COMFORT Act

The COMFORT Act (S 456) allows mental health professionals to provide emotional support counseling to military families anywhere in the U.S. (including states, D.C., and territories) without location restrictions for the provider or family. It specifically covers licensed mental health providers recognized by the Defense Secretary, or Department of Defense personnel/contractors working under authorized programs. The law removes barriers that previously required counseling to occur at specific locations, enabling services to be provided on-base, remotely, or at other locations within the U.S. This directly affects military families seeking non-medical counseling and the providers authorized to deliver it under Defense programs.