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LAFB chaplain strengthens marriages

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Austin M. Duran
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Laughlin's chapel often hosts marriage and relationship counseling seminars and retreats as well as many bases throughout the Air Force, but Laughlin has one added advantage.

Chaplain (Maj.) Andrew McIntosh, 47th Flying Training Wing chaplain, is one of a few chaplains in the Air Force who is officially licensed in marriage counseling.

"There are only two other chaplains in the Air Force who have this license," said McIntosh. "I received my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology in 2012 and received my license as a marriage and family therapist associate later that year. To date I have counseled more than 240 hours."

McIntosh decided to pursue this venture despite the increased workload it demands.

"Few chaplains decide to get this qualification because it requires additional schooling, counseling hours and supervision in addition to the seminary and other requirements to become a military chaplain," said McIntosh. "Despite the hours completed already, I still have 900 hours of counseling and 60 hours of supervision to complete"

The chaplain is only able to do this by putting in work well outside of the normal duty hours.

"To complete my hours, I volunteer on the weekends at the Amistad Therapy Center," said McIntosh. "I also meet people in person or on the phone in the evenings, and Saturdays and Sundays after services,"

With his license, Chaplain McIntosh would be able to leave the military and start his own counseling, but he chooses to stay with the military.

"I love the Air Force mission and I am passionate about our Air Force family," said McIntosh. "The family is a unit and each part affects the other. If a child is acting out in school, it may be because there is turmoil between the parents. We apply a systemic approach by looking at the family as a whole instead of targeting a symptom or individual."

The chapel offers seminars and retreats throughout the year. The events focus on married couples but are open to all.

"We often have engaged or serious couples attend, and sometimes even single people who just want to learn for the future," said McIntosh. "The skills learned not only apply to family life, but the Air Force unit as well. An airman not performing well may be due to infighting amongst his leadership as opposed to resting solely on the airman's shoulders."

To learn more, contact the chapel at 298-5111.