Find therapy for veterans
Military service creates unique psychological challenges that require specialized therapeutic approaches. FindSupport matches you with therapists who have specific experience working with veterans — online or in-person.
Find therapy for veterans →No pressure. No commitment. Just a first step.
How FindSupport Works
Describe your situation
Tell us what you're going through in your own words
Get matched
Our AI finds specialists who fit your needs
Reach out
Contact your match through FindSupport
Therapy by the numbers
Based on 2748 licensed therapists across the United States · Updated July 2026
Specialization breakdown
Understanding the Mental Health Needs of Veterans
Veterans face particular mental health challenges, including PTSD, combat trauma, transition to civilian life, survivor's guilt, and substance use.
Many veterans stop after one session with a civilian therapist who doesn't understand military life — the culture, the language, what deployment and coming home actually involve. A therapist with military experience or training can skip the explanations and get to the work.
Effective Therapy Approaches for Veterans
Approaches therapists commonly use with veterans include EMDR, prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, group therapy, and trauma-focused CBT. The best approach depends on individual needs, preferences, and specific challenges.
Trauma-focused methods such as Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure are structured, time-limited courses, and many veterans use group or peer support alongside them. If your care runs through the VA or TRICARE, ask up front whether the therapist accepts it.
How to Find the Right Therapist for Veterans
Ask a prospective therapist how often they work with veterans on PTSD or combat trauma, and whether they use EMDR or prolonged exposure therapy. Their answer tells you more than a list of credentials.
FindSupport matches you with licensed therapists who list experience with veterans. Describe what you're dealing with — PTSD, for example — and we'll surface the specialists most relevant to it.
What the directory shows about therapists for veterans
City pages for veterans cover Los Angeles (21 listed), Chicago (32 listed), Phoenix (18 listed), and San Diego (25 listed). If you live elsewhere, about 6% of listed therapists mention online sessions on their profile — useful when local options for veterans are few.
Among FindSupport profiles that list their specialties, 25% name trauma and PTSD and 13% name addiction. If survivor's guilt is what you want help with, put it in your first message: it lets a therapist say plainly whether it is work they do often. Asking whether someone works with group therapy — and why or why not for you — is a quick way to hear how they think.
Ready to find the right therapist?
Describe your situation and get matched in minutes.
Find therapy for veterans →Frequently Asked Questions
Why see a therapist who specializes in working with veterans?
A specialist already understands issues like PTSD, combat trauma, and transition to civilian life and knows the approaches commonly used with veterans, such as EMDR and prolonged exposure therapy — so less of each session goes to explaining context.
How do I find a therapist who specializes in working with veterans?
Look for therapists who list veterans among the groups they work with, then ask about their experience with PTSD and combat trauma. On FindSupport you can describe your situation and get matched with therapists who have that experience.
What should I expect in my first therapy session as a veteran?
Expect to talk about what brought you in — for many veterans that is PTSD or combat trauma — and what you want to change. The therapist will explain how they work (often EMDR) so you can judge whether the fit feels right.
Is online therapy effective for veterans?
For many veterans, yes. The VA runs one of the largest telehealth services in the country, and structured trauma therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy are commonly delivered by video — useful if you live far from a clinic.
What therapy approaches work best for veterans?
Approaches commonly used include EMDR, prolonged exposure therapy, and cognitive processing therapy. Which fits best depends on whether your main concern is PTSD, combat trauma, or transition to civilian life; a good therapist tailors the approach to you.
Do veterans have to use the VA for counseling or therapy?
No. You can see any licensed therapist or counselor and pay privately or through other insurance. If you're eligible, the VA, VA community care (which pays approved local providers) and TRICARE can lower the cost.
2,637+ therapists across 144 cities. Find the right one for you.
← Explore all topics Browse directory