MFLC

[gracioushoney]

Hi, lurker here. I've asked a few questions here and there but mostly still lurk. I have a question though. I want to go talk to a therapist or counselor for some personal issues and I was thinking of going to talk to the Military Family Life Counselors. Has anybody seen one before? Any drawbacks? I was told they are still confidential just like a civilian. Thanks for your help!

ETA: I may DD just because I don't want this out here forever.

[panicked]

I love, love, love the MFLC's. They are such an underutilized perk. If you just need to talk with someone, they are the way to go. They have flexible hours, can meet you most anywhere (except your home, usually) and are trained in counseling. I've seen one to deal with some specific phobias and I couldn't be happier with them.

[panicked]

Aug 23, 2014 18:27:52 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

I also used Military One Source for counseling. I wasn't happy with the therapist himself because he was just awful, but my experience with MOS was good. They were easy to contact, quick to set me up with the counselor, and followed up.

I honestly had no idea that there were MFLCs available. If they're licensed counselors, then I'd definitely look into it.

This makes me sad. The mflcs try SO hard to let people know they are available. They are embedded in every brigade, in the schools, cdc's, ACS, and a ton of other places on post. They have been at every frg meeting I've ever been to. Not any reflection on you, of course, just a vent. :-)

[gracioushoney]

Thank you everyone! I will definitely look into the MFLCs and also Military One Source. I appreciate your help.

[ohyouknow]

The MFLCs are a neat resource, since they are forbidden from keeping notes so you know for sure it will never follow you in your career. I haven't looked into the program recently, but as of a few years ago they were swapping out counselors every 3 months at bases. That can be a pro or con, depending on your needs.

And Military OneSource is amazing.

[audette]

There are even MFLCs here in Korea, which is pretty spiffy.

One was here over the summer, and she hung out with our knitting group. I guess they tend towards short-ish assignments - she was a school counselor that spent her summers doing MFLC work, usually overseas. It was interesting to hear more about the program - I've heard of it before, but not much in the way of details.

[panicked]

Aug 24, 2014 18:57:37 GMT -5 audette said:

There are even MFLCs here in Korea, which is pretty spiffy.

One was here over the summer, and she hung out with our knitting group. I guess they tend towards short-ish assignments - she was a school counselor that spent her summers doing MFLC work, usually overseas. It was interesting to hear more about the program - I've heard of it before, but not much in the way of details.

They used to come to our mommy groups on Wednesday mornings at Casey. I think ours were there for 6 weeks or so. 

[audette]

Aug 24, 2014 20:59:15 GMT -5 panicked said:

Aug 24, 2014 18:57:37 GMT -5 audette said:

There are even MFLCs here in Korea, which is pretty spiffy.

One was here over the summer, and she hung out with our knitting group. I guess they tend towards short-ish assignments - she was a school counselor that spent her summers doing MFLC work, usually overseas. It was interesting to hear more about the program - I've heard of it before, but not much in the way of details.

They used to come to our mommy groups on Wednesday mornings at Casey. I think ours were there for 6 weeks or so. 

Oh, I don't think this one was coming to our (teeny) knitting group in her professional capacity.  She was just an avid knitter...

I suppose any group involvement like that might be useful for their professional area, though, if for no other reason than more outreach and letting more folks know about it.

[audette]

Aug 25, 2014 0:30:44 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Aug 24, 2014 18:57:37 GMT -5 audette said:

There are even MFLCs here in Korea, which is pretty spiffy.

One was here over the summer, and she hung out with our knitting group. I guess they tend towards short-ish assignments - she was a school counselor that spent her summers doing MFLC work, usually overseas. It was interesting to hear more about the program - I've heard of it before, but not much in the way of details.

If I wasn't married, I'd totally do this!

It was only a three month assignment. Depending on how things work in your marriage, that might be OK.

I remember her mentioning a son, but not a spouse. I had the impression that her son was college age (or older), though, so no kid-care was necessary.

[amaristella]

Aug 25, 2014 0:35:13 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

Aug 25, 2014 0:34:07 GMT -5 audette said:

It was only a three month assignment. Depending on how things work in your marriage, that might be OK.

I remember her mentioning a son, but not a spouse. I had the impression that her son was college age (or older), though, so no kid-care was necessary.

I wonder if they do this stateside too. Nellis is right down the road from us. 

We have them in Hawaii, if that counts as stateside (?). My friend and I were at the park one day with our kids and a lady with a name tag and some pamphlets came and talked to us about it. Neither of us had heard about it before but it sounds like a super awesome program. They for some reason don't use a lot of traditional advertising methods so I think that's why there isn't a lot of awareness about them. I wish I had some idea where my pamphlet is but I had the impression that they are licensed counselors. You should definitely ask around.

[amaristella]

killercupcake
www.mhngs.com/app/programsandservices/mflc_program.content

Link at the bottom for career opportunities healthnet.taleo.net/careersection/10021/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en&organization=200000080
There's also a link for becoming an independent contractor.

[ggirl]

Hmm, well now that I have my Florida LMHC, I could be an independent contractor... hmmm..

[brandienee]

I used one of the family counselors on base and she was fantastic.