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• In general, most people who used non-medical counseling experienced a reduction in problem severity and its impact on their lives over the short and long term.
• There was a statistically significant decrease in the frequency with which a participant's problem interfered with work or daily routines following non-medical counseling, and a reduction in the frequency of feeling stressed or anxious.
• Across most measures, over 90 percent of participants reported positive experiences with non-medical counseling provided through the Military and Family Life Counseling and Military OneSource programs.
• About 90 percent of participants felt that their counselor provided the services they needed to address their non-medical problems and related concerns, and agreed that their counselor provided the services they needed to address their problem.

This chartbook summarizes findings from an evaluation of two programs offered by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that provide short-term, solution-focused counseling for common personal and family issues to members of the U.S. military and their families. These counseling services are collectively called non-medical counseling within the DoD and are offered through the Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) and Military OneSource programs. RAND's National Defense Research Institute was asked to evaluate these programs to determine whether they are effective in improving outcomes and whether effectiveness varies by problem type and/or population. Two online surveys were provided to program participants — the first two to three weeks after their initial session and the second three months later. Surveys were designed to gain information on 1) problem severity and overall problem resolution, 2) resolution of stress and anxiety, 3) problem interference with work and daily life, 4) connection to other services and referrals, 5) experiences with MFLC and Military OneSource programs, and 6) perceptions of non-medical counselors. The majority of participants experienced a decrease in problem severity and a reduction in reported frequency of feeling stressed or anxious as a result of their problem following counseling. These improvements were sustained or continued to improve in the three months after initiation of counseling. Non-medical counseling was not universally successful, however, and a small minority expressed dissatisfaction with the program or their counselor.