JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Joint Base San Antonio service members and their families have a plethora of resources when in need of someone to talk to about the challenges that come with military service.
Military and Family Life Counselors are just one of the resources available to help cope with reintegration after deployment, anxiety and depression, and stress management, among countless others.
“We are so grateful for all of the sacrifices our service members and their families make for our country,” said Brandy Wright, 802nd Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant at JBSA-Randolph. “However, these sacrifices such as deployment, remote tours, extended work hours, and relocation, can all cause stress and tension in the relationships of military families.”
The MFLC program offers short-term, non-medical counseling at no cost to service members, active duty National Guard and Reserve members and their families, as well as Department of Defense civilian expeditionary workforce members and their families. MFLCs are licensed counselors, whose services provide access to counseling outside of the traditional medical system.
“It is imperative to have resources such as our MFLCs available to help improve mental resiliency and familial relationships so Service members are ready to accomplish their mission.
Having access to programs such as these, without fear of retribution is the hope that the MFLCs wish to extend in the use of the program.
“Someone to talk to outside of normal means during these difficult times can make such a huge difference in the lives of service members,” she said.
“The great thing about our MFLCs is they do not keep any records unless there is a duty to warn. The greatest impact I see is military members are more willing to seek counseling and get the help they need for issues such as anger management, communication, conflict resolution, parenting, deployment stress, reintegration, separation, homesickness, relocation adjustment, sadness, grief, and loss,” Wright said.
There are also counselors available for the youngest members of the JBSA community as well.
Child and youth behavioral military and family life counselors provide support to military children for a variety of issues, including low self-esteem, behavioral problems and changes at home.
These counselors understand the issues military children face and can be especially helpful during challenging periods, including deployments and permanent change of station moves.
For more information on MFLC within the JBSA-area and each operating location, visit https://www.jbsa.mil/Resources/Military-Family-Readiness/Military-Family-Life-Counselors/. To make an appointment, call JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-835-5848; JBSA-Lackland at 210-984-1076 or 210-238-5528; and JBSA-Randolph at 210-744-4829 or 996-4037.