Date of Conferral

3-19-2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Allison Spargo

Abstract

Research has documented increasing mental health challenges among military service members; however, limited scholarship examines the lived experiences of partners of National Guard and Reserve members when a mental health diagnosis is present within the relationship. Despite expanded attention to active-duty families, National Guard partners remain underrepresented while navigating dual civilian–military demands, fragmented support systems, and inconsistent access to care. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore and interpret the lived experiences of partners of National Guard and Reserve service members diagnosed with a mental health condition. Guided by a hermeneutic phenomenological framework, the study explored how partners experience and interpret the impact of a mental health diagnosis within the context of dual civilian–military life. Using purposive sampling, six adult partners meeting inclusion criteria participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through iterative coding and thematic interpretation. Four themes emerged: impact of service, financial strain, navigating support systems, and advocacy for accessible mental health resources. Findings indicated cumulative emotional burden, relational strain, and systemic barriers associated with structural ambiguity and limited institutional infrastructure. Implications for positive social change include strengthening counselor training, expanding culturally responsive services, and promoting equitable access to resources for National Guard families to enhance family stability.

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