Military and Family Life Consultant helps Hurlburt Airmen, families Published April 13, 2011 By Staff Sgt. William Banton 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Military and Family Life Consultant program, a confidential counseling program that began in 2004 as a way to augment existing services, is here to help those at Hurlburt Field. The program, which started here Feb. 14, 2011, is capable of providing counseling support to help Airmen and their families dealing with relationships, workplace issues, separation, anger management, child behavior issues and more. MFLC counselors specialize in short-term problem solving and are not intended to be used as emergency responders. Funded locally by U.S. Special Operations Command, the Gulf Coast Special Forces MFLC counselor has been given the needed security clearance to speak to all Air Force Special Operations Command personnel. "I feel it's a great program in part because she doesn't document her services," said Lt. Col. James Young, a 720th Special Tactics Group psychologist. "Airmen can go to talk to her and not worry about it going anywhere else." The program recruits licensed mental health counselors, who are contracted for a short period of time ( six to nine months), to assist servicemembers and their families from all branches with non-medical counseling services. MFLCs provide confidential non-documented services that are not recorded or reported unless the individual threatens to harm themselves or others. "It's all about giving Airmen options and this has been a great option and we've had an excellent experience in our community with this program," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Lamonica, 720th STG chief enlisted manager. "I think that this program, because it's run in accordance with the Airman & Family Readiness Center, allows people to consider it family-oriented. They consider it low threat and believe this person can help them." The counselor is able to work with each person's schedule to give them the best possible support. They are willing to meet with individuals at both on-base and off-base locations, excluding private homes. To schedule an appointment with the GCSF Military and Family Life Consultant contact Cody Sontag at 850-737-1472.