United Counseling Service of Bennington County

About United Counseling Service of Bennington County

United Counseling Service (UCS) is a private, non-profit community mental health center that has been an essential part of Bennington County’s integrated healthcare system since 1958. The organization has been designated as a Center of Excellence by Vermont Care Partners. UCS promotes healthy lifestyles through all its programs and offers care at 17 different facilities, including two primary outpatient facilities in Bennington and Manchester. UCS provides outpatient counseling and addiction services, emergency mental health services, extensive rehabilitation services, home and school-based services, employment services for people recovering from mental illness or with developmental disabilities, and early childhood services.  For more information visit www.ucsvt.org.

Our Mission

Building a stronger community by empowering individuals and families to live healthy and meaningful lives.

Services Offered

Bennington County Head Start and Early Head Start (United Children’s Services)

Head Start and Early Head Start of Bennington County provide a variety of community and center-based learning programs for children and their families, to help children grow intellectually, socially and emotionally.

Developmental Services (DS)

Our Developmental Services division delivers high quality, innovative community programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Bennington County. Supports and services are individualized based on a person’s needs, hopes and dreams. Our approach is person-centered so that people with disabilities are happy and productive members of their community.

Emergency Services

UCS Emergency Services provides immediate assistance to individuals in crisis 24 hours per day, seven days per week, anywhere in Bennington County, via 802-442-5491. A clinician responds to all requests and helps arrange more intense levels of care as needed, such as hospital or short-term crisis bed.

Adult Mental Health and Substance Use Services

As Bennington’s Designated Agency and Preferred Provider, we offer outpatient individual and group therapy, case management, and information and referrals for adults, children and families. We offer eRecovery Connections through CHESS Health, harm reduction resources, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and medication assisted treatment (MAT). UCS Targeted Care Management offers comprehensive psychiatric and rehabilitative services to adults with long-term mental illness. UCS can provide community education and consultation as needed, as well as an employee assistance program (EAP).

Psychiatric Services

The Psychiatric Medical team (PMT) provides support and oversight for clinical management of psychiatric medical conditions for UCS clients. Our Psychiatrist and nurse practitioners provide comprehensive evaluation, medication management, clinical support, education, and supervision. They consult with medical personnel in the community by direct patient consultation or case review. Nursing staff oversee medication administration, education and clinical consultation.

Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS)

Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) provides a trauma-informed system of care for children, youth and families to build positive family dynamics, personal self-esteem, and vital social skills through an extensive array of home and community-based services for children and adolescents. CYFS offers support and safe community environments that promote growth, development, physical and mental health, and foster positive relationships.