Northeast Philadelphia Vet Center
We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community.
Our commitment
- We offer a range of services, from talk therapy to recreational activities. Our team will work with you to identify your goals and make a plan to meet them. We'll help you and your family build meaningful connections to improve your quality of life.
- Our counseling is confidential. We won’t share any information about you or the services you receive without your permission—except in a life-threatening situation. Our records can't be accessed by other VA offices, the Defense Department, military units, or community providers.
- We encourage you to contact us, even if you're not sure you're eligible. We'll find a way to connect you with the help you need.
Locations and contact information
Main Location
Direct line
Hours
- Mon. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tue. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Wed. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Thu. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Sat. Closed
- Sun. Closed
Other locations
Vet Centers are community based to be more accessible in areas where you live.
We also have non-traditional hours that change periodically given our community’s needs. Please call us to find out more.
Need help after hours?
Our call center is available 24/7. Call us anytime at 877-927-8387.
Prepare for your visit
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We are located at 101 E. Olney Avenue in the Olney Shopping Plaza in the Einstein Healthcare building on the first floor next to the Santander Bank.
Because we are located in a shopping center, there is ample, free parking available for Vet Center clients.
You can get to the Vet Center from just about any place in Philadelphia and the surrounding area via SEPTA bus and train services.
We are just 1.3 miles from the Olney Transportation Center and the Broad Street Line subway.
We are just .4 miles from the Olney Station and its Fox Chase Regional Rail Line.
Bus routes 18, 26, and 57 stop at the corner of Front Street and Olney Avenue just across the parking lot from the Vet Center.
Visit the SEPTA website to find the best way to get to the Vet Center.
First time visitor? Stop by during our office hours or give us a call and let's discuss how we can help.
- Many of our services are available on a walk-in basis
- Please call
to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians - Non-traditional hours are available
You do not need to be registered for care at VA. On your first visit, we will look for one or more of the following:
- Discharge documents (such as a DD214)
- Receipt of certain awards
- Deployment orders
- Other documents that show qualifying military service
Request your military service records online.
If you don’t have these documents on-hand, come in and we can work with you to establish your eligibility and answer any questions you might have.
In the spotlight
New Vet Centers and Satellite Locations Announced
To improve access to counseling, we are adding three Vet Centers and six satellite locations across the US and its territories. We will continue to expand our program to meet Veteran demand and provide local support to those who served.
Vet Centers: 42 years of serving Veterans
Vet Centers were established 42 years ago by Congress on June 13, 1979, to support Vietnam-era Veterans who were not accessing VA services like other Veterans.
Vet Center Grows Heroic Gardens
The Northeast Philadelphia Vet Center is partnering with Heroic Gardens, a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic gardening sessions for Veterans. Heroic Gardens staff members are running two groups at the Vet Center.
Counseling services
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We offer couples and family counseling to support you as you work toward meeting your goals.
Our Vet Center has a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) onsite to offer family and couples counseling. We also offer a Significant Others Group.
If someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change, we’re here to support you.
Our Vet Center offers bereavement counseling in an individual or group setting by trained bereavement counselors.
If you or a loved one are in—or may be in—a potentially abusive or violent relationship, we can help.
Our Vet Center has a counselor with a background in intimate partner violence treatment and referral services.
If you’re struggling with issues like PTSD, depression, grief, anger, or trauma, we offer counseling and other support. We’ll work with you to help you achieve your personal goals.
Our Vet Center offers the following group therapy options:
- Brain Training Group
- All Theaters PTSD Group
- OIF/OEF Group
- Vietnam Support Group
- PTSD Hispanic Group
- iRest (Interactive Restoration) Group
- PTSD Group
- Significant Other Group
- Women Veterans Group
- Heroic Gardens Group
If you experienced sexual assault or harassment during military service, we can help you get the counseling you need. Any Veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve forces, who experienced military sexual trauma is eligible to receive counseling. This applies to people of all genders from any service era.
Military sexual trauma can happen to both men and women. If you experienced sexual assault or harassment during military service - no matter when you served – we provide counseling and treatment.
Our Vet Center has counselors who specialize in military sexual trauma treatment.
If you’re a Veteran from a minority community, we can help you find counseling, support, and referral services to meet your specific needs.
Our Vet Center has a diverse staff that matches our diverse Veteran population. We have two bilingual staff members who speak Spanish and English.
If you have symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic event, we can help. We offer assessment and support through private counseling and group therapy. We can also refer you to VA or community counseling for treatment and therapy resources.
Our Vet Center offers the following group counseling options:
- Brain Training Group
- All Theaters PTSD Group
- OIF/OEF Group
- Vietnam Support Group
- PTSD Hispanic Group
- iRest (Interactive Restoration) Group
- PTSD Group
- Significant Other Group
- Women Veterans Group
- Heroic Gardens Group
Military service can affect your emotional, mental, and physical health. We offer recreation and creative arts therapy through activities that can be adapted to your needs.
Our Vet Center offers a Heroic Gardens Group.
If you’re returning from military service, we’ll help you transition to civilian life. We can connect you with educational and career counseling, mental health services, and other programs and benefits that will support your transition.
Whole health puts you—instead of your illnesses or conditions—at the center of care. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals.
Our Vet Center offers Brain Training and Heroic Gardens groups.
If you’re a woman Veteran transitioning to civilian life, we can help you find counseling, support, and referral services to meet your specific needs.
Our Vet Center regularly works with the Women Veterans Center at the Veterans Multi-Service Center to help with the unique needs of women Veterans. We also offer a Women Veterans Group.
Referral services
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We can help you overcome substance use problems, from unhealthy alcohol use to life-threatening addiction. We'll connect you to services for your specific needs.
Our Vet Center can make referrals to the Addiction Recovery Units at the VA medical centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. We can also make referrals to community-based treatment facilities.
If you’re homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, we can help you connect with resources in your community.
Our Vet Center regularly works with the Veterans Multi-Service Center in Philadelphia to help homeless Veterans.
Call our Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1 to get support anytime day or night. This service is private, free, and available 24/7. Our Vet Center can also connect you with ongoing counseling and services.
Our Vet Center staff regularly meets with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the VA medical center in Philadelphia.
We can help connect you to VA and community resources that will support you in achieving your goals.
Our Vet Center can help you know where to go and how to register for:
- VA medical benefits
- VA compensation and pension benefits
- VA education benefits
- VA burial benefits
- VA home loan benefits
- Other VA and non-VA benefits
We can also connect you to Veterans Service Organizations in your community.
Our Vet Center also works with Pennsylvania CareerLink and the Veterans Multi-Service Center to help unemployed Veterans find work.
Other services
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We provide private organizations and community agencies education on our Veteran community and military culture. Together, we build referral networks to expand support for Veterans, service members, and their families.
If you would like our outreach specialist to speak to your organization, please call
We offer secure and confidential individual and group counseling through telehealth. You can schedule a phone or video appointment for Vet Center services.
We’ll help you achieve your job and career goals. We can connect you with one-on-one support, counseling, and training.
How Vet Centers are different than a medical clinic
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Vet Centers are small, non-medical, counseling centers conveniently located in your community. They’re staffed by highly trained counselors and team members dedicated to seeing you through the challenges that come with managing life during and after the military.
Whether you come in for one-on-one counseling or to participate in a group session, at Vet Centers you can form social connections, try new things, and build a support system with people who understand you and want to help you succeed.
You may be eligible for Vet Center services no matter your discharge status or eligibility for VA health care. And we encourage you to contact us, even if you’re not sure if you’re eligible. If we can’t help you, we’ll find someone who can.
If you’re a Veteran or service member (including National Guard and Reserves), you’re eligible if you meet any of these service requirements:
- You served on active duty in any combat theater or area of hostility, or
- You provided mortuary services or direct emergency medical care to treat the casualties of war while on active duty, or
- You were a member of an unmanned aerial vehicle crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat theater or area of hostility, or
- You served on active duty in response to a national emergency or major disaster declared by the president, or under orders of the governor or chief executive of a state in response to a disaster or civil disorder, or
- You’re a current or former member of the Coast Guard who participated in a drug interdiction operation, or
- You’re a current member of the Reserve Component assigned to a military command in a drill status, including active Reserves, and you need to address a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma that is related to your military service
If you’re a Veteran or service member (including National Guard and Reserves), you’re also eligible for Vet Center services if any of these descriptions is true for you:
- You’re a Vietnam Era Veteran who used Vet Center services before January 2, 2013, or
- You experienced military sexual trauma (no matter your gender or service era), or
- You currently use any covered VA educational assistance benefits
What are the covered educational assistance benefits?
- Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve
- Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
- Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Remember: You don’t need to be enrolled in VA health care to be eligible for Vet Center services. You don’t need to have a service-connected disability. And you can have any character of discharge.
You can use our counseling and other support services when your participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or service member in your family. If the Veteran or service member considers you family, so do we.
You can also use our bereavement services if any of these descriptions is true for your family:
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The Veteran or service member died while serving on active duty, or
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The Veteran was using Vet Center services at the time of their death, or
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The Veteran or service member died by suicide
No. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA health care or have a service-connected disability.
Safe and confidential. Our records can’t be accessed by other VA offices, the DoD, military units, or other community networks and providers without your permission or unless required to avert a life-threatening situation. Here, you can be as open as you want—there’s absolutely no judgment.
Call us at
Our confidential call center is staffed by combat Veterans from several eras and family members of Veterans.
You can talk to us about your military experience, issues around transitioning out of military service, or trauma. We’ll help connect you to resources and support at a Vet Center near you.