Savannah 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, posttraumatic 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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First-time visitor to the Savannah Vet Center? Give us a call and we can discuss any questions you might have prior to scheduling an appointment with us. Please call 912-961-5800 to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors.
Making an appointment:
Once you contact us, we’ll take your information immediately and then you’ll be scheduled for your initial intake appointment. Scheduling availability varies, but we’ll work our best to get you scheduled quickly. Once you complete your initial intake appointment with our Vet Center Director, you’ll be matched and scheduled with your counselor. Anyone who is in crisis will have their needs addressed immediately.
Contacting us:
Contact us any time during our posted hours of operation. If you need to call outside of those times, on weekends, or holidays, the Vet Center Call Center is available 24/7 at 877-927-8387. When calling our main line after hours, your call will be automatically connected to the Vet Center Call Center.
Canceling or rescheduling an appointment:
If you know in advance that you won’t be able to make an appointment, or you're needing to reschedule for any reason, please notify us as soon as possible so we can reschedule and make that time available for another Veteran or service member.
First-time visitor or walk-ins:
If you’re a first-time visitor, you may stop by during our office hours or call 912-961-5800 to discuss how we can help.
The Savannah Vet Center is a small office building located at 321 Commercial Drive. We’re located on the South Side of Savannah off Hodgson Memorial Drive. We’re a one-story building with ample parking and a wheelchair accessible ramp located on the right side of the door when looking at the building. Please contact the Vet Center at 912-961-5800 if you need further directions.
Parking:
The Savannah Vet Center has ample parking for Veterans and service members, as well as 2 accessible parking spaces located at the front of the building.
The Savannah Vet Center is accessible by public transit. There are several bus stops within walking distance of our facility.
To get more information or to find scheduling please visit the Chatham Area Transit (CAT).
You don’t need to be registered for care at VA, rated for a service-connected disability, or receiving any other form of VA benefits. On your first visit, we ask that you have access to one or more of the following:
- Discharge Documents (i.e. a DD214)
- Receipt of certain awards
- Deployment orders
- Other documents you may have received that show qualifying military service
Request military service records online
If you don’t have these documents readily accessible, 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.
Groups offered
The Savannah Vet Center offers a variety of group services — from Vietnam era to recent events focusing on PTSD as well as military sexual trauma. For any further questions, please call us at 912-961-5800.
Counseling services
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We offer couples and family counseling to support you as you work toward meeting your goals.
We are happy to meet with you and your family members based on your needs. The counselors at our facility use various methods of treatment when it comes to couples or family sessions.
We encourage our Veterans and service members to address any personal concerns through individual therapy that can coincide with family therapy; this can help with getting the most value out of your sessions. During individual therapy, the counselors can offer opportunities for your partner or other family members to join in the session, once or twice. This can provide an opportunity for your family members to learn more about your needs and ways to best support you during your treatment.
If someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change, we’re here to support you.
We also offer bereavement counseling to Gold Star family members. We also respond to referrals from the Tragedy Assistance Program for survivors (TAPS) to provide support to family members affected by the loss of a service member and/or Veteran. To learn more about their missions, please visit Mission of TAPS.
If you're a Veteran who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or a related identity, we can help you find counseling, support, and referral services to meet your specific needs.
We’re a leader in care for LGBTQ+ Veterans and service members. We can help connect you with specialty medical services and other support resources, as important additions to your mental health care.
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 staff is a diverse group, both male and female, with many of the staff being Veterans themselves, or having vast knowledge and/or experience working with Veterans, service members, and military communities. Our counselors are licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed masters social workers (LMSW), and licensed professional counselors (LPC).
We commonly address the following concerns:
- Difficulties adjusting to civilian life following deployment or activation
- Concerns of lack of meaning or purpose
- Unhealthy use of drugs and/or alcohol
- Anxiety and stress reactions
- Depression and lack of motivation
- Helping to address and cope with moral injury
- Sleep difficulties
- Anger, aggressive behavior, as well as reckless behaviors
Here are some of the evidence-based treatments we offer:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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 (MST) can continue to affect survivors long after the experience. It can also impact different traumas that may have occurred during your lifetime. Our counselors have ways to help you cope with MST and empower you to not only survive but to thrive.
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.
We recognize that asking for help takes courage; we pride ourselves on being able to offer a safe space to our Veterans and service members.
If you’re feeling on edge and on guard, having trouble sleeping, experiencing a loss in motivation, a decrease in mood, or just not feeling like yourself following a major event or critical incident, we can teach you tools to manage these changes and help get you back on track. Our counselors are here to help you take that next step.
Learn more about PTSD and your treatment options.
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.
We recognize completing your military service can come with a variety of new challenges. Navigating the VA system along with other benefits you may be entitled to can be extremely overwhelming. We can be the bridge to get you connected with the following services:
- Enrollment in VA health care benefits
- Filing a military-related disability claim
- Connection to employment opportunities
- Using VA education benefits
- Using your VA home loan
- Connecting to state benefits and services
There are many other opportunities that may be available. If you have any questions call
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.
Unhealthy substance use often goes hand-in-hand with PTSD, depression, or stress. We can help you understand how problematic drinking or drug use might be in relation to other stressors in your life. We'll help support you with relapse intervention and prevention, while also helping to connect you with more intensive or comprehensive substance use treatment programs within VA or in our community, if needed.
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 priority first and foremost is your safety. If you feel hopeless, suicidal, or are in crisis, let your counselor know so we can work together to both support you through the moment as well as create a safety plan with you to feel safer and more hopeful about the future. Should you need the Veterans Crisis Line, in addition to calling them, you can also reach them via confidential chat at Veterans Crisis Line or text 838255.
We can help connect you to VA and community resources that will support you in achieving your goals.
We understand that searching for resources can be challenging. Let us help you navigate through and connect with:
- How to activate VA medical benefits and enroll in care
- Where to file disability claims and other VA related forms
- How to make the most of your VA education benefits
- How to use your VA home loan
- How to access VA burial benefits
We can also assist in connecting you with a local Veteran Service Officer (VSO). Call us at 912-961-5800 to find out more information.
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.
We here at the Savannah Vet Center are committed to functioning as a focal point where Veterans and community partners can connect and engage. We actively partner with:
- Team Savannah for Veterans
- SD Gunner Fund
- American Corporate Partners (ACP)
- Soldiers Closet
- Provisions For Patriots
- Veterans Council of Chatham County
We also work with the surrounding military bases such as Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Our networks also extend out to the First Responder departments within the greater Savannah area.
Please call 912-961-5800 if you or your organization is interested in learning more about ways to partner with us.
We offer secure and confidential individual and group counseling through telehealth. You can schedule a phone or video appointment for Vet Center services.
Busy schedule? We get it! We have easy-to-use telehealth platforms that allow us to provide you with the same high-quality services virtually. Please let your assigned counselor know, and we'll accommodate you to the best of our ability. All you need is a smartphone (or similar device), internet connection, and a private location.
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.