Support for Military
Quick guidance & answers
Every couple is unique, but the challenges they face tend to be universal. A first step toward a healthy relationship is accepting that the road will not always be smooth. Recognizing those areas that need attention and knowing when to seek help will let you grow as a couple and forge a strong and enduring bond.
Military OneSource can help you and your partner work through these with free resources and support.
Certain topics tend to cause issues for couples. Talking openly about these and other areas where you disagree can help you head off conflict.
Money is a common source of stress in relationships, so it’s important to make sure you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to managing your finances. Learn about the many free resources available through the military to help you and your partner manage your money.
Trust in a partner can be shaken by any number of reasons. Infidelity is a big one, but even seemingly small betrayals like not following through with doing the dishes or being late for dinner can erode trust if it happens too much. Counseling through your installation or Military OneSource can help you and your partner rebuild your trust. Sessions are free and confidential.
The best time to discuss how you will raise your children is before you become parents. But even when your parenting styles are in sync, conflicts are bound to arise once you have children. How you and your partner handle your disagreements is what’s important. Expert support and other free resources are available to help you and your partner build a strong family through every stage of parenting.
A serious illness or disability can test any relationship. But even happy events such as a new baby can bring stress. Couples who learn resilience and flexibility work together as a team during good times and bad. Military OneSource coaching and consultations can help you and your partner adjust to a new baby, care for an older relative, support a family member with special needs and more.
It’s common for couples to fight when one partner feels overburdened with housework or is annoyed that the other spends too much time at work or on other activities. Talk through your feelings with an open mind. Free counseling from Military OneSource or your Military and Family Life Counseling Program can help you and your partner aim for balance in your lives.
Military life can bring additional challenges to couples, including:
Deployments and temporary duty assignments can mean missing important events like anniversaries and birthdays. But the day-to-day absence can be just as rough, particularly if the partner at home is trying to manage household and other responsibilities alone.
Being geographically separated can also weaken your emotional connection due to the physical distance, and bring up a host of other issues, including concerns about being faithful to one another. Visit the Re The We page on Military OneSource for free resources to reinvigorate your relationship, even when you’re apart.
Moving every few years as a military couple can be exciting because you get to experience new places, but it can also be stressful. The work of packing up your home, feelings of loss as you say goodbye to your old community, and anxiety about finding your way around a new one can affect your relationship.
Prepare for your move using resources from Military OneSource. Learn about your new area with MiltaryINSTALLATIONS. Tap into free resources to make your PCS easier, including Plan My Move, an online tool that simplifies the moving process.
Military life is full of them and many bring mixed emotions. Returning from deployment is joyous, but can strain your relationship as you get used to being together again.
Leaving the military is a big change that affects both partners in a couple. Military OneSource also offers a specialty consultation to help service members transition smoothly to civilian life.
Listen to the Managing Relationship Stress podcast to hear about the wide variety of free relationship resources from Military OneSource.
Relationships require care and maintenance. Asking for help through difficult times is a sign of strength. When you seek support as a couple, it signals to each other that your relationship is a priority and you are both willing to invest the time into making it thrive.
Work through relationship challenges together or separately, with or without a coach through this flexible, evidence-based online tool.
This specialty consultation offers several tracks specifically for military couples, including communication refreshers, reconnecting after deployment, and strengthening the couple connection.
This personalized text message program can help you and your partner practice good communication while fostering a renewed sense of connection.
Individual counseling can provide helpful insights and help you communicate more effectively with your partner. You can access free, confidential counseling services — for you or you and your partner together — through Military OneSource Counseling or via the Military and Family Life Counseling Program.
Military OneSource counselors are available online, on the phone and in person, and MFLCs are available at your installation.
In the video below, a military and family life counselor provides a snapshot of relationship counseling.
ARTICLES TO HELP WITH RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES AND TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BOND AS A COUPLE
Emotional and physical wellness are important components of healthy relationships. However, life’s demands can get in the way of practicing good self-care. Fortunately, resources are available to help you focus on your well-being so you can be more present in all of your relationships.
If you have concerns about your relationship, learn how to recognize unhealthy relationship behaviors and understand your reporting options. Connect with the Family Advocacy Program for more information and support. You can also visit the following MilLife Guides to find resources that can help.
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