Emotional Connection of Military Couples after 16 Years of War: Integrating Pastoral Counseling and Evidence-Based Theory

Abstract

Sixteen years of war created significant challenges for military couples and seems to contribute to their relational distress. Military couples seek out pastoral counselors for assistance with their relational distress. Many of these pastoral counselors are military chaplains or pastors serving close to military bases. The integration of pastoral counseling with evidence-based theory is presented as an option to serve military couples in their relational distress. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy is presented as an example.