THE IMPACT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS MARRIAGE COUNSELING ON RELATIONSHIPS
Veterans may struggle to keep their marriage intact because of underlying problems like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, stress, depression, or readjustment following deployment. According to data from the Pentagon in 2019, there is a 7% divorce rate among female service members and 2.5% among their male counterparts. Divorce marriages in the military are at 3.2%, while civilian rates are at 2.9%. To help reduce the incidence of divorce, couples can take advantage of the Veterans Affairs marriage counseling to make their relationship healthier. This is a safe and neutral ground for couples to discuss any problems they are facing.Some couples may not immediately spot a problem in their marriage, but the desire and willingness to make a change is the first step to marriage counseling. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, over 75% of participants have seen an improvement in their marriage due to intervention. Couples improved in understanding, and relationships with their children got better.If you desperately need help, you can seek help from Veterans Affairs marriage counseling. This program is for Vets and their partners to help couples resolve issues in their marriage and build better communication. It may even include couple and individual counseling.
How Does Marriage Counseling Work?
It is best to know what to expect when attending Veterans Affairs marriage counseling so that you can prepare yourself. During sessions, you will get to talk about the issues centering your marriage, what is working well, and what your vision for the future is. The counselor will help you pinpoint the conflicts; however, this kind of information may be difficult to share at first. Remember that the therapy is not giving all your problems to the counselor to have them fixed; it's teamwork to improve and understand yourself. Other sessions are for improving and learning relationship skills, proper communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and stress management.The average therapy is 12 sessions, but if many things need to be worked on, it may last longer. Don't consider this a waste of time or an additional burden because this can save your marriage from collapse.
The Veterans Affairs Marriage Counseling
To take advantage of the marriage counseling offered by Veterans Affairs, you need to fall under this eligibility: they must be Vets who served in the U.S. military, must be qualified for VA healthcare benefits, and must have full consent from the spouse or partner. Additional requirements include being partnered, being in a committed relationship, being willing to attend the session as a pair, and being dedicated to strengthening the relationship. Once they meet these eligibility requirements, the couple can plan on the type of counseling they want to attend.
- Couples counseling involves partners committed to attending Veterans Affairs marriage counseling together; they work with the therapist to fix their marriage issues. This may also involve various techniques to resolve conflicts, such as a lack of proper communication to improve their bond. The couple will be trained to identify unhealthy behavior patterns and develop conflict management methods to attain this.
- If Veterans or their partners require additional support in addressing concerns like trauma and mental health, individual counseling is provided. This enables the person to develop personally and enhances their overall well-being.
- If there are children, family counseling may be necessary. It helps the family understand each other's viewpoints and create a healthier way of interacting. This type of counseling can help the children better understand the situation.
- To make the marriage work, in addition to Veterans Affairs marriage counseling, they also offer retreats or workshops to strengthen couples' bonds as they learn new skills and connect better with their partners.
- Last up is group counseling. It is an excellent way for troubled couples to connect with other couples experiencing the same issues. It is also a way to build a supportive ground without judgement. Group counseling is perfect for Vets who fear attending counseling sessions alone.
Finding a VA Marriage Counselor
Contact your local VA medical center and inquire about their services to find the right marriage counselor and schedule an appointment. You also have the option to use the VA's online directory. All you need to do is enter your city, state, and zip code to locate the nearest counseling services.You can also contact VA Caregiver Support, which can provide information regarding counseling services. Lastly, contact your healthcare provider if you are getting healthcare services via the VA. You can talk to them and ask for referrals. It is essential to know that the services vary depending on the available resources and location. Still, the Veterans Affairs marriage counseling will try to create and save relationships through their programs.Suggested reads:
