No notes, no names: Life consultants provide anonymous counseling

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  With all the difficulties of military life -- deployments, constant moves, ever-changing shifts - comes the occasional need to just unload all the stress and worries.

The Military and Family Life Consultant (MFLC) program provides an avenue for Service members and their families to talk to a licensed civilian counselor for free.

There are two MFLCs here at Whiteman, one who talks to adults and another who speaks with youth. In both cases, there is assurance in confidentiality. Both offer brief counseling that is solution-focused.

"The MFLCs are unique in that there's no rank intimidation," said Senior Master Sgt. Mona Wendzillo, NCO in charge of the Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC). "Each counselor rotates out about every six months, so it's not a standing member of the community who you are talking to. It's not somebody you sit next to in church or shop next to in the commissary.

"And they don't take down any notes or names," she added. "So you can be totally open talking about your issues."

Wendzillo added that although they like to advertise all the other available resources including the chaplains, Family Advocacy, Mental Health and Military OneSource, military members have less concern about career impacts when it comes to talking to an MFLC.
MFLCs offer complete confidentiality aside from reports of child abuse, domestic abuse, harm to self or others, and other "duty to warn" situations.

Rebecca White, 509th Force Support Squadron flight chief, added that that the youth MFLC provides services that aren't widely known about, something they hope to change.

"It's our best-kept secret, but we don't want it to be. Youth MFLCs can be substantial in helping children," said White. "The MFLC can teach them coping mechanisms, conflict resolution, respectful behavior and about anti-bullying techniques. There is a lot of stress being part of a military family and a lot of these methods can be preventive instead of reactive."

To get a hold of the adult MFLC, call (660) 631-7985 and to get a hold of the youth MFLC, call (660) 631-9001. For more information, you can also call the AFRC at (660) 251-1949 , MFLCs can hold meetings either on or off base - just not in a person's residence.
All MFLCs have either a master's or doctorate degree and are contracted from outside the military to provide these services.