Children and Youth Counseling Services Help Develop Healthy Habits

As a parent of a military youth, you can help your children learn how to develop healthy ways to deal with stress and life’s curveballs. Sometimes the stresses children face may require professional help. These situations could include a parent’s deployment, a family move or the general pressures of teen life. The Military and Family Life Counseling Program can help with its children’s mental health services.

Keeping your children mentally fit with youth mental health services

Your child’s health extends to youth mental health. If you see changes in your child’s behavior or your family is facing a transition, you may want to contact the program. Your children may benefit in several ways by seeing a child and youth behavioral military and family life counselor.

Your child is eligible to see one of the program’s licensed counselors as long as you or your spouse are an active-duty, National Guard or reserve service member or a designated Department of Defense expeditionary civilian. Surviving children also are eligible.

How the Military and Family Life Counseling Program can help

Program counselors are licensed with a master’s degree or higher and have passed criminal background checks. Licensed counselors can help with:

• Changes at home, such as deployment, reunion, divorce and grief
• 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

A move or parental deployment naturally can stress children or teens. Other reasons for stress and anxiety may not be so obvious. Some warning signs to look out for:

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Headaches, backaches, stomachaches and muscle tension
• Not eating or overeating
• Irritability, anxiety, frequent crying
• Withdrawing from friends or family
• Smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs
• Falling grades in school

How to get help from the Military and Family Life Counseling Program

Stay ahead of potential or brewing problems. Counseling can help your child improve behavior, school performance or relationships with family members and others.

Contact your installation Military and Family Support Center for assistance with locating counseling for your child. Ask if there are child and youth behavioral counselors at any of the following locations near you:

• Child development centers
• Youth or teen centers
• Off-installation schools
• Military youth summer camp
• Department of Defense Education Activity schools
• Defense Department Summer Camps

School liaisons offer a variety of education support including help connecting you to a child and youth behavioral military and family life counselor near you. Contact your installation school liaison for assistance.

You can also call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 or start a live chat to understand your confidential help options and to connect with a licensed counselor. OCONUS/International? View calling options.