MFLCs can offer substantive insight, support

The Department of Defense sought to implement services which could complement existing military behavioral health programs to help those struggling with relevant issues. Military and Family Life Counselors can play an integral role in supporting service members and their families.

At Tinker Air Force Base, MFLCs are divided into two groups: those with an emphasis on individuals, couples and families, and those with an emphasis on child and youth behavior.

The counseling program is a unique service which allows for individuals, children and families to seek or receive assistance while struggling with deployment-related stress, reintegration into life back home or managing parenting and financing when loved ones are abroad. MFLCs are trained to offer non-medical counseling services which pertain specifically to the military lifestyle, as well as general personal life skills. For example, MFLCs recognize and assist with deployment stress, homesickness, relocation adjustment, sadness, grief, loss and reintegration. Furthermore, the services teach applicable skills in anger management, decision-making, communication, conflict resolution and relationship issues.

In addition to MFLCs, Tinker hosts Child and Youth Behavior, or CYB-MFLCs. These individuals possess either master or doctorate-level degrees and are licensed to work specifically with youth behavioral issues. CYB-MFLCs are able to provide children and youth with programs and assistance, which offers short-term, non-medical counseling support.

Lisa Kouri-Perraut, director of the Child Development Center, said that MFLCs are incredibly helpful and very valuable.

“Being there as an extra set of eyes for the challenging classrooms, and being there to model different techniques for the staff to try with children is huge,” she said. “MFLCs provide insight and research to help [the CDC] understand and manage what children are experiencing, why they are experiencing it, and how to handle it.”

CYB-MFLCs are beneficial to not only the children they serve, but their families as well.

Major issues that are addressed by CYB-MFLCs are adjusting to schools; deployment and separation; reunion adjustment; communication between siblings and parents and child; behavioral concerns; and fear, grief and loss. There are numerous methods which help CYB-MFLCs address or initially recognize any level of issue. A primary technique demonstrated on a daily basis includes engaging in and observing activities with children and youth, such as monitoring playtime both in individual and group settings. Additionally, behavioral interventions both in classrooms and Child Development Centers are provided to allow for a more in depth perspective on how to better manage the child or youth in particular. Not only do CYB-MFLCs help facilitate educational groups and discuss any concerns of the child with parents, they also help provide information and techniques back to the staff with which the child deals with on a regular basis.

Ms. Kouri-Perraut said there are proper procedures with the presence of an MFLC. 

“The CDC will introduce the parent to the MFLC, and the parent can choose to not partake,” Ms. Kouri-Perraut noted, “but the CDC will encourage that an MFLC can be beneficial for both the child/individual and the family.”

Ms. Kouri-Perraut commended MFLCs for also being available to the staff, be that in a case of having an extra set of hands and eyes, or to support the staff with personal struggles or issues.

“When you have a good MFLC, it is awesome. When you don’t, which sometimes happens, it is more of a struggle,” Ms. Kouri-Perraut said.

Though they are meant to be licensed for adults or children respectively, MFLC and CYB-MFCLs may not always be able to adapt to every situation.

“Sometimes an MFLC may not understand children in Air Force youth programs or how to address, connect with and manage them,” Ms. Kouri-Perraut said.

MFLCs can be a vital asset in maintaining the mental fitness in which the Air Force strives. Though they may be short-term, non-medical services, MFLCs can offer substantive insight and address other issues that may otherwise fall by the wayside. For more information, contact the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 739-2747.