ABSTRACT
This chapter is an attempt to provide a better systemic understanding of the processes of late adolescence and its associated problems within U.S. Army families. During the past half-decade, many military family members have experienced multiple deployments of a service member to Iraq and Afghanistan. These deployments are both long term and hazardous, creating added stressors for those family members who remain behind as the service members deploy for long periods of time (Cozza, Chun & Polo, 2005). These families, along with the military parent,
Military Lifestyle ................................................................................................ 81 Deployments .................................................................................................. 82 Relocation ...................................................................................................... 82 Blended Families ............................................................................................ 83 Transient Family Members ............................................................................ 83 Soldier Retirement ......................................................................................... 84
Common Therapeutic Issues ............................................................................... 85 Failing to Launch ........................................................................................... 85 Marginalization of Service Member .............................................................. 85 Secondary Traumatic Stress ........................................................................... 86 Substance Abuse ............................................................................................. 86 Anxiety and Mood Disorders ......................................................................... 87 Emotional and Behavioral Disorders ............................................................. 87
A Brief Overview of Therapy with Late Adolescents in Military Families ........ 88 Case Illustrations ................................................................................................. 89
Let Me In (or Not) .......................................................................................... 89 Don’t Fail (to Launch) Me Now..................................................................... 92 Sgt. Dad ......................................................................................................... 95
Summary ............................................................................................................. 96 References ........................................................................................................... 96
present clinicians with a unique set of challenges as they experience a variety of issues and problems associated with the military lifestyle. Given the recent focus of media attention on military families and the level of support provided both onpost and in local communities, many may be led to think that these families have limited problems. Nothing could be further from the truth (Daley, 1999).
