Military family life presents unique challenges and rewards. Navigating deployments, frequent relocations, and the inherent stresses of military service can impact every family member. Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) are available worldwide to assist adults and children in addressing these everyday challenges, including deployment-related stress, relationship issues, grief, and work-life balance. These behavioral health professionals offer crucial support within military communities.
Types of Family Counseling Support Available
The Military and Family Life Counseling Program offers specialized support through different types of counselors tailored to specific needs within the military family.
Child and Youth Behavioral Counseling Services
For families with children and teenagers, Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counselors provide targeted assistance. These counselors work to strengthen families and support various programs serving military youth, including Department of Defense Education Activity schools, youth programs, and camps designed for military children.
These counselors offer confidential support, consultations, and community outreach to school staff, parents, and children. They may engage directly with children and youth in activities, provide guidance and coaching to parents and educators, and demonstrate effective behavior management techniques. It’s important to note that children under 18 require written consent from a parent or guardian to receive CYB-MFLC services.
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Child Development Center CYB-MFLCs: Located within child development centers, these counselors offer readily accessible support to young children, their families, and center staff, addressing early childhood developmental and behavioral concerns.
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General CYB-MFLCs: These counselors provide broader community support, available both on and off military installations. They are a flexible resource to meet the diverse needs of children and families within the wider military community, offering support for issues that may arise at home, in school, or in social settings.
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School CYB-MFLCs: Based in Department of Defense Education Activity schools and local education agencies (both on and off-installation), school-based counselors offer support throughout the academic year. They are integrated into the school environment to readily assist students, teachers, and parents with school-related challenges, peer issues, and academic stress.
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Youth Center CYB-MFLCs: These counselors are stationed at youth and teen centers on military installations, providing accessible counseling services within these recreational and developmental environments. They understand the unique challenges faced by military teens and pre-teens and offer support tailored to this age group.
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HealthySteps Specialists: Located in military treatment facility pediatric clinics, HealthySteps specialists integrate behavioral health expertise directly into pediatric care. This ensures that families receive holistic support, addressing both physical and emotional well-being within the medical home.
Adult Military and Family Life Counseling Services
Adult Military and Family Life Counselors focus on providing confidential counseling to service members, their spouses, military couples, and non-remarried surviving spouses. These services are available both on and off-installation, offering flexibility through in-person, phone, or video sessions to accommodate various schedules and locations. In addition to individual and couple’s counseling, they conduct group briefings and presentations on relevant topics for the military community, promoting mental health awareness and coping strategies.
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Embedded MFLCs: These counselors are specifically assigned to military units, making them readily available and deeply integrated within the unit structure. Their embedded nature allows for proactive and flexible support, building trust and understanding within the unit community.
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General MFLCs: Located at installation Military and Family Support Centers, general MFLCs serve as a central resource for the broader installation community. They offer a wide range of counseling services and are easily accessible to individuals and families seeking support on base.
Connecting with Family Counseling Near You
To find “Family Counseling Near Me” through the MFLC program, the MFLC locator is your primary tool. This online resource provides phone numbers for MFLCs assigned to specific installations, units, schools, or other locations. Each listed phone number connects you directly to an individual counselor who can discuss your specific needs and guide you to the appropriate support services.
For those calling from outside the continental United States (OCONUS), the locator conveniently displays the correct country code, enabling easy click-to-call functionality from international locations. Be sure to verify the dialing instructions based on your specific location when calling internationally, as country codes may need to be included or omitted depending on your local dialing protocols.
