I personally know how difficult it can be to balance all of the unique struggles that come from this military lifestyle. I also know many military significant others that share similar struggles – searching for a job in a new location, finding routine and quality time with your spouse, countless deployments and TDYs, finding community, being away from family and friends, loneliness, worry, etc. It’s easy for people who aren’t a part of our community to underestimate the emotional and mental toll these experiences can take. At times, I have lost myself. I needed something to help me when I felt hopeless and overwhelmed. The search for that “something” led me to therapy, which was very helpful in teaching me tools to cope with our unique struggles and challenges. However, I know that many find the idea of seeking therapy overwhelming. You want to research potential therapists carefully, to make sure to find the right fit. As a military spouse, you may feel you have to be especially cautious. You may feel a need to be careful of what you can say and who you can say it to. This makes it all the more important to find a professional that understands, is trustworthy, and that offers a truly safe space.
This is why I’m so excited about the Give An Hour (GAH) program. The Give An Hour program connects military families with free access to mental health services for individual, couples, or family sessions. These sessions are confidential and do not go into the military records as you are not required to let anyone know you are seeking help through this program. There have been times I have been concerned about how certain aspects of seeking therapy might affect where my spouse can be stationed due to the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Since GAH offers pro bono services, military members can elect not to use insurance through the GAH program, which helps to alleviate fear about what may or may not be documented. The GAH program is also helpful for active duty military because it allows them to avoid having to seek out a referral through base and gives them access to off-base care. This program aims to reduce the apprehension and fears that most of us carry about potentially ruining or negatively affecting our spouse’s career in any way. The GAH program is also a useful tool to help find a therapist each and every time we have to PCS. It’s stressful enough to try to fit into a new location without searching new local areas for a therapist or asking for therapist recommendations. Anyone can access this resource through their website (provided below) to search and select the right provider in your area.
Due to my own passion for mental health and our military community, I now work for the GAH company providing mental health services to veterans, active duty, and their families. This company has been very helpful to me in my career. They have provided me with training and resources that I believe to be so beneficial for the military community. Being on the other side as a professional really confirms and validates how much they value their providers and the military community. I truly believe it has been such a needed resource for our community that has helped me to cope with the unique challenges and struggles of this life.
For more mental health resources for military families we recommend:
Seeking Help? Integrative Approaches to Mental Health
Meet Stormi
I’m originally from Louisiana – and, yes, I love all the Cajun, spicy food. I have been a military spouse for the last 7 years. My husband went into active duty shortly after he graduated, and we got married in 2015. We’ve moved 5 times in the last 7 years, each with its own set of new adventures. For the last 2 years, I have been pursuing my passion for mental health by training as a therapist. I deeply relate to the struggles of those in the military community. This is part of the reason why my ultimate goal as a therapist is to help those struggling within the military community. When I’m not working, I like to run, listen to true crime podcasts, and spend time with our family and friends. Though I never wanted to be a WAF, it has provided so many opportunities and blessings that I really couldn’t imagine it any other way.
