Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counselors

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, who are part of the Military and Family Life Counseling Program, understand the issues military children face and can be especially helpful during challenging periods, including deployments and PCS moves.

Counselors are licensed with a master’s degree or higher, and have a positive effect on:

• General behavior
• Performance in school
• Relationships with family members and teachers

Topics covered

The licensed counselors in the MFLC Program address:

• Self-esteem issues
• Communication and relationships at home and school
• Life skills, such as problem solving and adjustment
• Behavioral issues, including bullying and anger management
• Changes at home, such as deployment, reunion, divorce and grief

Conversations in these sessions stay between your child and his or her counselor. The only exceptions to this rule are cases of domestic violence, abuse, and suicidal or homicidal threats. If your child is in immediate crisis, call the Military Crisis Line at 988, and press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255.

Eligibility

As long as you or your spouse are an active-duty, National Guard or reserve service member or a designated Department of Defense civilian, your child is eligible. Surviving children are also eligible. If your child is 18 years old or younger, you must give consent for counseling sessions.

Get in touch

Ask if there are child and youth behavioral counselors at these locations near you:

• Child development centers
• Installation-based youth and teen centers
• On- and off-installation public schools
• Department of Defense Education Activity schools
• Operation Purple camps

Let your child build resilience and life skills with a trusted individual who understands. Schedule a one-on-one session with a child and youth behavioral military and family life counselor before your next deployment or PCS.