We understand that individuals who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan--and their families--may need help dealing with the effects of wartime service. We want to help you heal and offer a variety of mental health services to address your needs. We are a nonprofit organization providing free mental health services to U.S. military personnel and loved ones affected by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are offering a range of mental health services in order to address a variety of needs for those of you seeking services. We are also providing links to a variety of resources for military families, including articles that discuss the kinds of difficulties military families encounter and services available from national, state, and local organizations. Please check the hotlines and other centers listed on our Additional Veterans Services page and also go to the Visitor Resources section of our Resource Library.
Please also visit the Web site of our partner Network of Care. This organization has developed a complete Service Directory of all services available to veterans and service members in California and Maryland. NOC is working on additional states. To access their fully searchable director, follow the link below.
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Our Philosophy
Our definition of “family” is quite broad and includes but is not limited to the following: spouses, children, parents, siblings, extended family members, and unmarried partners. We are offering our services to anyone who is or has been affected directly or indirectly (through a relationship with someone in the military) by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Visitors who seek services from Give an Hour™ may benefit from different types of support. We believe that most of you affected by these conflicts would not need mental health services if not for the unusual and extreme circumstances within which you find yourselves. Furthermore, many of you seeking services may not be familiar with counseling. Therefore, we include some information to assist you, such as how to choose the right provider and what you should expect from mental health support.
While the standard within the mental health community is to meet with the client in the practitioner’s office, we recognize that this may not be feasible for some of you. We encourage the use of telephone support in those situations where you are unable to meet in person with the provider. We understand that providers will need to rely on their professional judgment to determine when such contact may be insufficient to meet your needs. If, moreover, you are unable to locate a provider in your area and do not feel comfortable with phone support, please contact us and we will attempt to locate a local provider for you.
Our Services
Our providers can help in the following areas:
- Individual Services
- Marital Services
- Family Services
- Group CounselingChild and Adolescent Services
- Parent Guidance
- Post-Traumatic Stress
- Alcohol/Chemical Dependency
- Pastoral Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Separation/Divorce
- Sexual Abuse
In addition, the Quality of Life Foundation suggests that wounded warriors and family members who would like to provide input on how an organization can best support you and other families on the journey to recovery complete the online survey found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gltTsOPqAEVlLuDbyX0fTg_3d_3d.
Our Expectations of Our Providers
Our providers are licensed mental health professionals who have agreed to provide services in their areas of expertise. They generously agree to provide one hour per week of mental health support at no charge. Our providers agree to participate in the Give an Hour™ network for a minimum of one year. Our providers are aware that Give an Hour™ is a nonpolitical organization whose mission is to assist military personnel and their families as they cope with the effects of deployment and combat. Our providers agree to conduct their practice using the highest ethical standards and to respect and honor the dignity and individuality of those who seek their assistance.
Give an Hour™ specifically disclaims all warranties and liabilities regarding its providers. Give an Hour™ does not prescreen mental health professionals who join our network. We do verify that they are licensed and in good standing in their stated profession. We expect you to take all precautions to ensure that your relationship with a provider is a safe and successful one.
Our Offer to Assist You in Giving Back
A core belief of our organization is that individuals in need benefit from the opportunity to give back once their needs have been addressed. As you near the end of your work through the Returning Heroes Counseling Network, we would be happy to connect you with organizations in your community that are in need of volunteers. We will soon have this information available through our Web site. For now feel free to contact us and let us know that you would like to donate time to others in need. We will put you in touch with organizations looking for assistance. We all have something valuable to give. Our society will benefit as we harness the resources inherent in each of us.
