Trying Psychotherapy? Use Your Employee Assistance Program
Four reasons why you should use your Employee Assistance Program psychotherapy services.
One: EAP program resources offer you an opportunity to have an initial experience of short term therapy at no cost.
If you have never seen a therapist before you may wish test out how the process works for you or consider a particular therapeutic orientation. Cognitive Behavioral? Emotion focused? Psychodynamic? Which one suits you best? Most Employee Assistance Programs offer a variety of therapeutic modalities and a preliminary conversation with the EAP case manager who does your intake can help ensure a good fit for your needs and personality.
Two: Examine a particular situation or difficulty from a new angle
In complex emotional situations, you may feel, "I don't even know where to start!" A psychotherapist can help you create a focus, identify the most relevant aspects of your problem and/or help you decide where your efforts will be most productive. The "outsider" or "expert" point of view can help you to explore whether your experiences are "normal and expectable" under the circumstances... or whether your symptoms fall in a range that might require medication or more concern.
Three: Crises or Transitions: The rough patches of life
A steadying voice can often help you manage common emotional and psychological challenges such as relational ruptures, the illness of a loved one or a new medical diagnosis. Even a restructuring in the office or an unwanted move can create stresses and strains which may outstrip your normal coping skills. A therapist who has seen many individuals experience similar crises can often help in getting through a difficult patch of life "gracefully" and help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls associated with transitional life experiences. Therapy can provide a neutral space where you can reflect on your situation where there will be no criticism or professional or social repercussions.
Four: "Wellness work" How to live a good life better.
Periodic mental health check ups, timely explorations of upcoming personal changes such as graduation, career development, retirement, menopause, empty nesting can help avoid unnecessary confusion and distress. Existential questions of worth and meaning, the universal challenges of aging and loss, spiritual questions or questions of secular spirituality can all be explored in a counseling or psychotherapy setting. Even "positive stressors" such as weddings, pregnancy, upcoming parenthood, moving or promotions can cause emotional upheavals and raise questions that it may help to get perspective on.
Many people wonder whether it is useful, proper or even safe to use their EAP services when they are going through difficult times.
While we might ideally wish to live in a work-community where our employers are attentive to our emotional and psychological needs as human beings, many workplaces are not set up to facilitate this and many employers do not have the personal qualities or the training to support their workers emotionally.
Employee Assistance Programs are a way that many institutions have created to ensure that employees' personal, emotional and psychological needs are met. Employees should feel no shame about accessing these services
Confidentiality
Every EAP is also highly aware of and respectful of the privacy of their clients. EAP psychotherapy programs are designed to protect confidentiality and ensure that there are no professional or social repercussions when seeking psychological support.
One: EAP program resources offer you an opportunity to have an initial experience of short term therapy at no cost.
If you have never seen a therapist before you may wish test out how the process works for you or consider a particular therapeutic orientation. Cognitive Behavioral? Emotion focused? Psychodynamic? Which one suits you best? Most Employee Assistance Programs offer a variety of therapeutic modalities and a preliminary conversation with the EAP case manager who does your intake can help ensure a good fit for your needs and personality.
Two: Examine a particular situation or difficulty from a new angle
In complex emotional situations, you may feel, "I don't even know where to start!" A psychotherapist can help you create a focus, identify the most relevant aspects of your problem and/or help you decide where your efforts will be most productive. The "outsider" or "expert" point of view can help you to explore whether your experiences are "normal and expectable" under the circumstances... or whether your symptoms fall in a range that might require medication or more concern.
Three: Crises or Transitions: The rough patches of life
A steadying voice can often help you manage common emotional and psychological challenges such as relational ruptures, the illness of a loved one or a new medical diagnosis. Even a restructuring in the office or an unwanted move can create stresses and strains which may outstrip your normal coping skills. A therapist who has seen many individuals experience similar crises can often help in getting through a difficult patch of life "gracefully" and help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls associated with transitional life experiences. Therapy can provide a neutral space where you can reflect on your situation where there will be no criticism or professional or social repercussions.
Four: "Wellness work" How to live a good life better.
Periodic mental health check ups, timely explorations of upcoming personal changes such as graduation, career development, retirement, menopause, empty nesting can help avoid unnecessary confusion and distress. Existential questions of worth and meaning, the universal challenges of aging and loss, spiritual questions or questions of secular spirituality can all be explored in a counseling or psychotherapy setting. Even "positive stressors" such as weddings, pregnancy, upcoming parenthood, moving or promotions can cause emotional upheavals and raise questions that it may help to get perspective on.
Many people wonder whether it is useful, proper or even safe to use their EAP services when they are going through difficult times.
While we might ideally wish to live in a work-community where our employers are attentive to our emotional and psychological needs as human beings, many workplaces are not set up to facilitate this and many employers do not have the personal qualities or the training to support their workers emotionally.
Employee Assistance Programs are a way that many institutions have created to ensure that employees' personal, emotional and psychological needs are met. Employees should feel no shame about accessing these services
Confidentiality
Every EAP is also highly aware of and respectful of the privacy of their clients. EAP psychotherapy programs are designed to protect confidentiality and ensure that there are no professional or social repercussions when seeking psychological support.
Susan Meindl, MA, is a licensed psychologist in private practice
in Montreal Canada. She has a special interest in the psychological
challenges of introverted and Highly Sensitive (HSP) and "gifted"
clients and practices a psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy. Contact
Susan at:
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