Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Many companies provide their employees with an EAP. This company benefit provides you, any eligible dependents, and sometimes anyone living in your home with private counseling services. The EAP is part of your benefit package. Services are provided prepaid by your company at no cost to you. Your EAP is confidential. No one including your employer will know you are using your benefit. There are some exceptions. For example if you are a danger to yourself, to others, or you disclose the abuse of a child or an elderly person.

Each individual plan has a particular number of free face-to-face counseling sessions. The purpose of the EAP is to give employees and their families’ access to assistance before problems become overwhelming. In turn this benefit helps your employer by helping maintain your productivity on the job and lowering company health care costs overall. If you are experiencing work related stress it can lead to conflict with your coworkers or at home. Everyday stress, interpersonal conflict, financial issues, and our changing environments can do the same. Research shows that when we have problems in our personal lives we are less productive on the job.

You are able to access your EAP 24-hours a day. Read your benefit manual for the number to call, your break room may have the number posted, ask your human resource manager, or call the number on the back of your insurance/benefit card to access assistance. An EAP in some cases offers benefits other than short term counseling and referrals if needed. For example, an EAP may provide financial counseling, legal services or discounts, assistance with child/elder care, and other services.

The types of issues your EAP can assist you with are work and family conflict, burnout with life, anxiety and depression, relationship and marriage problems, alcohol and drug abuse issues, various problems with the internet, anger, issues associated with losses in your life, grief, coping with change, and other issues.

Debra Grant is a provider for EAPs offered by companies in McMinn and the surrounding counties. She is a member of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Please feel free to call this office if you have any further questions or would like to make an appointment. The office number is 423-746-2441.

http://www.agilemindcounseling.com
Contact Debra Grant at debra_grant@agilemindcounseling.com
Or  Phone (423) 746-2441 or Fax (423) 746-2442
This page created on June 7, 2016