Page Description
The following page is a three column layout with a header that contains a quicklinks jump menu and the search CSUN function. Page sections are identified with headers. The footer contains update, contact and emergency information.
Employee Assistance Program
Self-Help
Helping Employees Find the Right Therapist
Traditional Types of Therapies
Relaxation: How Well Can You Relax?
Our Philosophy
Helping Employees Find the Right Therapist
At California State University Northridge, Employees are a precious commodity. The Services provided by the Employee Assistance Program are designed to meet your individual needs by promoting a sense of wellbeing within an overall community of caring. We are here to support your during difficult times and to provide you with tools that will help you get back on track.
When it comes to finding the right therapist, it would be ideal if we could provide each of you with the name of a local clinician that we know and trust to be absolutely perfect for you. Unfortunately, the complexities of present day health insurance protocols make this nearly impossible, even with non-HMO carriers. The following illustrates why:
- As a general rule, clinicians must sign a contract with an insurance company in order to provide services to their members and receive reimbursement.
- The clinician's services are closely managed by an on-going Utilization Review process whose staff is responsible for authorizing treatment.
- Clinicians who are contractually affiliated with insurance companies change frequently.
- Providers who are known to be good clinicians are rarely able to accommodate a constant flow of new clients.
Finding the "right" therapist is a very personal process. As an alternative to providing specific names, we felt it would be more beneficial to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary for selecting the right therapist for YOU. Here's how:
- Go
to the EAP Home page, www-admn.csun.edu/ohrs/eap/, and click on the
following links:
- Finding the Right Therapist
- Traditional Types of Therapy
- Finding Wellness and Wellbeing: Community Options and Alternative Resources
- My Mental Health Benefits - coming soon!
- Or, you can stop by the EAP office and request copies of the first three documents mentioned above.
Another option is to schedule an individual appointment with the EAP Coordinator who can guide you through the process in the following ways:
- Clarify the main issues and/or current challenges you are facing.
- Identify what you hope to accomplish with the help you are seeking and explore reasonable goals.
- Provide information regarding types of treatment, modality and technique, particularly those that have proven track records for being most effective for specific problems.
- Make recommendations regarding the type of treatment best suited for your situation.
- Review the Mental Health Benefits covered by your insurance, including limitations that may affect the course and/or outcome of therapy (i.e.: number of visits, co-pays and allowable treatments/services).
- Explain how to contact the insurance company (or EAP can make the call for you as needed) to obtain referrals for mental health providers.
- Engage in a dialogue about what to look for in a therapist.
- Provide information regarding types of licensed clinicians.
- Provide information regarding best practices and professional standards that all therapists must abide by, including who to contact if the therapist's conduct is unethical or unlawful.
- Provide local, alternative, community-based options for treatment to supplement (or utilize in lieu of) the mental health benefits provided by your insurance (i.e.: local mental health clinics that offer sliding-scale or low cost treatment, self-help and/or peer support groups, etc.).
- Provide follow-up or additional consultation as needed.