Employee Assistance Programs

 
 
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and who is eligible to use it?
 
An EAP is a confidential counseling and information service that allows people to discuss personal problems and concerns in an understanding and professional environment away from the workplace. If your workplace participates, EAP services are available to employees and their dependent family members.
 
An Employee Assistance Program or EAP as it is more commonly called is a program dedicated to enhancing an employees’ personal well-being and increasing effective job performance and job satisfaction.
 
It provides confidential, professional counseling when we need help to resolve personal problems that are affecting ourselves, our family or our work. 
 
EAP is confidential. The EAP will not report the details of your sessions to anyone without your written consent. There are certain restrictions on this confidentiality-The state law requires any suspicion of child/sexual abuse, elder abuse, or desire to do personal harm to oneself or others be reported to the proper agency for evaluation.
 
These services include, but are not limited to evaluation, counseling, and referral for individuals, couples and families. 
 
The EAP services are free to employees and covered family members.Referrals to outside resources will be recommended if necessary. There may be fees associated with the use of these outside resources
 
In many case an EAP counselor can help you solve your problems in the allotted appointments, for each problem, for each family member unless we feel a referral is in your best interest or you request it.
 
Why Use The EAP?
 
All of us have problems from time-to-time. When a personal problem makes life difficult, it can affect our work.The EAP is designed to help employees before personal problems become work problems. Sometimes conflicts happen with other employees. Resolving the difficulties before they become chronic problems also contributes to feeling better and increasing job effectiveness.
 
What kinds of problems?
 
Job Stress and Burnout
Career
Change in the Workplace
Coping with difficult situations or difficult people
Conflict
Self-esteem
Marital 
Relationship
Family & Parenting Problems
Alcohol & Other Drug Dependencies
Life changes – divorce, new job, new baby, aging parents, grief and loss, retirement
Life challenges – drug and alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, mental illness
 
 
Myths and misconceptions about EAP counseling
 
Counseling is something that is misunderstood by many people. These are some common myths about counseling:
 
MYTH: Counseling is only for people who have serious emotional problems.
FACT: While counseling does deal with people who have emotional problems it can also help:
  • Parents who have concerns regarding their children
  • Individuals redefining career goals
  • Couples who want a stronger relationship, or are contemplating a commitment or marriage
  • Individuals struggling with grief or loss
  • Individuals who have difficulty with self-esteem, communication, or assertion
  • Individuals having difficulty juggling family, work, and other responsibilities
 
MYTH: Seeking counseling is a sign of weakness.
FACT: There is nothing weak about a person who seeks counseling. In fact, it takes courage to explore sensitive feelings and painful experiences. The individuals who enter counseling are taking the first step in resolving their difficulties.
 
MYTH: The counselor will tell you what to do and how to “fix” your problems.
FACT: Counseling is not a “quick fix” cure to your problems. The counselor is there to help you explore your feelings, thoughts, and concerns, to examine your options, and to assist you in achieving the goals you have set.
 
MYTH: The counselor cannot understand you unless he/she has had similar experiences or is of the same background.
FACT: Counselors are trained to be sensitive to and respectful of individual differences, including the specific concerns of individuals with regard to gender, racial/ethnic, cultural, religious, age, sexual preference/orientation, and socioeconomic issues