Free Resources for Veterans
There is more support out there than you realize.
When you deal with mental health issues, it’s a lot of work just to make it through the day.
If we’ve ever spoken about your mental health, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard me make a similar statement. It might have been after you told me that you “just” go to work and come home every day. It might have been after you guiltily said that you don’t always keep up with your personal hygiene.
Existing can take so much energy. When it takes all you’ve got to keep your head above water, the thought of finding proper support becomes yet another daunting task to add to the pile. But there are many available options beyond the VA. I hope this list of resources can offer you a more manageable place to start.
A few notes about these resources:
- I tried to only list free services, but I cannot guarantee my accuracy. Please check with each organization.
- Based on the available information, I tried to categorize each organization according to one or more of their service areas. Organizations may provide additional services.
- It appears that Combined Arms would be a good place for you to start, since they can steer you to one of their 200+ partner organizations.
- I am not specifically endorsing any of these organizations.
- If you have feedback (positive or negative) or additional helpful information about any of these resources, please feel free to let me know.
Mental Health
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
Free wellness service for veterans and active duty – free of cost, free of stigma, and free from judgment. Make a 1:1 connection with a Wellness Coordinator to establish consistent support.
Headstrong’s network of trauma-informed clinical partners provide individualized, evidence-based outpatient care to our clients. 30 cost-free sessions of PTSD treatment.
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible Veterans, service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Find your nearest Vet Center.
Clinicians providing neurofeedback services for veterans with a minimum of 20 sessions at no cost.
Comprehensive instruction in HeartMath’s research-based self-regulation techniques and technologies that promote sustainable stress tolerance, resilience, alertness and composure before, during and after high-pressure situations.
SF Bay Area
Free, confidential psychological counseling and evaluation for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families
Transforming our nation’s approach to mental health through the science of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG).
Some of their programs include:
- Warrior PATHH: A 90-day, non-pharmacological, peer-delivered training program that begins with a 7-day intensive and immersive initiation. This is followed by 3 months of dedicated support, training, accountability, and connection from a team of trained combat veterans.
- Family Rest & Reconnection: Giving families a chance to unwind and reconnect in an idyllic setting in Virginia or Arizona.
- Military Teen Weekends: This meaningful program allows teenagers the chance to be themselves amongst peers who can truly understand the sacrifices of military families.
Giving service members and military families tools to stay well and thrive.
Some of their programs include:
- Health and wellness coaching: Weight management, fitness and nutrition, living well with a health condition, stress management and life transitions (adapting to lifestyle change or retirement).
- Financial counseling: free financial counseling to service members and their families on issues such as budgeting, money management and debt reduction.
- In-person, free counseling sessions are available to active-duty, National Guard and reserve members of any activation status, their immediate family members and survivors.
- Non-medical counseling: free, short-term, confidential non-medical counseling services for a wide range of issues from marital conflicts and stress management to coping with grief and deployment adjustments
A variety of courses available to help with sleep issues, problem-solving, etc.
Some of their courses include:
- Academic Success for Student Veterans: Skills and tools to help with remote learning challenges.
- Anger & Irritability Management Skills: Learn anger management techniques
- Parenting for Veterans: Tools for parenting
- Path to Better Sleep: an online program to help with sleep challenges
Placing highly-skilled service and guide dogs to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with physical injuries, PTSD, hearing and vision loss, and seizures.
(South Carolina or Louisiana)
Active duty military personnel, veterans, and their family members who live in South Carolina and Louisiana can see one of their specialized counselors at no cost.
(AZ, CA, HI, NV, TX, D.C.)
Their mission is the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support.
Some of their programs include:
- Women Vets on Point: Offering support, resources and a variety of mental health care options to women during or after their service
- Housing Program: Offering both temporary and permanent solutions to uplift at-risk, low-income, and homeless veterans and families
Supporting injured post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.
Some of their programs include:
- Project Odyssey: a 12-week mental health program that uses adventure-based learning
- WWP Talk: One-on-one, telephonic mental health support line
- Warrior Care Network: 2-week specialized programs to help veterans with mental health issues and TBI
- Warriors to Work: resources and assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce
- WWP Benefits Services
(Atlanta, GA or virtually)
Traditional outpatient treatment and a two-week Intensive Outpatient Program for mental health, substance use disorders, and TBI are offered in-person at their Atlanta clinic or via telehealth in eligible states.
- Take a look at their Veterans Program Brochure.
(Los Angeles, CA)
Advanced surgical and medical treatment, comprehensive psychological evaluation and support, and an Intensive Treatment Program.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Treatment Programs: 4-week hybrid program for PTSD or TBI
- Physical Injury Programs: Advanced medical specialty care for multiple areas
(New England, Florida, or virtually)
Healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Clinical Program: two years of treatment in a two-week program for PTSD or TBI
- Home Base Outpatient Clinic (New England and Florida): offering in-person and virtual treatment to Veterans, Service Members and their Families
- Resiliency Programs: 6-session educational mind-body courses that help Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen manage their stress more effectively
- Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program: Designed specifically for Special Operations Veterans and Service Members, the Home Base 5-day Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program, or ComBHaT, treats the whole mind and body at a pace and personalization that operators expect
- Warrior Health & Fitness Program (New England and Florida)
- Adventure Series (New England and Florida)
- Skillful Parenting: a 7-session educational course that helps Military-connected Family Members learn helpful tools to feel more confident in their parenting and better support their children
- Operation Health@Home: coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health to help you feel your best
(Chicago, IL, Effingham, IL, or virtually for Illinois residents)
Dedicated to the mental health and wellness of veterans, service members, members of the National Guard, reservists and families at no cost and regardless of discharge status.
Programs include:
- IOP: a two-week intensive outpatient treatment program to address symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat trauma, military sexual trauma (MST), depression, anxiety, substance use, traumatic brain injuries and more
- Outpatient: In-person therapy and counseling offered in Chicago and Effingham or virtually to Illinois residents only
Drugs/Alcohol Problems
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
(AZ, CA, HI, NV, TX, D.C.)
Their mission is the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support.
Some of their programs include:
- Women Vets on Point: Offering support, resources and a variety of mental health care options to women during or after their service
- Housing Program: Offering both temporary and permanent solutions to uplift at-risk, low-income, and homeless veterans and families
(New England, Florida, or virtually)
Healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Clinical Program: two years of treatment in a two-week program for PTSD or TBI
- Home Base Outpatient Clinic (New England and Florida): offering in-person and virtual treatment to Veterans, Service Members and their Families
- Resiliency Programs: 6-session educational mind-body courses that help Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen manage their stress more effectively
- Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program: Designed specifically for Special Operations Veterans and Service Members, the Home Base 5-day Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program, or ComBHaT, treats the whole mind and body at a pace and personalization that operators expect
- Warrior Health & Fitness Program (New England and Florida)
- Adventure Series (New England and Florida)
- Skillful Parenting: a 7-session educational course that helps Military-connected Family Members learn helpful tools to feel more confident in their parenting and better support their children
- Operation Health@Home: coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health to help you feel your best
(Atlanta, GA or virtually)
Traditional outpatient treatment and a two-week Intensive Outpatient Program for mental health, substance use disorders, and TBI are offered in-person at their Atlanta clinic or via telehealth in eligible states.
- Take a look at their Veterans Program Brochure.
Family/Couples
Transforming our nation’s approach to mental health through the science of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG).
Some of their programs include:
- Warrior PATHH: A 90-day, non-pharmacological, peer-delivered training program that begins with a 7-day intensive and immersive initiation. This is followed by 3 months of dedicated support, training, accountability, and connection from a team of trained combat veterans.
- Family Rest & Reconnection: Giving families a chance to unwind and reconnect in an idyllic setting in Virginia or Arizona.
- Military Teen Weekends: This meaningful program allows teenagers the chance to be themselves amongst peers who can truly understand the sacrifices of military families.
A variety of courses available to help with sleep issues, problem-solving, etc.
Some of their courses include:
- Academic Success for Student Veterans: Skills and tools to help with remote learning challenges.
- Anger & Irritability Management Skills: Learn anger management techniques
- Parenting for Veterans: Tools for parenting
- Path to Better Sleep: an online program to help with sleep challenges
(New England, Florida, or virtually)
Healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Clinical Program: two years of treatment in a two-week program for PTSD or TBI
- Home Base Outpatient Clinic (New England and Florida): offering in-person and virtual treatment to Veterans, Service Members and their Families
- Resiliency Programs: 6-session educational mind-body courses that help Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen manage their stress more effectively
- Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program: Designed specifically for Special Operations Veterans and Service Members, the Home Base 5-day Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program, or ComBHaT, treats the whole mind and body at a pace and personalization that operators expect
- Warrior Health & Fitness Program (New England and Florida)
- Adventure Series (New England and Florida)
- Skillful Parenting: a 7-session educational course that helps Military-connected Family Members learn helpful tools to feel more confident in their parenting and better support their children
- Operation Health@Home: coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health to help you feel your best
Supporting injured post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.
Some of their programs include:
- Project Odyssey: a 12-week mental health program that uses adventure-based learning
- WWP Talk: One-on-one, telephonic mental health support line
- Warrior Care Network: 2-week specialized programs to help veterans with mental health issues and TBI
- Warriors to Work: resources and assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce
- WWP Benefits Services
(Chicago, IL, Effingham, IL, or virtually for Illinois residents)
Dedicated to the mental health and wellness of veterans, service members, members of the National Guard, reservists and families at no cost and regardless of discharge status.
Programs include:
- IOP: a two-week intensive outpatient treatment program to address symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat trauma, military sexual trauma (MST), depression, anxiety, substance use, traumatic brain injuries and more
- Outpatient: In-person therapy and counseling offered in Chicago and Effingham or virtually to Illinois residents only
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
(New England, Florida, or virtually)
Healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Clinical Program: two years of treatment in a two-week program for PTSD or TBI
- Home Base Outpatient Clinic (New England and Florida): offering in-person and virtual treatment to Veterans, Service Members and their Families
- Resiliency Programs: 6-session educational mind-body courses that help Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen manage their stress more effectively
- Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program: Designed specifically for Special Operations Veterans and Service Members, the Home Base 5-day Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program, or ComBHaT, treats the whole mind and body at a pace and personalization that operators expect
- Warrior Health & Fitness Program (New England and Florida)
- Adventure Series (New England and Florida)
- Skillful Parenting: a 7-session educational course that helps Military-connected Family Members learn helpful tools to feel more confident in their parenting and better support their children
- Operation Health@Home: coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health to help you feel your best
(Los Angeles, CA)
Advanced surgical and medical treatment, comprehensive psychological evaluation and support, and an Intensive Treatment Program.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Treatment Programs: 4-week hybrid program for PTSD or TBI
- Physical Injury Programs: Advanced medical specialty care for multiple areas
(Atlanta, GA or virtually)
Traditional outpatient treatment and a two-week Intensive Outpatient Program for mental health, substance use disorders, and TBI are offered in-person at their Atlanta clinic or via telehealth in eligible states.
- Take a look at their Veterans Program Brochure.
Finances
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
Provides relief and recurring family support programs and services throughout the year to help military families overcome short-term difficulties so they don’t become long-term hardships.
Some of their programs include:
- Critical Financial Assistance: short-term financial help for military families who are experiencing financial hardship
- Housing: transitional and permanent housing
Serving all branches of our nation’s Wounded Heroes/Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Families and First Responders with personal and financial needs.
Some of their programs include:
- Family Assistance Program: Alleviating the financial difficulties facing these families.
- Project Specialized Training: Provides these certification trainings for Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching and CompTIA Security Plus
Giving service members and military families tools to stay well and thrive.
Some of their programs include:
- Health and wellness coaching: Weight management, fitness and nutrition, living well with a health condition, stress management and life transitions (adapting to lifestyle change or retirement).
- Financial counseling: free financial counseling to service members and their families on issues such as budgeting, money management and debt reduction.
- In-person, free counseling sessions are available to active-duty, National Guard and reserve members of any activation status, their immediate family members and survivors.
- Non-medical counseling: free, short-term, confidential non-medical counseling services for a wide range of issues from marital conflicts and stress management to coping with grief and deployment adjustments
Benefits Assistance
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
In addition to the services and benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other Federal Agencies, most States offer unique benefits and services to Veterans, family members, caregivers and survivors. Here are links to the Department of Veterans Affairs office for each state or territory.
Every state provides Veterans Service Officers in addition to VSOs through nationwide organizations.
Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) will help you write and submit your benefits claims to the VA. Their services are free. They will help you gather the information that supports your claim. Once the claim is filed they will help you track the claim through the system. They can also help you file appeals for denied claims.
Supporting injured post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.
Some of their programs include:
- Project Odyssey: a 12-week mental health program that uses adventure-based learning
- WWP Talk: One-on-one, telephonic mental health support line
- Warrior Care Network: 2-week specialized programs to help veterans with mental health issues and TBI
- Warriors to Work: resources and assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce
- WWP Benefits Services
Housing
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
Builds mortgage-free smart homes for our most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
Provides relief and recurring family support programs and services throughout the year to help military families overcome short-term difficulties so they don’t become long-term hardships.
Some of their programs include:
- Critical Financial Assistance: short-term financial help for military families who are experiencing financial hardship
- Housing: transitional and permanent housing
(AZ, CA, HI, NV, TX, D.C.)
Their mission is the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support.
Some of their programs include:
- Women Vets on Point: Offering support, resources and a variety of mental health care options to women during or after their service
- Housing Program: Offering both temporary and permanent solutions to uplift at-risk, low-income, and homeless veterans and families
Medical
(Los Angeles, CA)
Advanced surgical and medical treatment, comprehensive psychological evaluation and support, and an Intensive Treatment Program.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Treatment Programs: 4-week hybrid program for PTSD or TBI
- Physical Injury Programs: Advanced medical specialty care for multiple areas
Placing highly-skilled service and guide dogs to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with physical injuries, PTSD, hearing and vision loss, and seizures.
Health & Fitness
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
Giving service members and military families tools to stay well and thrive.
Some of their programs include:
- Health and wellness coaching: Weight management, fitness and nutrition, living well with a health condition, stress management and life transitions (adapting to lifestyle change or retirement).
- Financial counseling: free financial counseling to service members and their families on issues such as budgeting, money management and debt reduction.
- In-person, free counseling sessions are available to active-duty, National Guard and reserve members of any activation status, their immediate family members and survivors.
- Non-medical counseling: free, short-term, confidential non-medical counseling services for a wide range of issues from marital conflicts and stress management to coping with grief and deployment adjustments
Supporting injured post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.
Some of their programs include:
- Project Odyssey: a 12-week mental health program that uses adventure-based learning
- WWP Talk: One-on-one, telephonic mental health support line
- Warrior Care Network: 2-week specialized programs to help veterans with mental health issues and TBI
- Warriors to Work: resources and assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce
- WWP Benefits Services
(New England, Florida, or virtually)
Healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location.
Some of their programs include:
- Intensive Clinical Program: two years of treatment in a two-week program for PTSD or TBI
- Home Base Outpatient Clinic (New England and Florida): offering in-person and virtual treatment to Veterans, Service Members and their Families
- Resiliency Programs: 6-session educational mind-body courses that help Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen manage their stress more effectively
- Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program: Designed specifically for Special Operations Veterans and Service Members, the Home Base 5-day Comprehensive Brain Health and Trauma Program, or ComBHaT, treats the whole mind and body at a pace and personalization that operators expect
- Warrior Health & Fitness Program (New England and Florida)
- Adventure Series (New England and Florida)
- Skillful Parenting: a 7-session educational course that helps Military-connected Family Members learn helpful tools to feel more confident in their parenting and better support their children
- Operation Health@Home: coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health to help you feel your best
Work/School
A community resource referral system for active service members, veterans, and their families and other military-connected individuals. Helps find needed resources to thrive professionally and personally in the areas of community, wellness, professional support, and essential services.
The EBV program leverages the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans.
Provides free job search assistance to U.S. military members, veterans and their spouses, and we help companies connect with opportunities to hire them.
Serving all branches of our nation’s Wounded Heroes/Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Families and First Responders with personal and financial needs.
Some of their programs include:
- Family Assistance Program: Alleviating the financial difficulties facing these families.
- Project Specialized Training: Provides these certification trainings for Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching and CompTIA Security Plus
(AZ, CA, HI, NV, TX, D.C.)
Their mission is the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support.
Some of their programs include:
- Women Vets on Point: Offering support, resources and a variety of mental health care options to women during or after their service
- Housing Program: Offering both temporary and permanent solutions to uplift at-risk, low-income, and homeless veterans and families
Supporting injured post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.
Some of their programs include:
- Project Odyssey: a 12-week mental health program that uses adventure-based learning
- WWP Talk: One-on-one, telephonic mental health support line
- Warrior Care Network: 2-week specialized programs to help veterans with mental health issues and TBI
- Warriors to Work: resources and assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce
- WWP Benefits Services