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FAQ's on EAP
Q: Is EAP really confidential?
A: Yes.
EAP is confidential as required by federal and
state law. EAP's are mandated just as any other mental health or substance abuse
treatment provider to maintain complete confidentiality. Violating that
confidentiality would be violating the law. We take confidentiality very
seriously in EAP because we know that violating confidentiality will violate our
client's trust--something that's very important to us.
The bottom line is that confidentiality is the
law.
When discussing confidentiality, it's important
to know that the law ALSO requires the EAP to break confidentiality in very
specific situations involving protecting a client's safety. In the following
situations, EAP counselors are required by law to take reasonable steps
necessary to promote a clients safety. They are:
- To protect a client from self harm: It's not
uncommon for the EAP to receive calls from people who for one reason or
another have thoughts of harming themselves. Our mandate to protect,
however, only applies to those situations where we believe their is imminent
danger or threat of self harm.
- To protect someone from being harmed by a
client: Should a client make a threat against someone and we believe the
client has the means, the opportunity and the intent to carry out that
serious threat, we are obligated to take reasonable action.
- To protect a child or vulnerable adult from
harm: Should an EAP client disclose physical abuse, emotional abuse or
neglect of a child or reasonable adult to the EAP, we are obligated to
notify the appropriate reporting body such as the local department of social
services, child protection agency, etc.
Those are the guidelines on EAP that C&A follows
in maintaining your privacy and confidentiality.
Q: Who pays for the EAP?
A: Your employer does.
Your employer pays for the EAP on an annual
basis, whether one person or everyone uses the program. Your contact with the
EAP both on the phone and in person is free of charge. No bills, no invoices, no
statements.
If, however, the EAP meets with you and refers
you to counseling or services NOT covered under the EAP, you will be informed
ahead of time. Sometimes EAP clients present with issues requiring a more
specialized intervention than EAP can provide. In those situations, EAP will
make every attempt to minimize any out of pocket expense incurred by referring
you to services covered under your company insurance/benefit plan. Regardless,
you will be informed when EAP services end and out-of-pocket services begin.
Q: Why can't I have my first 6 visits free?
A: The program doesn't work that way.
If your company has purchased EAP short-term
counseling services, they have purchased this additional service as a supplement
to your insurance plan, not as an augment to it. Included in the EAP short-term
counseling program are up to 6 visits for clients who present with
concerns that can be RESOLVED in 6 visits. You and your in person EAP counselor
will make that decision together. While every situation is different, common
problems that can be resolved in 6 visits include: some relationship issues,
adjustment problems, work stress, some family conflicts, some post traumatic
stress experiences and mild depressed moods.
Problems that are NOT appropriate for
short-term intervention include: drug and alcohol issues, serious depression and
family problems, abuse, assault issues, domestic violence problems and family of
origin issues.
The bottom line is that the EAP attempts to
weigh many different factors in order to ensure the success of the short-term
model and avoid having to refer you outside the EAP after you've been seen many
times. As always, our concern is with providing the best care possible.
If you have questions about our short-term
counseling services, we encourage you to contact EAP.
Q: How many times can I use EAP?
A: As often as you need to.
EAP strives to be inclusive rather than
exclusive. If you experience multiple problems within a year, we encourage you
to call again as much as you need to. However, it is important to note that EAP
is NOT a substitute for seeking ongoing professional help.
Occasionally people will contact EAP after being
seen in person for their allotted visits and ask for a "new" referral to the
counselor for "more sessions." It's important to note that in terms of in-person
visits under the EAP short term counseling program, our rule of thumb is one
referral per problem per family per year. What that means is, that if you
re-contact EAP with a new problem, we'll be happy to refer you for additional
help. But if you're contacting EAP with the same problem and requesting
additional assistance within the same year, EAP is going to help you by pursuing
options outside the EAP program.
Q: What does "family member" or "dependent"
mean?
A: It means someone who is a legal dependent or significant other to the
employee and/or living in the same household.
EAP strives to be inclusive rather than
exclusive. If you are not sure whether someone is covered by the program, please
call. We frequently serve dependent children away at college, as well as
significant life partners. Aunts, uncles, cousins and adult sisters and brothers
are routinely not covered by the program (call to ask) but EAP will be happy to
provide limited assistance wherever possible.
Q: What are the credentials of the counselors
at EAP?
A: Master's level minimum.
All the EAP counselors you speak with over the
phone and meet in person have at least a master's degree in counseling or a
related field. They also have a minimum of 7 years experience. In-person EAP
counselors and EAP Affiliate counselors may have a PhD and even more experience.
Q: Why is EAP asking for a release of
information?
A: To assist you in getting the best possible care.
In situations where the EAP needs to refer you
outside of the EAP for specialized care, we may offer to assist you in the
transition by speaking with the counselor we are referring you to. Being able to
tell the counselor why you're seeking help and what's happening with you will
help you not have to tell your story "all over again."
But the decision is yours and you can always elect to not sign the release.
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