Blog posts with the tag "Service Members"

I’m a military spouse—a dependent, as we are often referred to in the military community. That word frequently comes with a sting, implying passivity, lack of contribution, and sometimes even entitlement. But my story, like many others, is much more complex than being defined by a label. 

Quick question for my military couples: “How did you make it through the pandemic?” Answers range from “It brought us closer” to “We didn’t.” For me and my husband, the answer was couples counseling. As a therapist, I wish I could say that I share this response with pride. I do say it openly—to model healthy behavior for clients, friends, family, and the public—but inside, I’ve felt a twinge of discomfort. Call it fear (of judgment), doubt (about whether it’ll work for us), or embarrassment (about exposing marital imperfections).