Dr. Monica Reintjes, PhD, Military Spouse Therapist in Virginia

How I work with military families as a military spouse and mental health therapist

I’m personally and professionally familiar with the demands that these long stretches of time place on military families, and will guide you in tapping into your own strengths and resources, while also holding space for the challenging feelings that may come up.  

Military deployments can activate a whole range of complex, sweeping emotions. Some common experiences for military families during deployments include:

  • Resentment for being the sole household manager and parent

    The spouse at home is depleted from the tasks of solo household management and parenting, and feelings of resentment, anger, and loneliness can arise. As your therapist, I’ll normalize and validate this for you while helping us understand a path forward.

  • Challenges with kids after a parent is deployed

    For parents, there may be challenges with kids acting out, asking tricky questions about whether the deployed spouse will come back, or wanting to learn more about what happens on a deployment. 

    Kids thrive on routine and structure, and the disruption of deployment can be very hard on them. I call on my expertise as an educator and a clinician to support families through the hard work of parenting on a deployment.

  • The juxtaposition of a joyous homecoming and difficult reintegration

    We’d like to seamlessly pick up where we left off, but routines have changed, kids have gotten older, and both partners have had complex experiences without the other by their side.

    There’s nothing wrong with you and your family if you don’t have the picture-perfect homecoming.  I can help you navigate these emotions while offering tips and ideas to make the process go more smoothly. 

Working with military families is a personal passion.

As a military spouse and a working parent, I’m acutely aware of some of these challenges, and I’d love to help. If you are looking for support during deployment please see my deployment coaching page.

In addition, I’m experienced in treating:

  • Anxiety (panic attacks, OCD, perfectionism)

  • Depression (Thinking disorders, negative cognitive loops, mood disorders)

  • Trauma/PTSD

  • Relationship issues (codependency, conflict, communication, trust)

  • ADHD

  • Suicidal thought patterns

  • Parenting (teenagers, loss of respect, loss of motivation, kids with special needs) 

  • Family conflict

  • Women’s Issues (Hormonal Imbalances, Chronic Illness, PMDD, Menopause, Mom Rage)

  • Life Transitions

Frequently Asked Questions

Military Spouse Therapist Virginia

I’m looking forward to supporting you.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to determine whether I’m a good fit for you.