Common challenges for military couples and why couples counseling can help!

Family life while in the military is rough! It is hard to make concrete plans as a couple or family because the mission is the priority and that may call for immediate mobilization or training. Plans for quality time together get interrupted when the orders come down, including plans for future quality time (trips, holidays, etc.). It can start to feel like your relationship doesn’t matter and you have no control.

Military couples and families are often not in one place for very long. PCS or permanent change of station can uproot couples and families; much of the time you don’t have time to grieve the people and the life you had in one place before you have to move on. Moving is already hard enough, but your new location may also be far from the support of family and close friends. This is the main reason units become so tightly knit and camaraderie is at the forefront. Spouses or partners might not understand the close relationships the service member has with their unit or might become resentful at all the change and loss they have to manage.

And we haven’t even talked about deployment yet! Sometimes we forget about the workload and life stress that comes with the support role of staying home with a household to run and maintain, which doesn’t negate the real safety fears that come with a pending combat deployment. The effects of deployment on military spouses can sometimes take years to see and when you add all of this up, things get heavy and can overwhelm a relationship very quickly, causing a feeling of disconnection on both sides of the relationship.

I’m Erik Michael Sebourn (you can call me Mike) and I can help! As a current active member in the U.S. Air Force and soon to be veteran, I know that my unique perspective on what it is to be a military member combined with my skills as a couples therapist can benefit those in the service that are experiencing relationship difficulties. I can help you find solutions to stay connected and feel supported and loved in your relationship!

Contact us today or click the button below to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with our Intake Coordinator!

Have questions about couples counseling? Visit our FAQs page to find out more.

We offer online couples counseling in California and in-person marriage counseling services in Riverside, CA and in-person marriage therapy in Murrieta, CA!! It’s so important for you to find the right marriage counselor for you. Learn more about what’s unique about our couples therapists here.