley, we’re here when you’re ready.
Get Alcohol Treatment at Hope Valley in Wasilla, AK
Effective addiction treatment supports your whole well-being: body, mind, and spirit. Our programs are built around what makes you unique, helping Veterans and active duty service members heal from substance use and trauma.
Why Choose Hope Valley
Our experienced clinical team delivers CARF-accredited care, using patient feedback to continuously improve. Gender-specific homes (max 6 residents) create safe spaces for authentic recovery.
Ready for gender-specific treatment, experiential therapies, or clinical support? Call (907) 318-2180 for a free consultation.
Hope Valley Health & Wellness: Practice. Presence. Progress.
We Are Here to Help
