Cohen Veterans Network Shares Lessons in Love from Military Couples

CVN Asks: What Can Civilian Couples Learn from Military Couples When It Comes to Love and Relationships?

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Feb 04, 2021, 16:18 ET

STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- From the stress of deployments to frequent moves, military couples face a number of unique challenges. But in working through those distinctive experiences come universal lessons in love. This February, Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a national not-for-profit network of mental health clinics for post-9/11 veterans and military families, is looking to military couples for relationship advice that any couple can employ to strengthen their marriage or partnership.

From the stress of deployments to frequent moves, military couples face a number of unique challenges. But in working through those distinctive experiences come universal lessons in love. What is it that all couples can learn from military couples to strengthen their relationship? Whether dating for 5 months or married for 5 years, Cohen Veterans Network has 5 strategies any couple can employ to better communicate and stay connected.

"When returning home from a deployment, I felt disconnected from everything that had happened with my family during my time away. So, during deployments or extended trainings, we started writing little notes about our day in a journal and would send it back and forth to one another. A child's lost tooth, a new restaurant, the platoon prankster – the journaling kept us a part of each other's daily lives." -Veteran & Military Spouse Cohen Clinic at The Up Center Virginia Beach, Virginia

"Always finding your friends who become like family at each duty station. My husband and I call it our "framily" these are people we celebrate life with. Whether it be something like a birthday celebration, a hike or even a game night. Having these strong social supports have not only helped strengthen us as a couple but also make each duty station that much more enjoyable." -Military Spouse, Cohen Clinic at Alaska Behavioral Health Anchorage, Alaska

For Lessons in Love from Military Couples, CVN's clinical team developed relationship tips derived from their work with military couples. Additionally, veterans and military spouse staff members across the network share the thoughtful ways they stay connected to their partners.

"From deployments to frequent moves to job training separations, military couples face situations not typically experienced by their civilian counterparts," says Cohen Veterans Network CEO & President Dr. Anthony Hassan. "Yet, despite these difficult circumstances many military couples are able to thrive. As we work to fill the gaps in care when it comes to treating military couples, we see their resilience on display each and every day. There is a lot we can learn about relationships from military couples."

CVN provides couples counseling to post-9/11 veterans and active duty service members across its network of 19 Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics. Treatment is available for a wide variety of challenges including relationship problems, family issues, children's behavioral problems, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, grief and loss, anger and adjustment issues. Couples can be seen in-person or via CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy.

Highlights from staff members include everything from a creative way to communicate to building a support system:

"When returning home from a deployment, I felt disconnected from everything that had happened with my family during my time away. So, during deployments or extended trainings, we started writing little notes about our day in a journal and would send it back and forth to one another. A child's lost tooth, a new restaurant, the platoon prankster – the journaling kept us a part of each other's daily lives."

-Veteran & Military Spouse Cohen Clinic at The Up Center
Virginia Beach, Virginia

"Always finding your friends who become like family at each duty station. My husband and I call it our "framily" these are people we celebrate life with. Whether it be something like a birthday celebration, a hike or even a game night. Having these strong social supports have not only helped strengthen us as a couple but also make each duty station that much more enjoyable."

-Military Spouse, Cohen Clinic at Alaska Behavioral Health
Anchorage, Alaska

For additional lessons in love from Cohen Clinic veterans and military spouses visit Lessons in Love from Military Couples.

To download the Lessons in Love from Military Couples infographic click here.

SOURCE Cohen Veterans Network