Title

South Bend Vet Center

Name of Vet Center
South Bend Vet Center
Operating status
Normal services and hours
Top of page information
Page introduction
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.
Locations and contact information
Facility ID
vc_0444V
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Main location address

4727 Miami Street
South Bend, IN 46614-3225
United States

Direct line
574-231-8480
Hours
Mon: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Tue: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Wed: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Thu: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Fri: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
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Hours details

We also have non-traditional hours that change periodically given our community’s needs. Please call us to find out more.

Call center information

Our call center is available 24/7. Call us anytime at 877-927-8387.

Facility photo
South Bend Vet Center
Featured content
Highlight up to two Vet Center activities, such as events or programs.
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Find connection, find camaraderie, find community

Learn more about the confidential and comfortable environment you’ll find at your local Vet Center.

Hear what Vet Centers can do for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMzkZNbKk1I&feature=youtu.be
Featured content

Guitars for Vets (G4V)

Come and learn to play the guitar. 

Guitars for Vets is dedicated to providing relief to struggling Veterans through the healing power of music and community. Call us at 574-231-8480 to join the group or for more info.

Learn more about Guitars for Vets
https://guitars4vets.org/

2022 Marshall County Stand Down

On October 14, 2022, the Veterans Resource Network will be conducting a Military Veteran Stand Down from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Council, 901 East Jefferson Street in Plymouth. 

Visit the Veterans Resource Network
https://sites.google.com/goodwill-ni.com/veteranservices/home
Prepare for your visit
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Prepare for your visit accordions
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Appointments

First time visitor? Stop by during our office hours or give us a call and let’s discuss how we can help.

  • Masks are required inside the building.
  • Many of our services are available on a walk-in basis, by telephone, or through telehealth.
  • Services at our Community Access Points are available by appointment only.

You can also call 574-231-8480 to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors. 

Non-traditional hours are available.

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Parking and building access

We have parking spaces on the side and rear of the building. Please feel free to park in any available space. 

We are located across the street from Kohl's Department Store in Erskine Village.

We have accessible parking and an accessible entrance to the Vet Center available.

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Transportation service and schedule

Bus

The Route 6 South Michigan/Erskine Village makes stops across the street from our center.

Check South Bend Transpo website for bus schedules and maps

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What to bring

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'll look for one or more of the following:

  • Discharge documents (such as DD-214)
  • Receipt of certain awards
  • Deployment orders
  • Other documents that show qualifying military service

Request your military service records online

If you don’t have any of these documents on hand, come in and we can work with you to establish your eligibility and also answer any questions you might have.

Services
South Bend Vet Center - Addiction and substance abuse care
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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.

We offer individual counseling to help with addiction and substance use. We’re also able to refer you to our VA Medical Center and one of our local community partners.

South Bend Vet Center - Couples and family counseling
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We offer couples and family counseling to support you as you work toward meeting your goals.

This includes Veteran-centered brief family consultations. These are brief interventions designed to integrate the Veteran’s family and/or chosen supports into their recovery process.

South Bend Vet Center - Community engagement
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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 work with our local partners and use our resources to advocate for your needs to support our Veteran community.

Some of our partners include:

  • Veterans Resource Network
  • Local first responders
  • The National Guard, Reserve, and active duty units
  • College and universities in our local community
  • County Veteran Service Officers
South Bend Vet Center - Grief and bereavement counseling
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We’re here to support you if someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change.

We support Gold Star families. We offer grief and bereavement counseling if your service member died while serving on active duty.

We can help get you connected to the Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration and navigate burial and survivor benefits using the Planning Your Legacy Toolkit.

Download VA’s toolkit for burial benefits and pre-planning information (PDF)

South Bend Vet Center - Mental health care
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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.

We offer individual and group counseling. We also offer the following evidence-based modalities: 

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This helps you learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives.
  • Prolonged Exposure (PE): This teaches you to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding since your trauma. By confronting these challenges, you can actually decrease your PTSD symptoms.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): This teaches you how to evaluate and change the upsetting thoughts you have had since your trauma. By changing your thoughts, you can change how you feel.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This helps people learn how to identify and change the destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on your behavior and emotions.

We also provide referral to VA counseling resources and therapy resources in your community.  

South Bend Vet Center - Military sexual trauma care
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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.

We offer individual and group counseling for those who have experienced military sexual trauma. We currently have both male and female counselors that can help. We also offer a weekly group on Thursdays that centers around coping with military sexual trauma.

  • Military Sexual Trauma Group is on Thursday mornings. 

If interested please contact the Vet Center at 547-231-8480.

South Bend Vet Center - PTSD care
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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 provide counseling for symptoms of PTSD that include the following evidence-based treatments.

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE): This teaches you to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding since your trauma. By confronting these challenges, you can actually decrease your PTSD symptoms.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): This teaches you how to evaluate and change the upsetting thoughts you have had since your trauma. By changing your thoughts, you can change how you feel.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This helps people learn how to identify and change the destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on their behavior and emotions.

We currently have a PTSD group that meets every Thursday in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  If you are interested, please contact the South Bend Vet Center at 574-231-8480.

South Bend Vet Center - Returning service member care
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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 understand that the transition from military to civilian life can be a challenge. We offer a variety of ways to assist you in that process such as:

  • How to get VA medical benefits and register for care
  • Where to go to file claims and other forms
  • Understanding your VA education benefits
  • Housing and home loans
  • Education and referral for VA burial benefits

We can also connect you to Veterans Service Organizations in your community.

South Bend Vet Center - Suicide prevention
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Call our Veterans Crisis Line at <a aria-label="9 8 8" href="tel:988">988</a> 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.
South Bend Vet Center - Veteran connections
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We can help connect you to VA and community resources that will support you in achieving your goals.

We understand that the transition from military to civilian life can be a challenge. We offer a variety of ways to assist you in that process such as:

  • How to get VA medical benefits and register for care
  • Where to go to file claims and other forms
  • Understanding your VA education benefits
  • Housing and home loans
  • Education and referral for VA burial benefits

We can also connect you to Veterans Service Organizations in your community.

South Bend Vet Center - Whole health
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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.

We offer the whole health program that will start you on the road to better health and well-being. Contact us for more information on how to begin.

South Bend Vet Center - Telehealth
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We offer secure and confidential individual and group counseling through telehealth. You can schedule a phone or video appointment for Vet Center services.

We understand that sometimes it can be difficult to get to your appointment because life may get in the way. We offer access to individual and group sessions via phone or video appointments.

South Bend Vet Center - Workshops and classes
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We offer workshops and classes if you want to connect with other Veterans but don't want a group counseling setting.

We understand that everyone may not be ready to jump into counseling sessions. We have our own chapter of Guitars for Vets. 

Guitars for Vets shares the healing power of music by providing free guitar instruction, a new acoustic guitar, and a guitar accessory kit in a structured program run by volunteers.

Learn more about Guitars for Vets

How we're different than a clinic (FAQs)

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How we’re different than a clinic

Click on a topic for more details.

What are Vet Centers?

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.

Who is eligible to receive services at Vet Centers?

Vet Center services are available to you at no cost, regardless of discharge character, and without you needing to be enrolled in VA health care or having a service-connected disability. If you’re a Veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, you can access our services if you:

  • Served on active military duty in any combat theater or area of hostility
  • Experienced military sexual trauma (regardless of gender or service era) 
  • Provided mortuary services or direct emergent medical care to treat the casualties of war while serving on active military duty
  • Performed as a member of an unmanned aerial vehicle crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat theater or area of hostility
  • Accessed care at a Vet Center prior to January 2, 2013, as a Vietnam-Era Veteran
  • Served on active military 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 in that state.
  • Are a current or former member of the Coast Guard who participated in a drug interdiction operation, regardless of the location.

  • Are a current member of the Reserve Components assigned to a military command in a drilling status, including active Reserves, who has a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma related to military service that adversely effects quality of life or adjustment to civilian life.

We encourage you to contact us, even if you’re unsure if you meet these criteria. If we can’t help you, we’ll find someone who will.

Our services are also available to family members when their participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or active-duty service member. If you consider them family, so do we. We also offer bereavement services to family members of Veterans who were receiving Vet Center services at the time of the Veteran’s death, and to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty.

Do I have to be enrolled in VA health care to access Vet Center services?

No. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA health care or have a service-connected disability.

What about my privacy?

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.