Military OneSouce offers Face-to-Face Counseling

  • Published
  • By Seinor Airman Brok McCarthy
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Military OneSource was developed by the Department of Defense to help families in any military because life in the military can present unique issues.

The services provided vary from translation services for people who are stationed in another country to helping to helping find child care. One of the newest programs they offer is called Face-to-Face Counseling. It offers six visits to a local licensed counselor, who isn't affiliated with the military in any way, free of charge to servicemembers and their families.

"People can call the main Military OneSource phone number to talk to one of their trained professionals about the problem they're having," said Kim Taylor, from the Hill Air Force Base Airman and Family Readiness Center. "The person at the call center will listen to the issue that's going on, and then if they need to, refer the caller to an off base counselor."

She said if a servicemember or family member has another issue, they can call OneSource back to talk to someone at their call center to receive six more visits with a counselor and may keep doing so until all issues are resolved.

Examples of issues that can be resolved by the Face-to-Face Counseling program are stress management, marital problems, parenting, combat stress, grief and loss issues and improving relationships at home and at work.

According to the Military OneSource Web site, www.millitaryonesource.com, the counseling sessions are not meant to deal with long-term issues like mental illness. Those issues are usually referred to a military treatment facility, TRICARE or another health care provider in the community.

This service is completely confidential, said Mrs. Taylor. No one on the base ever finds out someone used this service unless the person who used the program tells someone else about it.

"I think its great that the military and Air Force recognized the need for a program like this," Mrs. Taylor said "It's nice to be able to have such a great program to refer people to when they need help."

To contact Military OneSource, visit their Web site at www.militaryonesource.com, call 1-800-342-9647. For TTY/TDD, 1-800-346-9188 or En español llame al, 1-877-888-0727.