Chicago 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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We’re located at 8658 South Sacramento Ave. We're on the East Side of Kedzie and on the North Side of 87th street on Sacramento Ave. We’re a one-story building with ample parking. We have a wheelchair accessible ramp located on the left side of the door when looking at the building. Please give us a call at 773-962-3740 if you need further directions.
Parking
We have 2 accessible parking spots close to our Vet Center for Veterans and service members. We also have our very own parking lot.
First-time visitor? Give us a call and we can discuss any questions you might have prior to scheduling an appointment. You also may stop by during our office hours to discuss how we can help.
Making an appointment
You can call 773-962-3740 (TTY: 711) to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors.
Once you contact us, we’ll take your information. Then we’ll follow up with you to schedule your initial intake appointment. Scheduling availability varies, but our goal is to get you scheduled quickly. Once you complete your initial intake appointment with one of our Team Members, we’ll match and schedule you with a counselor. We’ll immediately help anyone who is in crisis.
Cancelling 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.
If you call our main line after hours, or on weekends or holidays, you’ll automatically get connected to the Vet Center Call Center, which is open 24/7.
The CTA's 87th Street bus runs eastbound and westbound and there are two bus stops, one for each stop; near our parking lot entrance.
To get more information or to find scheduling visit the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
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.
VHA Office Hours at Chicago Vet Center January 8th, 2024
Veterans, visit the Chicago Vet Center during VHA Office Hours! Get assistance with VA healthcare enrollment, benefits and services directly from a VHA Representative. We're here to support you every step of the way. Call us to learn more!
VBA On-site on scheduled Fridays
A representative from VBA Chicago Regional Office is available on-site to provide assistance in educating and informing Active Duty service members, Veterans, Caregivers, survivors and dependents regarding benefits earned through service.
Counseling services
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We offer couples and family counseling to support you as you work toward meeting your goals.
Our counselors 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. This can coincide with family therapy. During individual therapy, counselors may 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.
Couples and family therapy can help with:
- Improved communication needs
- Partner distress
- Problem solving skills
- Family transitioning challenges
- Expectations after the deployment
- Family changes during the deployment
- Numbing/avoidance in family interactions
- Sleep disturbances
- Child behavioral concerns
- Family violence/domestic abuse
- Managing stress as a family
- PTSD and the family
If someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change, we’re here to support you.
We offer bereavement counseling to family members of Veterans that were receiving Vet Center services at the time of the Veteran's death, to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty, and to family members of Veterans or service members who die by suicide.
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 marriage and family therapists (LMFT).
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
We offer some of the following evidence-based treatments:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Gottman Therapy for Couples
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
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. You can call us at 773-962-3740. Our counselors have ways to help you cope with MST and empower you to not only survive but to thrive. Based on your preference, we have male and female counselors available to help you.
If you’re a Veteran from a minority community, we can help you find counseling, support, and referral services to meet your specific needs.
We have Spanish-speaking staff members onsite. We recognize the important role family members play in your life. That’s why we welcome anyone you consider to be family to come in with you.
Conveniently located in your community, we proudly offer a variety of services designed to help you and your family navigate challenges, build meaningful connections, and develop tools to achieve success in both military and civilian life.
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.
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 marriage and family therapists (LMFT).
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
We offer some of the following evidence-based treatments:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Gottman Therapy for Couples
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
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
If you have any questions call 773-962-3740.
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 related to other stressors in your life. We’ll help support you with relapse intervention and prevention. We’ll also help 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. We want to support you in the moment, and also create a safety plan with you to feel safer and more hopeful about the future.
You can also reach the Veteran Crisis Line via text at 838255 or through confidential chat on the website.
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 877-927-8387 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’re committed to functioning as a focal point where Veterans, service members, and community partners can connect and engage. We actively partner with:
- Honor Flight Chicago
- Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
- Merging Vets and Players (MVP)
- Chicago Veterans
- The Mission Continues
- Volunteers of America
- Travis Manion Foundation
- Wounded Warrior Project
Our networks also extend out to the First Responder departments throughout the Chicagoland area.
Please call 773-962-3740 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.
We serve our remote communities using VA Video Connect. Call us at 773-962-3740 to learn how we can complement your in-person care with virtual services.
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:
-
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.