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Default Dec 05, 2021 at 08:06 PM
  #1
Has anyone ever utilized an employee assistance program (EAP)? If so, what was it like? I see they offer counseling and I'm curious about the style of counseling and length of time. Was it helpful and did it help you keep your job?

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Default Dec 05, 2021 at 09:20 PM
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It's for very, very short-term counseling, like 4-6 sessions usually, no particular style of therapy but often cognitive behavioral, not enough to change lifelong issues but could be a step you could take that demonstrates to your employer you're doing everything you can to keep your job. Are you facing disciplinary action and/or termination due to an outburst at work or inability to complete your work?
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Default Dec 05, 2021 at 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Molinit View Post
It's for very, very short-term counseling, like 4-6 sessions usually, no particular style of therapy but often cognitive behavioral, not enough to change lifelong issues but could be a step you could take that demonstrates to your employer you're doing everything you can to keep your job. Are you facing disciplinary action and/or termination due to an outburst at work or inability to complete your work?
Ah okay thanks for that. Sorry I should of explained why I was asking. I'm working on starting a nonprofit organization that helps people with mental health, substances use, and history of corrections with job placement and coaching and I didn't want to just replicate EAP but I didn't really know what it consisted of. I also want to include an employer education portion and I've been reading a lot about how employers rarely utilize EAP.

I've had consistent issues with holding down employment but I've never had disciplinary issues just struggle with relating and developing relationships with coworkers. I'm typically made fun of and bullied at work but I don't say anything to the employees. I have made complaints to my managers but I've always been told not to take it personally and that's about it.

I had one job where I fit in well until we got a new boss and there was a worker there who struggled a lot with family issues and substance use she told me a lot about her problems but no one ever offered her EAP and I didn't even know about it then but I know we had the program because I was a manager there and I recently asked my old boss and he told me the program did exist there but our HR lady never mentioned it to anyone.

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Default Dec 06, 2021 at 09:32 AM
  #4
With as short as the counseling period is, it would only assist someone who was going through a very short-term situational issue and is more useful for getting one plugged into longer-term counseling in their area. I've seen EAP offered if an employee is going through a tough time and they are having work issues due to it, and when the employer suggests it, it's a big hint that the employee better do something quick to shape up or they're out the door. At best, it offers the employee who isn't familiar with mental health resources a way to find out what those are in their area, at worst it delays the inevitable firing of the employee for a short time.
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Default Dec 06, 2021 at 02:13 PM
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With as short as the counseling period is, it would only assist someone who was going through a very short-term situational issue and is more useful for getting one plugged into longer-term counseling in their area. I've seen EAP offered if an employee is going through a tough time and they are having work issues due to it, and when the employer suggests it, it's a big hint that the employee better do something quick to shape up or they're out the door. At best, it offers the employee who isn't familiar with mental health resources a way to find out what those are in their area, at worst it delays the inevitable firing of the employee for a short time.
Thanks for sharing. It doesn't sound like that would be helpful for people who need ongoing support. I've only had one therapist who helped me ADA forms and I've been in therapy since 2014 and I didn't find out that I could qualify under ADA until 2020 and I've shared my employment struggles with all my therapists.

It feels like there is a major disconnect between employment services and therapy like I guess I just feel more therapists should be sharing employment resources for people who want to work and/or having trouble working.

I just found out about DVRS I am going through the intake process right now. My current therapist mentioned DVRS but didn't provide me with any way of how I contact them and she glossed over it very quickly. The reason I even got into DVRS is that I found this random link on the one-stop career centers website to ask for help with job placement then after a quick conversation they said I can qualify for DVRS. I just wish my current therapist would have shared a little more about it because I really didn't take it seriously by the way she explained it.

It mostly felt like she was making excuses for jobs not hiring me as opposed to how I can find employers willing to hire someone with a limited work history and no college degree and needing accommodations, but she says that I shouldn't mention anything about accommodations until after they hire me. But that hasn't worked for me because I need a set schedule and shorter workdays in the office. I can't work a training schedule then shift to another schedule or cover for other shifts.

But when I don't get to say it's an accommodation these requests are not taken seriously and I always end up working random days and times and get the run around on when I'll get the set schedule until I get so stressed that I quit within the first month.

Sorry, I'm just venting at this point because I've had 40 jobs in 20 years and I'm exhausted in hiding the fact that I need accommodations right off the bat when I know exactly what I need and it's primarily the schedule that's an issue and I can't work a normal 8 hour day in office. I can definitely work more hours remotely but the more verbal interactions I have with people the less stamina I have to work.

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Default Dec 06, 2021 at 10:07 PM
  #6
I've called EAP before and had a similar experience. The counselors seem to want you to find a long-term therapy option, although one counselor checked back with me 4-5 times over a few weeks.

As far as employee services,
this company: chronically capable offers job search services for disabled and chronically ill work seekers. The founder, Hannah Olson understands how important flexible work accommodations are for people with disabilities and illness. I am not sure how successful her organization has been, but it might be something to try.
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Default Dec 06, 2021 at 11:26 PM
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I've called EAP before and had a similar experience. The counselors seem to want you to find a long-term therapy option, although one counselor checked back with me 4-5 times over a few weeks.

As far as employee services,
this company: chronically capable offers job search services for disabled and chronically ill work seekers. The founder, Hannah Olson understands how important flexible work accommodations are for people with disabilities and illness. I am not sure how successful her organization has been, but it might be something to try.
Thanks a lot for that resource it looks like a great site I'm definitely going to sign up! And I appreciate you sharing your experience with EAP. I wonder why they don't try to accommodate people who need a little extra assistance it seems like it could be beneficial. I can see the difficulties in having to provide longer term but it would be nice if they could have more of a centralized hub for all these resources it just feels so scattered.

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Default Dec 07, 2021 at 09:15 AM
  #8
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Originally Posted by ThunderGoddess View Post
Has anyone ever utilized an employee assistance program (EAP)? If so, what was it like? I see they offer counseling and I'm curious about the style of counseling and length of time. Was it helpful and did it help you keep your job?
The last time I used an EAP, they connected me to a therapist and that was it. I was having panic attacks due to a then recent incident with my mother and was in a lot of distress.

I've heard some negative things about EAPs from others, but that wasn't my experience. In fact, my experience was that HR and the job had no real interaction with it. It definitely helped me at the time, and no, I didn't lose my job. I did end up leaving that job for a promotion elsewhere, but I also have to say I worked at a place that had pretty great HR philosophy (that I have yet to really experience anywhere else - this was also the HR program that had set up a health insurance program and leave program for employees who weren't eligible for the main program yet when they were new hires, and I actually did end up with a major illness within my first month of work, and it helped me keep my job and pay the healthcare bills).

My understanding is that most HR departments don't really care much about the health and wellbeing of employees, so I'd gauge what the philosophy and behavior of your HR is. That said, if you have access to EAP, it's supposed to be free, so use it. It's not like a therapist can tell your employer what you talk about; it's all confidential.

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