Support for Military
Quick guidance & answers
Find resources that support the emotional health and well-being of students and staff who may be impacted by global conflicts.
Sometimes military life can be challenging for children and teens. Long separations from parents, celebrating holidays and milestones away from loved ones, frequent moves and changing schools can all cause stress. In addition, tragic events in the news, difficult situations with peers or general frustrations with growing up can also be stressful for children and families.
Children and teens show stress in different ways. Your child may act out, be sad or fearful, or show signs of low self-esteem. To help your child cope with challenges, Military OneSource provides free counseling for youth ages 13-17 and family counseling sessions for children ages 6-12 with a parent present. The Military and Family Life Counseling Program also offers counseling on or near installations to children under 18.
Confidential, short-term, solution-focused counseling is provided through Military OneSource and the MFLC Program by counselors with a master’s degree or higher. Counselors can provide support for issues such as:
Conversations in these sessions stay between your child and the counselor. The only exceptions 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.
Children and youth ages 6-17 of active-duty, National Guard or reserve service members, and recently retired or separated service members are eligible for confidential counseling through Military OneSource.
Counseling sessions can happen in person or by video. A parent must attend each session for children age 12 and younger. For youth ages 13-17, a parent must be available at the start of each counseling session to give consent.
CYB-MFLCs are part of the Military and Family Life Counseling Program. CYB-MFLCs may be available through your installation’s child development center, youth and teen center, on- and off-installation public schools, including Department of War Education Activity schools, and at some camps.
Children of active-duty, National Guard or reserve service members and DOW civilians are eligible for counseling with consent from a parent.
Contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 or log in to start a secure live chat to learn whether counseling is right for your child. If you’re outside the continental United States, you can use overseas calling options. If a consultant determines the service is appropriate, you will be authorized for up to 12 counseling sessions and connected with a counselor who best suits your child’s needs.
To directly arrange counseling through the MFLC Program, use the MFLC Locator to find a child and youth behavioral military and family life counselor near you. You can also connect with your Military and Family Support Center and ask if there are MFLCs at a location near you:
Learn about military bases worldwide. Get installation overviews, check-in procedures, housing, contacts for programs and services, photos and more.
