Posted: 06/29/2009
Kent, Ohio (Dec. 22, 2008) - Susan Wilcox, a licensed therapist of 25 years, author and expert on "emotional intelligence," has been selected by the United States Air Force to participate in a new civilian counseling program for active duty pilots and their support teams.
Wilcox is among approximately 300 therapists selected nationwide to serve as Military Family Life Consultants. Their job is to provide private counseling to active duty personnel and their families.
"There are two dynamics at play in this new program," said Wilcox. "First, the Air Force has changed how it deploys personnel. Assignments are longer and much more frequent, and that can be very stressful on family life.
"The other dynamic is that the counseling we provide is completely confidential and does not become part of someone's military record, when counseling by military therapists are documented." She said most military personnel seem to fear that seeing a military psychologist is a black mark on their record and could possibly damage their chances for any future promotions.
Wilcox began her five-month assignment Nov. 28 at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, where she will stay through the holidays. She will continue her assignment at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio from Jan. 29 to March 15.
Holloman AFB is home to 21,000 Air Force personnel and family members, including the famous "Top Gun" pilots and their team members.
"Frequent deployment in conjunction with complicated transitions and needed adjustments upon a soldier's return home is very likely to cause great stress on military members and their families," said Wilcox. "Marital problems caused by separation and stress are not uncommon. Often, these are young couples, many with young families, who are away from home for the first time, and they simply struggle with the chaos.
"Having this opportunity to work with and help those facing deployment or reintegration, as well as their families and loved ones, is an honor. I am sharing my expertise in emotional wellness with the people protecting us, and I can't think of better group of people to help - especially during the holidays."
Wilcox is principal of weQ Consulting, an emotional intelligence training and development firm in Kent, and author of the e-book, Resilience in Turbulent Times: Using Emotional Intelligence to Weather the Storm.
She was selected to provide consulting and counseling services for the U.S. Department of Defense's Military Family Life Consultants Program. The program's goal is to prevent family distress by providing education and information on family dynamics, parent education, available support services, and the effects of stress and positive coping mechanisms.
The consultants all hold at least a master's degree and 15 or more years of experience in social work, counseling or a related clinical discipline. Consultants receive training on military-specific topics, including a basic orientation on the deployment cycle, military culture, the chain of command, and reporting requirements. Counseling services are voluntary and anonymous.
"Although the services are not mandatory, I was pleased to see them so well received, and a great deal of service men and women and their families are taking advantage of the chance learn and practice resiliency and stress management skills," said Wilcox.
"Experiencing life on a military base has created an amazing awareness for me of how important emotional intelligence skills are for these officers and their families who live very high stress lives."
WeQ's comprehensive services focus on tapping human potential for optimum performance. By helping clients to use their strengths to become their best, weQ empowers teams and individuals to be more successful - both in jobs and in life. For more information about Wilcox, her assignment or weQ, please visit www.weqconsulting.com.
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