Northern Maine Vet Center
We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families, free of charge and without limitation, in a non-clinical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as readjustment to civilian life, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in the 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
We've closed our Vet Center at this time, due to weather-related issues. We're conducting all appointments virtually. Please contact us by phone or online. If you need to speak with someone confidentially, please call us anytime 24/7 at
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? Stop by, walk in, or give us a call and ask how we can help. Call
Many of our services are available on a walk-in basis, free of charge and without limitation.
Appointments can be made by either visiting the Vet Center, on a walk-in basis, or calling the Vet Center.
Making an appointment:
After your initial contact with the Northern Maine Vet Center (NMVC), a Vet Center Counselor will be assigned to call you to schedule an appointment. You can expect a return call within 2 business days, and we should be able to schedule your first appointment within 10 business days, depending on schedule availabilities.
Anyone in crisis will be seen within the same day.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, you can give us a call and we will be happy to discuss a date and time that works best for you to meet with a counselor.
Cancelling or rescheduling an appointment:
If you know you will miss an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can reschedule your appointment and make that time available for another Veteran.
Contacting us:
You can call us anytime during our posted hours of operation (8:00am - 4:30pm). If you need to call outside of those times, on weekends, or holidays, you can call the NMVC number (
You may also visit us at the Vet Center located at 456 York Street, Caribou Maine, 04736.
The Northern Maine Vet Center is located at the intersection of York Street and Washburn Street in Caribou.
We are at the York Street Complex where there is ample, well-lit parking.
The building and parking are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A variety of transportation options are available through the VA and community services.
Because your situation may be unique, please contact the Vet Center at
You do not 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 will look for one or more of the following:
- Discharge documents (such as a DD214)
- Receipt of certain awards
- Deployment orders
- Other documents that show qualifying military service
Request your military service records online.
If you don’t have these documents on-hand, 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.
Northern Maine Vet Center Groups
We offer a variety of group options, including
- PTSD
- Vietnam Veteran
- OEF / OIF
- Recovery Groups
Contact Edward at
Counseling services
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We offer couples and family counseling to support you as you work toward meeting your goals.
The Northern Maine Vet Center offers counseling and support services for couples, free of charge and without limitation. The Vet Center has counselors specially trained, qualified and experienced in family and couples counseling.
Care includes:
- Family counseling
- Individual family member
- Significant Other individual counseling
- Couple’s counseling and support
For family or significant other individual counseling, it is required that the Veteran is a current client.
If someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change, we’re here to support you.
The Northern Maine Vet Center provides individual and family counseling, free of charge and without limitation.
The Northern Maine Vet Center also offers the following counseling and support.
- Bereavement Counseling for families who have lost a loved one while they were serving on active duty.
- Grief Counseling
- Contact information to the Veterans Benefits Administration and local and national cemetery regarding possible burial and survivor benefits
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.
The Northern Maine Vet Center offers individual and group counseling free of charge and without limitation. We also provide referral services to appropriate resources in our community.
Care at our center includes
- One-on-one counseling sessions targeted at your individual needs
- Group counseling for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, Vietnam Veterans; Spouse / Significant Others, and more evidenced based therapies.
- Combat-related groups
- Vietnam Veteran groups
- PTSD
- Substance addiction
- Family / couples therapy
- Military Sexual Trauma
We offer the following evidence-based therapies:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Biofeedback therapies
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.
At the Northern Maine Vet Center, we offer individual and group counseling for military sexual trauma free of charge and without limitation. We also provide referral services to appropriate resources in our community.
We have specially trained and experienced military sexual trauma therapists who utilize a trauma-informed care approach to assist with your counseling needs.
We offer one-on-one counseling sessions using evidenced based therapies, significant others, and family counseling to MST Survivors.
We also offer referral and supportive services to MST survivors through community partners and VA medical care.
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.
The Northern Maine Vet Center offers individual and group counseling and other support, free of charge and without limitation, including
- Combat-related groups
- Vietnam Groups
We offer the following evidence-based therapies
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
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.
The Northern Maine Vet Center offers readjustment counseling free of charge and without limitation. We understand that the readjustment from military to civilian life can be a challenge. We offer a variety of ways to assist you in that process. We provide one-on-one sessions, family, and couples counseling using proven therapies to help you and your significant others with readjustment.
The Northern Maine Vet Canter can also provide references for:
- VA medical benefits and register for care
- Filing claims and other forms
- VA education benefits
- VA burial benefits
- Housing and home loans
We can also connect you to Veterans Service Organizations in your community.
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.
The Northern Maine Vet Center can help with substance use problems, free of charge and without limitation, to support you and connect you with services.
We provide long-term care and support to help Veterans and service members overcome underlying issues.
We also refer Veterans and service members struggling with addiction to the VA Health Care System and other community partners to detoxify and gain stability.
We have trained and experienced alcohol and drug addiction therapists on site to assist you.
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.
At the Northern Maine Vet Center, we offer individual and multi-person suicide prevention counseling, free of charge and without limitation. We also provide referral services to appropriate resources in our community. We have counselors specifically trained, licensed, and experienced in helping Veterans and service members with suicidal issues.
Care at the Northern Maine Vet Center includes:
- One-on-one counseling sessions targeted at your individual needs
- Family and significant other counseling
We can help connect you to VA and community resources that will support you in achieving your goals.
If you are returning from military service, we’ll help you readjust to civilian life. We can connect you with educational and career counseling, mental health services, and other programs and benefits that will support your readjustment.
We understand that the readjustment from military to civilian life can be a challenge. We can provide information and some assistance with:
- VA medical benefits and enrollment for care
- Filing claims and other forms
- VA education benefits
- Housing and home loans
- VA burial benefits
The Northern Maine Vet Center can also connect you to Veterans Service Organizations in your community.
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.
The Northern Maine Vet Center cultivates and maintains extensive contacts and relationships with local communities and community services.
If you are part of a local community organization, the Northern Maine Vet Center would like to offer our outreach services. We can provide education and information on the services the Vet Center provides, military culture and Veteran and service member needs.
We are available to participate in, and provide outreach at, community activities, festivities, concerts, and festivals, among other things.
The Northern Maine Vet Center can also connect you to Veterans Service Organizations in your community.
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
-
The Veteran was using Vet Center services at the time of their death, or
-
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.