About the San Jose Vet Center, Readjustment Counseling Services:

The Vet-Center program provides a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfactory post-war readjustment to civilian life.  These services are provided in both English and Spanish.
Readjustment counseling services include: individual, group, and marital/family counseling; medical referrals; PTSD evaluations; alcohol & drug treatment referrals; information & referral to community resources; sexual trauma counseling; bereavement counseling; employment counseling, guidance, and referral; benefits assistance.

Vet Center staff respect the privacy of all veterans.  We hold in the strictest confidence all information disclosed in the counseling process.  No information will be released to any person or agency without written consent from the client, except in circumstances averting a crises.   For more information including eligibility, click on http://www.va.gov/rcs/

History of Vet Centers

The Vet Center was developed in 1979 by congressional action to help veterans deal with their readjustment issues after their combat experiences.  There are currently 206 Vet Centers all over the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico to help veterans and their family members.  The San Jose Vet Center opened its doors in 1979.  Legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President changes eligibility for Vet Center services (Public Law 104-262), and extends definition of the Vietnam era for war zone veterans (P.L. 104-275). 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms

• Recurrent, intrusive, and distressing thoughts about the event

• Recurrent dreams, nightmares (sometimes called “night terrors”) about the event

• Flashbacks (a sense of reliving the event)

• Distress caused by reminders of the event (sights, sounds, smells)

• Alienation, isolation, and avoidance of people and places

• Emotional numbing

• Exaggerated startled response (usually to loud noises)

• Hyper-vigilant, or survivalist behavior

• Survivor guilt (for having survived when others did not, or for behavior required to survival

• Problems with authority

• Relationship problems

• Irritability

• Anger

• Rage

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Panic Attacks