About the Program

The mental health service at San Francisco VAMC provides consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a variety of issues that can impact emotional well-being.

The staff work closely together to develop a treatment plan which meets the specific needs of each veteran we see. In order to make access to mental health care more convenient to veterans, we have mental health specialists located at VA community clinics in Santa Rosa, downtown San Francisco and Mare Island in Vallejo in addition to the services we offer at the Medical Center.

Services Offered

Mental health services provided at San Francisco VAMC include  —

• General Psychiatry Outpatient Services   
• Mental Health Research
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program
• Psychological Services
• Substance Abuse Programs
• Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM)
• Military Sexual Trauma
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center   

We also provide outreach to homeless veterans.

General Psychiatry Outpatient Services:   We offer comprehensive services for the full range of emotional problems people can experience. In addition to individual, group, medication and family treatment approaches, we offer specialized programs which include:

• Women's program
• HIV program
• Geriatrics program

Mental Health Research:   We are committed to developing the most effective treatments for emotional disorders. Our clinical research guides and improves the clinical services we offer by carefully examining the effectiveness of the treatments we believe are most promising. Veterans who participate in research studies advance knowledge and understanding, which helps to improve care for other veterans. If you would like more information about the research studies in the Mental Health Service, please call one of the numbers below or visit our Research Study Subject Recruitment page.

• Specialized group therapy
• Specific medication treatments
• Stress reduction training
• Family therarapy

Psychological Services:   The Neuropsychology and Psychological Assessment Program provides psychological assessment and neuropsychological evaluations. The Health Psychology Program offers services for people suffering from chronic medical conditions. Some of the services offered include:

• Health Psychology Program
• Biofeedback
• Pain management
• Smoking cessation
• Weight control
• Stress Management 

Substance Abuse Programs:    Substance Abuse Programs Offers treatment for people who have found their use of alcohol or drugs has caused them significant distress or impairment with negative effects on family, personal relationships, health or work. Our treatment programs are structured to care for people through all stages of recovery. Some of our specialized programs include:

• Combat PTSD Care
• Substance Abuse Care
• Day hospital
• Anger management classes
• Opiate replacement therapy

Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM): The MHICM is a program serving veterans with psychiatric disabilities who sometimes find it difficult to stay in the community. The veterans served sometimes also struggle with alcohol or drug problems. The mission of the program is to provide state of the art, community-based care and to empower people to live at their greatest potential in the community. Treatments are provided by a multidisciplinary team. For more information, contact: (415) 551-7334.

Military Sexual Trauma
Veterans, both women and men, have experienced sexual trauma while they served on active military duty. While some of these veterans sought counseling and treatment for the aftereffects of the trauma, many have never discussed the incident or their medical or psychological condition with anyone.

VA provides eligible veterans with confidential counseling and treatment for the aftereffects of sexual trauma, helping them to better cope with the trauma experience, regain their confidence and self-esteem, and improve their quality of life. Call Nancy Herzoff, Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator at (415) 221-4810 x3907.