Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling)

What you get

Free, confidential counseling in a non-medical setting, close to home, for Veterans, service members, and their families. No VA health care enrollment and no disability rating are needed.

Who Vet Centers serve: combat theater and other listed service

1. 1Service in or for a combat theaterActive duty in a combat theater or area of hostilities; direct emergency medical or mental health care, or mortuary services, for the casualties of combat while outside the theater; or crew duty on an unmanned aerial vehicle that supported combat operations.
2. 2Other service VA.gov listsActive duty for a national emergency or major disaster declared by the President, or state duty ordered by a governor for a disaster or civil disorder; Coast Guard drug interdiction; current Reserve drill status with a behavioral health need related to service; Vet Center use before January 2, 2013 (VA.gov names Vietnam Era Veterans); or current use of the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, VEAP, or Veteran Readiness and Employment.

Source: 38 CFR 17.2000(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

Who is the counseling for?

• Veterans and service members, by service

  Vet Centers offer readjustment counseling to Veterans and service members, including the National Guard and Reserves, whose service is on the list VA keeps. Combat theater service is the main door, and VA.gov lists several others.

  Source: 38 CFR 17.2000(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)

• Military sexual trauma survivors

  Vet Centers offer MST counseling and referral to Veterans and service members, including the National Guard and Reserves, who experienced military sexual trauma, from any service era. No combat service is needed for this.

  1. 1Military sexual trauma during service, any eraVA.gov lists any Veteran or service member who experienced military sexual trauma, in any service era.
  2. 2A request for MST-related counselingContact a Vet Center and ask to speak with someone about MST-related counseling. VA.gov says you do not need to have reported the MST at the time, or have other proof that it happened, to get MST-related care.

  Source: VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab); VA.gov: military sexual trauma care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d) (opens in new tab)

• Family of a Veteran or service member

  Family members can use Vet Center counseling when it supports the Veteran or service member in the family. Couples and family counseling are part of what Vet Centers offer.

  1. 1A family member, as the Veteran sees itFamily includes a spouse, parent, child, step-family, extended family, and anyone who lives with the Veteran or service member. VA.gov says that if the Veteran or service member considers you family, so does the Vet Center.
  2. 2Tied to the Veteran's service or a deploymentThe Veteran or service member in your family is one Vet Centers serve. Family counseling helps with that person's readjustment, as it relates to their military experience, or helps the family cope with a deployment.

  Source: 38 CFR 17.2000(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d)(3) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d)(2) (opens in new tab)

• Family after a death

  Vet Centers offer free bereavement counseling to the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died on active duty, a Veteran who was using Vet Center services at the time of death, or a Veteran or service member who died by suicide.

  1. 1A death on active duty, by suicide, or while using a Vet CenterThe service member died while serving, including a Reservist or Guard member on active duty; the Veteran was using Vet Center services at the time of death; or the Veteran or service member died by suicide.
  2. 2A surviving spouse, child, or parentVA.gov names the surviving spouse, child, and parent.

  Source: VA.gov: bereavement counseling (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

What to gather, and what it shows VA

Bring what you have to your first visit. If you have nothing in hand, go anyway. BeneVets does not ask you to describe your health or your service history here.

Steps, in order

1. Free help with VA benefits

   Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you. Vet Centers can also help you apply for VA benefits.

   Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)

2. Find a Vet Center

   Find your nearest Vet Center with the VA.gov facility locator. Vet Centers are community based, apart from VA hospitals.

   Source: VA.gov: find VA locations (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(e) (opens in new tab)

3. Gather what you have

   On your first visit, the Vet Center looks for one or more of these: discharge documents such as a DD214, certain awards, deployment orders, or other documents that show your service.

   Source: VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(b) (opens in new tab)

4. No papers? Go anyway

   If you do not have these documents in hand, come in anyway. VA.gov says the Vet Center will work with you to confirm your service and answer your questions, and with your consent VA will help get proof of service.

   Source: VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(b) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab)

5. Call or walk in

   Call or walk in to any Vet Center during clinic hours. First time visitors can stop by during office hours or call to talk about how the Vet Center can help.

   Source: VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

6. After hours, call the Vet Center call center

   Call 877-927-8387 (TTY: 711), open 24/7. You can talk with a fellow combat Veteran or a Veteran family member about your military experience, leaving the military, or trauma, and get connected to a Vet Center near you.

   Source: VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

7. Ask for the counseling you want

   Ask about individual or group counseling, couples and family counseling, MST counseling, bereavement counseling, a substance use assessment and referral, or educational and employment counseling.

   Source: VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d) (opens in new tab)

8. Ask for MST-related counseling

   Contact a Vet Center and ask to speak with someone about MST-related counseling. VA.gov says you do not need to have reported the MST at the time or have other proof that it happened.

   Source: VA.gov: military sexual trauma care (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d) (opens in new tab)

9. Ask about couples and family counseling

   Ask the Vet Center about couples and family counseling. It supports the Veteran's or service member's readjustment, or helps the family cope with a deployment.

   Source: 38 CFR 17.2000(d)(3) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(d)(2) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

10. Ask for bereavement counseling

    Ask the Vet Center for bereavement counseling. It can happen at the Vet Center, at another place you are comfortable, or by phone or video.

    Source: VA.gov: bereavement counseling (opens in new tab)

11. Check for a satellite location or Mobile Vet Center

    Some Vet Centers have satellite locations that may be closer to you, with the same confidentiality in a non-medical setting, and a Mobile Vet Center for outreach. Each Vet Center page on VA.gov lists its own.

    Source: VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center locations (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

12. Ask about VA health care and benefits

    Vet Centers can refer you to VA medical care and other VA benefits, and explain how to register for VA health care and where to file claims.

    Source: 38 CFR 17.2000(d) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Baltimore Vet Center (opens in new tab)

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