TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Air Force offers many avenues designed to help Airmen and their families overcome problems in their personal and work lives – from crises as serious as thinking of suicide to talking over a work concern with your first sergeant.
But sometimes Airmen or dependents may hesitate to seek help, wary that talking about their problem might overly impact their work situation or are concerned how an issue may affect their family members.
One of the options for such situations is a private counseling session with an experienced counselor, said Community Readiness Consultant Arianne Parton, with Tinker’s Airman and Family Readiness Center. The interactions can be anonymous, are usually short-term and the counselor doesn’t keep records.
“It’s a resource available for short-term solution focused help,” Ms. Parton said. “Maybe a member just returned from deployment, and they’re having a hard time getting back in the groove with their spouse. They can do a couple of sessions with a Military and Family Life Counselor and get some tools in their toolbox to help smooth out that reintegration process a little more.”
The counseling can be one-on-one, with couples or with families. A child and youth MFLC is available through the Child Development Center and the Youth Center.
The counselor is available for appointments at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, but can also meet at places such as cafes or coffee shops. Counselors have also met with parents at the playground to just sit on a bench and talk, Ms. Parton said. People seeking advice don’t have to give their names or units.
Also, the Department of Defense rotates Military and Family Life Counselors to new locations about every six months. A Tinker counselor can be reached directly at 432-6311, or by calling the A&FRC at 739-2747.
“I really think where the military and family life counselors excel is in that they don’t keep records,” Ms. Parton said. “There are a lot of myths and fears around seeking out mental health assistance, and military members are very comfortable talking to the MFLC knowing nothing is going in their medical record. This option is excellent for short-term issues where a few counseling sessions might help get you back on track in your relationship or personal life. A counselor is here to talk to them, but the Airman knows it’s not going to go into their permanent record.”
Depending on the situation, counselors may suggest longer-term options or taking classes that are part of the Personal and Work Life Program. Those include Life in Balance, which teaches stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
“All the A&FRC Personal and Work Life Life classes are part of the Tinker Foundations of Enlisted Leadership Program, designed to help orient them more to the services that are available from all the different Integrated Delivery System agencies,” Ms. Parton said, “the thought being that before you get so stressed out that it starts impacting you at work, come to that life and balance class to learn some stress management techniques, or before you buy that car, come do a one-on-one spending plan with us and make sure you can afford that car payment before you get yourself in a mess. Take a Goal Setting class to stop procrastinating and get you on track with your high priorities.”
Other class topics include goal setting and developing a personal vision for your life. Interested participants can contact the AFRC for class information. The classes are also listed weekly in the Tinker Events section of the Tinker Take Off.
Ms. Parton said also noted that units and organizations can ask counselors to present the classes at their locations. “We are happy to leave our offices and building to go somewhere else!” she said.
Ms. Parton said the short-term option with MFLCs is one of those best-kept secrets that should be shared more often.
“I wish more people would use the counselor because it’s an awesome opportunity,” she said.