Mental health is a serious topic for all families, but in the military community, the spotlight continues to grow on this glaring issue. Military families have unique mental health challenges to overcome. The MFLC (Military and Family Life Counseling Program) is there to help military families with several issues, including counseling for children, marriage, and more. Learn how to take advantage of this tremendous resource from Military OneSource, provided through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

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The Military and Family Life Counseling Program Provides Support

MFLC Army and the military family counseling offered to the various other branches are great places to get support for mental health. Families go through a lot, and in the military, things can often be amplified. There's moving, deployments, injuries, separation issues, and much more that can add stress to any family unit. If you're a part of active duty, in the National Guard, a reserve member, a designated DoD expeditionary civilian, or a family member/survivor of these groups, you're eligible for the Military and Family Life Counseling Program (MFLC).

Can MFLC Testify?

At MFLC, confidentiality is at the center of the program for non-medical counselors. With that being said, situations in which you could harm yourself or others must be reported. Additionally, violent situations, including domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, and illegal activity both in the present and in the future must also be reported by a Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC).

How To Become an MFLC Consultant

Working with the MFLC is a great way to help people, grow your career as a counselor, and support the military community. If you’re looking to join the program and become a Military Family Life Consultant to help military families, here are the MFLC requirements you’ll need:

• A master’s degree or higher.
• You’ll need to finish a program featuring an accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE), or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Afterward, you’ll need to pass state and national exams while applying for your state’s initial licensure, according to the standards of each state.
• While taking your exams, you’ll be expected to participate in supervised practice for two or three years.
• Finally, once you’ve gotten your license(s), passed your exams, and have been approved to practice on your own, the only thing left to do is apply.

For more information about joining the MFLC program, Counseling Schools lays out what to expect when working to become a Veterans & Military (Family Life) Counselor.

How To Gain Support From the MFLC

Military family therapy benefits the home, the American Armed Forces, and our country in its entirety. Family counselors specializing in military issues are a great benefit to help heal the mental health of people of all ages. But the Military and Family Life Counseling Program offers much more than just sitting down in one-on-one sessions and talking to a therapist. It also provides children’s camps, mental health seminars, group therapy, and more. There are other behavioral and mental health resources offered, such as relationship building, information, grief counseling, and so much more.

Crisis lines are available at 988 (press 1), or you can send a text message to 838255 and contact Military OneSource 24/7, 365 days a year.

Military installations across the country are ready to help you get in touch with the MFLC. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to access incredible mental health tools and avoid having to take on your burden alone.

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