The words counseling, therapy, and psychotherapy are often used to describe the same process. This process usually involves a series of discussions with a trained professional who can help clients identify feelings or problems, talk about them, and find ways to cope with or solve them. Counseling can occur individually, with another person, with a family, in a group, or in a combination of the above. Therapists working with couples often see the individuals separately as well as together. When working with families, they may see individuals, the parents, other combinations of family members, or the whole family together.

The words counseling, therapy, and psychotherapy are often used to describe the same process. This process usually involves a series of discussions with a trained professional who can help clients identify feelings or problems, talk about them, and find ways to cope with or solve them. Counseling can occur individually, with another person, with a family, in a group, or in a combination of the above. Therapists working with couples often see the individuals separately as well as together. When working with families, they may see individuals, the parents, other combinations of family members, or the whole family together.

Medical counseling is designed to assist with long-term issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, child and spouse abuse, suicidal ideation, or other issues that would be medically diagnosable.

Non-medical counseling is designed to address general conditions of living, such as improving relationships at home and at work, stress management, adjustment issues (like those related to returning from a deployment), marital problems, parenting, and grief and loss issues. Non-medical counseling is generally short-term, problem solving, and solution-focused.

Medical counseling is designed to assist with long-term issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, child and spouse abuse, suicidal ideation, or other issues that would be medically diagnosable.

Non-medical counseling is designed to address general conditions of living, such as improving relationships at home and at work, stress management, adjustment issues (like those related to returning from a deployment), marital problems, parenting, and grief and loss issues. Non-medical counseling is generally short-term, problem solving, and solution-focused.

The military offers non-medical counseling to the active force, National Guard and Reserve Components, and DoD civilian personnel designated as Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members and their families. Both children and adults have counseling options and, depending on the circumstances, couples or family counseling may also be available.

Active duty, National Guard and Reserve members, and DoD civilian personnel designated as Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members and their families may receive counseling from Military OneSource, Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs), chaplains, and installation and National Guard/Reserve Family Support Centers. Some personnel may also be eligible for services at local Vet Centers.

The military offers non-medical counseling to the active force, National Guard and Reserve Components, and DoD civilian personnel designated as Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members and their families. Both children and adults have counseling options and, depending on the circumstances, couples or family counseling may also be available.

Active duty, National Guard and Reserve members, and DoD civilian personnel designated as Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members and their families may receive counseling from Military OneSource, Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs), chaplains, and installation and National Guard/Reserve Family Support Centers. Some personnel may also be eligible for services at local Vet Centers.

Members of the active force, the National Guard and Reserve Components, and DoD civilian personnel designated as Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members and their families are eligible for these non-medical counseling services.

Members of the active force, the National Guard and Reserve Components, and DoD civilian personnel designated as Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members and their families are eligible for these non-medical counseling services.

No. Seeking non-medical counseling services through MOS or the MFLC Program will not negatively impact a service member's security clearance. In April of 2008, a Memorandum for the Secretaries of the Military Departments was signed by the Secretary of Defense to revise question 21 of the SF86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions. The revised question 21 excludes counseling related to marital, family, or grief issues, unless related to violence.

Any information disclosed during a counseling session with an MOS counselor or an MFLC counselor is kept confidential. The only exception to that rule is when disclosure is necessary to meet legal obligations or to prevent harm to self or others. Legal obligations include requirements of law and Department of Defense or military regulations. Harm to self or others includes suicidal thought or intent, a desire to harm oneself, domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, violence against any person, and any present or future illegal activity. Information that may need to be reported under this exception could impact a service member's security clearance.

No. Seeking non-medical counseling services through MOS or the MFLC Program will not negatively impact a service member's security clearance. In April of 2008, a Memorandum for the Secretaries of the Military Departments was signed by the Secretary of Defense to revise question 21 of the SF86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions. The revised question 21 excludes counseling related to marital, family, or grief issues, unless related to violence.

Any information disclosed during a counseling session with an MOS counselor or an MFLC counselor is kept confidential. The only exception to that rule is when disclosure is necessary to meet legal obligations or to prevent harm to self or others. Legal obligations include requirements of law and Department of Defense or military regulations. Harm to self or others includes suicidal thought or intent, a desire to harm oneself, domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, violence against any person, and any present or future illegal activity. Information that may need to be reported under this exception could impact a service member's security clearance.

If a medical issue surfaces, the service or family member will be referred to a military medical treatment facility, TRICARE, or other provider of professional mental health care.

If a medical issue surfaces, the service or family member will be referred to a military medical treatment facility, TRICARE, or other provider of professional mental health care.

Service members and their families may want to start their search by visiting their installation Family Support Center, calling a Military OneSource consultant, or setting up an appointment with their command or installation chaplain. Each of these sources can offer options for consultation with trained, educated, and highly skilled counselors, attuned to military lifestyle issues and prepared to offer confidential, professional assistance.

Service members and their families may want to start their search by visiting their installation Family Support Center, calling a Military OneSource consultant, or setting up an appointment with their command or installation chaplain. Each of these sources can offer options for consultation with trained, educated, and highly skilled counselors, attuned to military lifestyle issues and prepared to offer confidential, professional assistance.

If a service or family member seeks counseling through these non-medical support resources, those services will be confidential. The only exceptions to confidentiality are for mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations). Even then, only those who need to be notified will be informed.

If a service or family member seeks counseling through these non-medical support resources, those services will be confidential. The only exceptions to confidentiality are for mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations). Even then, only those who need to be notified will be informed.

The non-medical counseling services are prepaid by the Department of Defense. There is no cost to the active force, National Guard and Reserve Components, or their family members.

The non-medical counseling services are prepaid by the Department of Defense. There is no cost to the active force, National Guard and Reserve Components, or their family members.