Common Relationship Issues & How Counseling Can Help Veterans
If you are currently looking for the nearest marriage counseling for veterans, the good news is that you are already making excellent progress. Some people may not spot major issues until there is considerable damage or they may choose to avoid their problems altogether to cope with some of the issues that have arisen after serving time. This willingness and desire to make changes and get the help you and your spouse need is exactly what will help you to get the most out of marriage counseling.
To further understand why help for veteran couples is such an important aspect of repairing your marriage and how some veterans issues in relationships may differ, it is necessary to closely examine veterans issues and how veterans issues can truly impact couples. In the sections listed below, we will review some of the reasons why marriages involving military services and veterans tend to experience additional strain and aim to help you to identify some of your issues in the process.
Understanding PTSD And Its Effects On Marital Stress And Mental Health
One of the most common mental disorders for veterans that tends to impact the whole family is PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD, whether it is related to combat-stress or other aspects of the service, reveals itself in several ways that include avoiding certain triggers, re-living traumatic experiences, and dealing with negative thoughts and emotions that often result in acting out and lashing out at others.
While it is hard enough to deal with on your own, the impact of PTSD will often spread to the rest of the family and can be especially damaging to the spouse. Besides picking up the habits of the individual who is dealing with PTSD and attempting to cope with a relationship that is often unstable and may be frightening at times, it has also been found that spouses are more likely to develop their own mental health issues.
One study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine took the initiative and analyzed the medical records of approximately 250,000 spouses of soldiers who had been deployed to areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2006, finding that prolonged and multiple deployments increased the risk of spouses developing anxious and depressive symptoms.
It should be mentioned that PTSD is not the only issue that relationships will experience when it comes to a veteran relationship.
Issues From Deployment and Return - Mental Health, Counseling Near You, Family, and More
Another major problem that veteran couples experience is the impact of deployment. When one half of the relationship is called away to active duty, the spouse is left to keep up the responsibilities of daily life, which can have consequences. From taking care of the children to managing finances, spouses may feel more alone in their lives and relationships, which can lead to stress, emotional disconnection, anger, depression, and other mental health problems.
Even the return from deployment for veterans may not remedy the issues experienced by the spouse during the duration of the separation. Typically, spouses who are awaiting the arrival of their partner are expecting the reunion to be amazing. However, this might not always be the case. Both the veteran and their spouse have to become accustomed to the changes that happened during deployment and may require readjustment counseling.
Veterans may have developed mental health issues that make it difficult to go back to daily life and meet the expectations set by their spouses. On the other hand, spouses may have thought that the return home would signify less responsibility and are craving the way things were before their partner was deployed. The shifted expectations and experiences of both individuals may cause friction, but therapy can be highly helpful in allowing both parties to evaluate the current issues affecting their daily lives until they both find a plan that will work.
How Does Marriage Counseling Help Veterans Relationship Issues?
Following the return, other issues can arise beyond mental health disorders that have the potential to stress a relationship. For example, financial and employment issues are two very common factors that play into veteran problems. Depending on the situation, certain relationships may be struggling financially, and some veterans may have issues finding employment after they return from deployment.
For example, some common marriage problems include disrespecting boundaries, emotional or physical infidelity, a lack of communication, a lack of sexual intimacy, a lack of focus on shared goals with a spouse, a lack of appreciation and romance, and a lack of trust. Fortunately, VA counseling is with experienced professionals, and whether your issues stem from some of the heavier subject matter or follow the more common problems that have come about due to service, they will be able to assist.
Marriage Counseling
As we stated above, there are multiple resources that you can reach out to right now to receive the assistance you need for veterans. However, what you may not know is that there's more help available online in addition to in-person therapy sessions. Sites like ReGain.us offer a variety of therapy services, including specialized counseling for veterans who may be dealing with family conflict.
Marriage Counseling For Veterans
You Were There For Us, Let Us Be There For You
ReGain offers a variety of ways to have individual or relationship and family therapy through live streaming cameras, phone and email. You can plan sessions around your availability, rather than working around a therapist's schedule. You can also cancel your account at any time.
Remember that you can also rely on counseling services as individuals who are apart for several months. This allows you to work on your relationship regardless of whether you are with your partner or not. Take the first step in the right direction by seeking counseling today!
Conclusion On Marriage Therapy For Veterans
Veterans have access to free support if they are married because of benefits from the Defense Department. Families who have one or more loved ones in the service can experience hardship, and there is no shame in seeking support to reach your best self and relationship. This does test relationships, and couples will often argue or withdraw emotionally.
What therapy does is offer support in the vein of non-medical counseling, which involves managing stress, family conflict, and addiction help, as well as medical counseling which deals with more long-term issues that might involve medication. These could include soldier PTSD or brain injury. The good news is that almost every military installation has a support center where veterans can get help. For more information, consult the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Veterans Get Counseling For Free Or Do They Have To Pay?
Veterans do get free therapy some of which include readjustment counseling or couples and family therapy. It is not uncommon for a soldier to come back from a deployment and have PTSD or struggle with reintegrating back into “normal” life. Often, military members seek out and benefit from a variety of the nearest services offered by a licensed professional therapist.
A licensed professional therapist can help those who serve or are veterans with a variety of non-medical counseling needs. While some counseling for military members is in collaboration with medical doctors, many free non-medical counseling services are also available.
Veteran Affairs (VA) counseling sessions are geared towards either helping the veteran with individual counseling, marriage counseling, or relationship and family counseling in Virginia Beach or anywhere else in the world.
Marriage counseling is frequently needed by veterans, as well as relationship and family counseling. Where marriage counseling focuses on the adult partners in the relationship, relationship and family counseling is essential for those who have children and do not understand what their parents went through or why they may react the way they do in certain situations. Relationship and family counseling, with the help of a licensed professional therapist or marriage and family therapy therapist, can help everyone in the family cope with PTSD.
Relationship and family counseling can also help reunite a child with their parent, who was deployed for a long time. The counseling service is provided by licensed counselors who specialize in veteran affairs.
A licensed professional counselor can be a great asset to anyone seeking marriage counseling or family therapy in counseling sessions.
Is There A Counseling Service for Relationships and Where Can I Go To Get Counseling?
Marriage counseling is provided through Veterans Affairs. Relationship and family therapy can be provided through a Johnson Veterans Affairs medical center, family therapy clinic, Veterans Affairs satellite office, or a licensed professional therapist in a private practice.
At the nearest Johnson Veterans Affairs medical center you will be able to find all encompassing care for your needs. At a family therapy clinic, you can find mental health support for veterans, yourself and/or your family. Free counseling sessions can be great for marriages, relationship and family therapy.
Online counseling may also be utilized for
marriage counseling or relationship and family therapy. Licensed professional therapists can provide counseling for veterans and their families. Whether you are vacationing in Virginia Beach or are sitting on your sofa at home, online counseling for veterans and/or yourself and family can be done anywhere.
How Do You Counsel a Veteran?
Veterans often have specific marriage counseling, relationship and family counseling, and individual counseling needs. A licensed professional therapist who specialize in treating concerns many veterans may experience can help veterans. Many therapists are located in Virginia Beach, or anywhere else in the world where a base or a pool of veterans may live.
Many veterans can struggle with PTSD after serving in a war zone. A licensed professional therapist who have specialties in treating PTSD and especially veterans can help treat the veterans PTSD and any other mental health struggles veterans may face.
If you are seeking professional help for veterans or are perhaps a veteran yourself looking for professional help, know that there are resources available for you. Therapy can be helpful for many veterans to help veterans navigate the readjustment period or beyond. If you are interested in learning more on how therapy can help a veteran or benefits of therapy for veterans in general, reach out to ReGain to learn more today.
A Counselor Helps You Overcome Mental Health Challenges
Therapy is a personal experience, and not everyone will go into it seeking the same things. But, keeping these things in mind can ensure that you will get the most out of online therapy, regardless of what your specific goals are.If you’re still wondering if
therapy is right for you, and how much therapy costs, please contact us at
contact@regain.us. ReGain specializes in online therapy to help address all types of mental health concerns.
If you're interested in individual or relationship counseling, please reach out to contact@regain.us.
For more information about BetterHelp as a company, please find us on all social media platforms, listed below:
Pinterest, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Facebook & Tumblr.
If you need a crisis hotline or want to learn more about therapy, please see below:
For more information on mental health, please see:
- SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
SAMHSA Facebook,
SAMHSA Twitter- Mental Health AmericaMHA Twitter,
MHA Facebook,
MHA Instagram,
MHA Pinterest- WebMD,
WebMD Facebook,
WebMD Twitter,
WebMD Pinterest- NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)
NIMH Facebook,
NIMH Twitter, NIMH YouTube- APA (American Psychiatric Association)
APA Twitter,
APA Facebook,
APA LinkedIN,
APA Instagram
More Articles Related To Therapy:
Meet Our Therapists
Lindsay Burke - Board-Certified Marriage and Family Therapist, Lifecoach
You Were There For Us, Let Us Be There For You
Lynn Salsbury - LCSW,MSW
Sam Jenkins - MSW,MFA,LCSW
Gina Found - MA, Board-Certified Marriage and Family Therapist
Eric Anderson - LMFT,CSAT
Medically Reviewed By Whitney White, MS. CMHC, NCC., LPC