VA Medical Center

2011 | Best Secret Bird Therapy

On the sprawling grounds of West L.A.'s Veterans Administration complex, you might hear an exotic, 100-decibel din. "Every day I hear the birds squawking and screaming," Glenn, a Desert Storm vet, tells us. "And then their people show up, and they're happy." The people he's referring to are residents of New Directions, a rehabilitation program for veterans suffering from PTSD, addiction and other issues. The birds -- rare and exotic macaws, parrots, parakeets and cockatoos -- have... More »