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Help! I Need Somebody: Extolling the Virtues of the Employee Assistance Program

My experience with EAP

Former HR Specialist
Federal Agency
Thu Mar 8, 2007 9:26 AM

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About 9 1/2 years ago, the EAP counselor in my old agency helped to save my life. I had finally hit my bottom with my drinking and knew I needed help. The EAP counselor became my advocate, when I was trying to get into a treatment program and again when I was trying to get to see a psychiatrist to deal with the anxiety attacks that I was experiencing in early sobriety. She helped me deal with the maze of my HMO, when I was having trouble just dealing with life. I don't know if this was part of her job description, but without her actions, I am not sure that I would have be able to get and stay sober.

I was able to return some of the favor, when after some time sober, I was able to answer some of her questions about AA. Until she left my old agency, I made sure that I called her every year on the anniversary of my sobriety date to thank her and to let her know that her work was important.

Re: My experience with EAP

ER Specialist
fed agency
Thu Mar 8, 2007 9:39 AM
Congratulations - a great success story! As an ER specialist, I rely on EAP to give an opportunity for employees to turn around before losing their job. It's a wonderful tool, often under-utilized.

EAP

Reformed Conservative
DFAS
Thu Mar 8, 2007 9:32 AM

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I have always been told that if you use EAP services, you will never get a security clearance from then on. Is that correct?

Re: EAP

employee
epa
Thu Mar 8, 2007 10:18 AM
I have used EAPs in the past in several agencies and have had not issues maintaining and upgrading my clearances. It is not an issue.

Re: EAP

HR specialist
retired
Thu Mar 8, 2007 12:45 PM
In my old agency we never knew who used EAP. We gave out the phone number a lot, but unless the employee told someone, it was strictly confidential. A problem might arise if you have to complete security clearance forms and one of the questions is whether you've ever received counseling. For higher level security clearances this could be a problem in some agencies. But the assistance you get from EAP is well worth a change in position.

Re: EAP

Reformed Conservative
DFAS
Thu Mar 8, 2007 12:52 PM
Thanks EPA!

EAP

financial management systems analyst
dfas
Fri Mar 9, 2007 10:38 AM

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eap never returned my calls for an appointment the govt is wasting its money. u only get a couple of free visits then they tell you to go see a shrink who tells you something diff

EAP

Management Analyst
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Fri Mar 9, 2007 10:48 AM

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Here at SSA we've had an EAP for a while and I took advantage of it when I was in a job that was causing intolerable stress. I'm no kid and I've seen a lot, but the exec that I worked for suffered from Narcissistic personality disorder and I just couldn't handle it. The LCSW who counselled me at 2 meetings was good. I was able to stay in the job until the exec arranged my transfer (I was too much of a thorn in her side).

I've since recommended the EAP to several of my former colleagues who still suffer from the work environment ... and, by the way, we're all GS14s and GS15s. I'd return to the EAP anytime I needed help.

EAP

Program Support
VAMC
Fri Mar 9, 2007 1:11 PM

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Experience with EAP thru my facility has been that it doesn't seem to remain very confidential. Supervisor's informed of your request for EAP assistance by HR Dept and from then on Mgmt appears to take view that if you utilize EAP, you must have mental problems and are/will be a problem employee. I was told "if you can't handle your personal problems without help, then you probably can't handle your job either".

Also HR allowed only 2 free visits to EAP, made clear that anything after that was at your expense. I was happy with the services provided by the EAP agency, but couldn't afford to continue when charges began for further visits.

Definitely not happy with the way my agency HR dept manages EAP program. They make it clear they aren't there to help the employee and will put up every roadblock they can for any employee programs, i.e,, FMLA, EAP, LEAVE Trf, or even keeping positions/re-hiring of our returning Reservist personnel.

Employee Assistance Program

TPA
Dept of Defense
Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:56 PM

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I have used the employee assistance program and I can't help but say that not all of what I spoke to these people about was confindential. I learned to solve my own problems because manangement always finds out

poor experience with EAP

biologist
USDA Forest Service
Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:56 PM

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At one point in my career I was assigned to an extremely abusive supervisor. I sought assistance from EAP and went to a highly recommended councellor. Although talking to that person was somewhat helpful, I have two criticisms of the program: 1. we are given 6 appointments per issue. In the professionally devastating circumstances in which I was placed that was not nearly enough, and if I had not had a strong support system (family and friends) I doubt that I could have survived. 2. the particular councellor I went to gave me demeaning advice and scoffed at the alternative career I was thinking of for myself. At that point I needed neutral support, not someone who belittled me for my integrity and attempts to find other employment.

Total Comments: 11
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