Veteran COUPLES
Couples in which one or both partners are Veterans of the military can face unique challenges and stressors, including but not limited to:
Navigating service-related PTSD, depression, or anxiety
Feelings of loneliness and a sense that your partner does not understand your struggles (e.g., what it is like to have PTSD, or alternatively, to be on the receiving end of PTSD)
Caregiving responsibilities when one partner is sick or injured
Working through infidelity that may have occurred during long separations or deployment
Conflicts due to differences between military culture and civilian life
The consequences of military service are often felt long after the Veteran returns home and affects not only the Veteran but their family members. Partners will often feel like they do not know each other anymore, experiencing intense pain and loneliness as they continue to have difficulty understanding why their partner is behaving in ways that feel so hurtful to them.
When relationship issues have their origin in past military experience, it is important for couples to: a) receive accurate psychoeducation regarding how the Veteran’s military service might be impacting current difficulties, b) develop true empathy for one another based on this new understanding, and c) take appropriate ownership for what each partner contributes to the problem at hand, despite the fact that an external factor (i.e., the military) has contributed to your difficulties. This is a very difficult place to get to, as vulnerabilities can often get weaponized in conflict and make it emotionally unsafe for partners to broach these difficult topics on their own. We will guide you through these difficult conversations in a safe, nurturing way while maintaining our stance as an ally for both of you throughout this process.