Through a Veteran’s Eyes: A Day at the DOM

The DOM, officially known as a Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP), is home to more than 200 Veterans currently receiving treatment for substance use and/or mental health issues.

“It was the best choice I have made in over 40 years,” Marine Corps Veteran Brandi Lago said of her decision to undergo treatment at the DOM. “I can dream again. I can see a life again, where before I had given up hope.”

Every day at the DOM, doctors, therapists and other providers lead the residents in a full lineup of mental health classes, Recreation Therapy opportunities, medical services and other programming designed to help them heal so they can readjust to independent civilian life.

From VJO to the DOM

Another recent resident at the DOM is Air Force Veteran Oscar Benn. A former air traffic controller, he spent four months there, living in the facility and navigating the 388-acre West LA VA campus as a resident.

“I think coming here is a good idea,” Benn said of the DOM. “For any Veteran coming here I would just say to keep an open mind.”

Benn’s journey with VA began after a manic episode led to an arrest. Having no experience with the law, he had no idea how to navigate the legal system.

He was eventually connected with the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, which seeks out justice-system-involved Veterans and assists them, often getting charges dropped if Veterans complete their treatment or court-ordered therapy.

The VJO arranged his transfer to Veteran’s court and helped him get the mental health help he needed, specifically, at the DOM.

There are nine tracks for Veterans at the DOM that include those for mental health, substance use, women only, detox and more. Every track has its own schedule and classes designed for the unique needs of the Veterans in that group.

What Does a Day at the DOM Look Like?

For Benn, who was on the mental health/substance use disorder track, his Monday started at 6:30 a.m. with waking up and heading to breakfast. As far as living arrangements, he stayed in a room with one other Veteran. Some rooms are equipped to host three people. Residents are also assigned chores such as sweeping or mopping.

The full-service DOM cafeteria offers three meals a day, and menus are posted daily. One day’s meals might include scrambled eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast, hamburgers (or veggie burgers) for lunch, and Jamaican jerk chicken for dinner. “The food is good!” Benn said.

Throughout the day Benn would attend a few different classes. Different tracks require different classes, but they can include sessions like Recovery and Relapse; Emotion Management; Personal Journal; Managing Moods, and Thoughts and Anger Management.

While the classes tend to have a focus on substance use and the 12-step treatment model, Benn said, they can still be helpful for Veterans like himself, who aren’t dealing with addiction.

For Lago, who was on the women’s track, the DOM’s classes were lifechanging, particularly the 12-week Cognitive Processing Therapy group, with its corresponding one-on-one sessions and worksheets that helped her process her feelings.

“I got to the point where I had to put it out there and voice it and shine a light on the darkness,” Lago said of her experience processing her trauma. Her spirituality and love for art were also reawakened during her stay.

While there were some challenges living in a shared environment, she said, in the end it felt like a second family. “In a recovery meeting with Veterans, they understand each other on another level. There’s healing that happens in that room that a lot of people don’t understand.”

The campus also provides a number of amenities for the residents to take advantage of.

From 6 -9 p.m., it’s free time at the DOM. Benn would often head to the nearby Veterans Center for Recreation & Education (VCRE) at Brentwood School for a workout. (There’s also an on-site gym at the DOM.) He’d also call family members, write in his journal or work on his book of poetry or YouTube channel in the DOM’s on-site computer lab.

Off-site activities also become an option once residents have been in the program for 30 days.

Lago would often work on her art or attend Recreation Therapy outings which are designed to help Veterans heal while staying busy, active and energized. These activities include everything from deep sea fishing to visiting an animal sanctuary to touring the Getty Museum.

“Horseback riding was my favorite because I grew up on a farm and had horses,” Lago said.

For any outing under two hours, DOM residents just need to sign out on a sheet posted on their door. To go on a longer outing, a day pass is required.

For Veterans facing substance use and addiction issues, there are also optional 12-step meetings in the evenings. Lago’s own issues with addiction manifested primarily in overeating and overspending. She recently celebrated one year free from her addictive behaviors. “I learned to talk and communicate and gain the strength and power to express my feelings,” Lago said.

At 10 p.m., it’s lights out.

To ensure a sober living environment, residents are also tested for substances weekly and are subject to room inspections. They must also meet with their DOM physician at least once a month. Nursing staff is on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in case of any issues.

Every Veteran’s length of stay at the DOM is different depending on their unique needs. Both Lago and Benn were excited to move on and continue their journeys beyond the DOM. “I feel so much lighter,” Lago said. “I still have a journey, but this is the beginning.”

Learning Love and Hope

Navy Veteran Richard Steptoe, addiction therapist at the DOM, is one of the providers who runs the classes. “I love my work, I love helping the other Veterans,” Steptoe said. “I get to give back what was so freely given to me both at VA and in treatment.”

For Steptoe, living in a similar Veteran-centric recovery space (in San Diego) was what kickstarted his own journey. Steptoe recently celebrated 29 years of sobriety. Along the way he’s also earned an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, and at the age of 64, a master’s degree.

Steptoe said the DOM is “a refuge, an escape from the grip of active addiction and other mental health issues.”

“I’ve used the time to be very creative, I’ve used the time to be sober, I’ve used the time to be very reflective,” Benn said of his experience at the DOM. “And that’s all I could really recommend is coming here with a mind of reflection, knowing that your time here is limited and just to try to take away as much stuff as you can.”

“The DOM is going to be like boot camp all over again,” Steptoe said. “In boot camp, you’re processing in, then in the eighth week you’re ready to graduate – in between you’ve learned the language of the military. What we try to teach them here is the language of love and hope.”

Veterans who are interested in learning more about the DOM can call 310-478-3711, ext. 43129.