ST. GEORGE – The St. George Vet Center recognizes the challenges combat veterans face while readjusting to life at home, and offers support to them and their loved ones.
Spouses and partners of veterans who have served in combat operations face significant, unique challenges as they undertake the process of resuming a relationship with that veteran and supporting them in readjusting to life on the home front. The chaos of nightmares, hyper-vigilance, irritability, emotional flare-ups, propensity toward substance and alcohol abuse and other potentially dangerous behaviors makes life like walking through an endless minefield. Current studies reveal that 70 percent of combat veterans’ relationships fail or fall victim to crippling and often irreparable damage. Domestic violence rates in these relationships are well above the national average, as are suicide rates.
The Vet Center has readjustment counselors who provide individual, group, marital and family counseling to combat veterans and their loved ones in order to support the transition from war to the home front. They work with veterans’ families even if the veteran refuses to seek treatment. They educate, inform and teach skills that will alleviate communication and behavioral issues that prey on relationships. As even Black Ops veterans need someone to talk to, all of the Vet Center’s files and records are completely private.
The Vet Center holds support groups for veterans and their spouses and partners. Specifically:
• The VietVet support group meets from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m on the second Thursday of each month;
• The VietVet Wives and Partners support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month; and
• The Afghanistan/Iraq Wives and Partners support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month.
To learn more about the Vet Center’s services or to make an appointment with a readjustment counselor, call the center at 435-673-4494.
The St. George Vet Center is located at 1664 South Dixie Drive, Suite C-102, in St. George.
Submitted by: Bruce C. Solomon, readjustment counselor with the St. George Vet Center
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews