What Are Evidence-Based Practices?

Vets Prevail training is built upon a sound scientific foundation. Vets Prevail uses evidence-based practices to bring the most effective behavioral healthcare tools to its users, promoting a healthy, happy life and a smooth reintegration to civilian society.

Vets Prevail is committed to using evidence-based practices because their success and effectiveness is supported by scientific research and clinical trials. When you are prescribed a medication, you expect its results to be supported by scientific evidence. By using evidence-based practices, Vets Prevail is a leader in promoting effectiveness in online behavioral health training. Furthermore, Vets Prevail delivers these methods in a way that is convenient and user friendly, helping each veteran who goes through the program to thrive during readjustment.

Through partnerships with top doctors and research universities, Vets Prevail can base its training on the strongest and most cutting-edge methods in the behavioral healthcare field. Respected institutions like the Department of Defense, the American Psychological Association and SAMHSA all support the practices and underlying principles used in the Vets Prevail training program.

How Does Vets Prevail Incorporate Evidence-Based Practices Into Its Training?

The term "evidence-based practices" refers to preferential use of mental and behavioral health interventions for which systematic empirical research has provided evidence of statistically significant effectiveness as treatments for specific problems. Vets Prevail uses a variety of evidence-based practices to enhance its training for all users. Some of the methods used in the training include:

• The Recovery Model focuses on good coping strategies, supportive relationships, empowerment and a sense of meaning. Peer support and interaction are key components in the success of the Recovery Model. The Recovery Model is supported by the American Psychiatric Association and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Vets Prevail peer support team is trained to use the Recovery Model to effectively mentor veterans going through the Vets Prevail program.


• Motivational Interviewing focuses on a user's motivation to change by exploring and addressing their attitudes toward changing their life and improving behavioral health. Motivational interviewing is focused and goal-oriented, helping users to make positive behavioral health changes. The Vets Prevail peer chats and many of the interactive portions of the Vets Prevail training use motivational interviewing to help users achieve results.


• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that a person's thoughts cause their feelings and behaviors. It teaches people how to cope with distressing feelings like anger, guilt, and fear by identifying thoughts that make them feel afraid or upset and replacing them with less upsetting thoughts. CBT can help a veteran keep the trauma of the battlefield from impacting his or her daily life and relationships, and gives veterans the tools they need to tackle the challenges of returning to civilian life. The Department of Defense and the American Medical Association consider it the standard of care for treating PTSD and depression among veterans.


• The Transtheoretical Model defines the stages and processes of change that a person generally passes through while working to change the desired behavior or mood. The Vets Prevail training guides veterans through these stages and processes in order to ensure that they achieve lasting, positive behavioral health change.