What has been your experience with MFLCS? (Marriage and Family Life Consultants)

My wife and I attended a Family Life marriage weekend retreat several years ago. It was an uplifting and challenging experience. The sessions were about the right length as were the breaks between sessions. Hosting it at a hotel allowed us to spend the night away from our children who were being cared for by other family members.

The Military and Family Life Counselor is a great asset for Soldiers to talk without records. I like the fact they are readily available.

In my experience as a Family Life Chaplain I have found the MFLC's to be very helpful and approachable. I've had a great relationship with them in Korea and here at Fort Jackson. They are restricted in the type of counseling they can provide (Solution Focused/Cognitive Behavioral) and they do not have the level of confidentiality of a chaplain. They are also restricted by their employer to short term counseling and to avoid spiritual/religious issues. I have found them to be safe, competent, compassionate and caring individuals who do great work with our Soldiers and their families. They refer folks to me regularly that are looking for pastoral counseling and I refer to them as well.

Being at Incirlik AB, TU, they were great for folks on a 15 or 24 month tour. MFLCS rotated every three months, which made it hard for my airmen to establish a relationship. On the other hand, they were the trusted source for confidentiality for those who needed someone to talk to and didn't want to advertise their business in a very small and tight knit community, or who didn't feel comfortable going to a chaplain.

It's like anything with counseling, There has to be chemistry. Not just someone who tells you what you want to hear but someone who you can trust and confide in who makes you want to take their advice.