If you or your spouse is connected to Hill Air Force Base, you already know that military life asks something extra of a marriage. Deployments, permanent change of station moves, unpredictable schedules, and the quiet weight of a high-stress job all add pressure that most civilian marriages never have to carry. Given our location in Davis County, Carbajal Counseling works with a number of active duty, veteran, and military families navigating exactly these challenges.
Why military marriages carry unique pressure
Research on military families points to a few consistent stressors: extended separation during deployment, frequent relocation that disrupts a spouse’s career and community ties, and the strain of reintegration after time apart. Data compiled by resources like Military OneSource reflect what many military couples already feel day to day, that the demands of service extend into the marriage itself, not just the servicemember’s job.
Military divorce rates run somewhat higher than civilian rates, and deployment length and frequency are consistently identified as contributing factors. None of this means a military marriage is destined for difficulty. It does mean the ordinary challenges every marriage faces, communication, trust, feeling connected, get compounded by circumstances many spouses without military ties simply don’t have to plan around.
The reintegration challenge
Couples often expect a homecoming to feel like relief, and it often does, alongside something more complicated. The spouse who stayed home has usually built new routines and independence out of necessity. The returning spouse is adjusting to civilian pace, sleep, and family life after an environment that ran on very different rules. Both partners can feel like they’re relearning how to be a team again, even though they love each other and are glad to be reunited.
This adjustment period is a common and normal part of military life, but it can also surface old conflicts or create new ones if a couple doesn’t have space to process it together. Marriage counseling during this window can help couples name what’s actually happening, rather than mistaking a reintegration adjustment for a deeper relationship problem.
How Carbajal Counseling supports military families
Several members of our team bring direct experience with military life into their work with couples. Andrew Norwood, LMFT, is a former member of the US Air Force who now specializes in supporting veteran and military families alongside PTSD, trauma, and EMDR therapy. Anne Farley, ACMHC, also focuses specifically on military and veteran issues within her practice. Both work with couples and individuals navigating the specific pressures of service life.
We also accept TRICARE and TriWest, which makes it easier for active duty families and military retirees to access consistent care without added financial strain. Our marriage counseling approach draws on Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Internal Family Systems to help couples rebuild connection whether you’re preparing for a deployment, in the middle of one through telehealth, or working through reintegration together in person.
Local and military-specific resources
In addition to counseling at our Kaysville, Syracuse, and Ogden offices, military families connected to Hill AFB have access to base-specific support through the Military and Family Readiness Center, which offers relocation assistance, deployment support, and family life education at no cost. Military OneSource also provides confidential non-medical counseling and specific programming for couples, including sessions focused on communication and the unique demands of military relationships. These resources can work well alongside ongoing counseling with a civilian provider, particularly for couples who want a consistent therapist across PCS moves or deployment cycles.
Frequently asked questions
Does Carbajal Counseling accept TRICARE? Yes, we accept TRICARE and TriWest, along with several other major insurance plans. Not every therapist accepts every plan, so we recommend contacting our front desk to confirm coverage with a specific provider before your first appointment.
Can we continue counseling during a deployment? Yes. Many of our couples use telehealth sessions to stay connected with their therapist through deployment, whether that means the servicemember joins remotely from overseas or the couple continues individual check-ins until reunited.
Do we need to be actively struggling to benefit from counseling around a deployment or move? Not at all. Many military couples use counseling proactively, before a deployment or PCS, to build communication tools ahead of time rather than waiting for a crisis to bring them in.
Reach out for support
If military life is putting real strain on your marriage, you don’t have to manage it without support. Our team serves families near Hill AFB and throughout Kaysville, Syracuse, Ogden, and the surrounding Northern Utah communities, with telehealth available for deployed servicemembers and their spouses. Call (801) 989-3488 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.