Mental Health Services
for Veterans & Military Personnel

You served, answered the call, and often at a cost that others cannot fully understand. At CDL & Associates, we understand the weight that military service places on the mind and body, and we are here to provide the specialized psychological support you deserve.

Our practice in Batawa, Ontario serves veterans, active military members, and their families across Quinte West, Trenton, Belleville, and Northumberland County. We accept referrals through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and work within the VAC funding process to help you access care without unnecessary barriers.

Serving Our Military Community

CDL & Associates accepts Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) coverage. Our Clinical Director, Cynthia Lee, has direct experience working within military healthcare environments. Contact us to discuss your referral and coverage options before your first appointment.

Forensic

Understanding the Mental Health Challenges of Military Service

Military service exposes individuals to experiences that can profoundly affect mental health long after active duty ends. Whether you are a veteran transitioning to civilian life, a current member, or a reservist, you may be facing challenges that feel difficult to name and even harder to ask for help with.

Common concerns we treat include:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from combat exposure, accidents, or critical incidents
  • Operational Stress Injuries (OSI), the lasting impact of difficult operational experiences on psychological health
  • Depression and anxiety related to deployment, injury, or service-related trauma
  • Chronic pain with psychological components
  • Relationship difficulties and family strain following deployment or release
  • Challenges with the transition from military to civilian life, including identity, purpose, and employment
  • Substance use that has developed as a way of coping with stress, trauma, or sleeplessness

What Is an Operational Stress Injury (OSI)?

An Operational Stress Injury (OSI) is any persistent psychological difficulty resulting from operational duties performed while engaging in military service, policing, or other first responder roles. OSIs can include PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use problems.

OSI is not a sign of weakness. It is a recognized and treatable condition that results from the nature of the work — not from a personal failing. At CDL & Associates, we take an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach to OSI treatment that respects your experiences and your resilience.

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Moral Injury
When What You Witnessed or Did Doesn't Leave You

Moral injury is distinct from PTSD, though the two often coexist. It occurs when a person witnesses, participates in, or fails to prevent events that violate their deeply held moral beliefs. For military personnel, this may include decisions made in high-pressure combat situations, witnessing civilian casualties, or feeling that leadership failed you or your unit.

Moral injury can show up as profound guilt, shame, a loss of meaning, spiritual crisis, or a withdrawal from relationships. Our therapists are trained to address moral injury directly as part of trauma-informed care.

Our Approach to Military Trauma Treatment

We use evidence-based therapies that are proven effective for military trauma and PTSD, including:

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a structured approach to challenging and changing unhelpful beliefs resulting from trauma
  • Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy, gradually reducing the distress associated with trauma memories through structured exposure
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), building psychological flexibility and values-based living
  • Somatic Experiencing, addressing trauma held in the body, not just the mind
  • Psychodynamic approaches, understanding how past experiences shape current patterns
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), coming soon to our clinic
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), identifying and changing the thought patterns and behaviours that maintain trauma symptoms, depression, and anxiety

Our Clinical Director, Cynthia Lee M.A., C.Psych., brings direct clinical experience working in a military hospital environment, as well as federal correctional institutions and community hospital settings.

Serving Veterans and Military Families Across Quinte and Northumberland

Our clinic is located at 58 Plant Street, Suite 213, Batawa, Ontario — a short drive from CFB Trenton, the largest air force base in Canada and home to thousands of military members and their families. We are proud to serve the surrounding communities of Trenton, Belleville, Quinte West, Brighton, Cobourg, and Northumberland County.

Telehealth appointments are available for clients across Ontario who prefer remote access to care.