EMPLOYERS NEED TO PAY FOR EMPLOYEES' COST OF SEEKING COUNSELING HELP RIGHT THROUGH TO PROBLEM RESOLUTION

COMPANIES NEED TO LIFT THE FINANCIAL BARRIER TO EMPLOYEES SEEKING EFFECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THEIR LIVES. Too many companies still buy EAP services that offer only limited sessions (3- 4 sessions) who then refer employees to other counseling services that most often require hourly payments.  And in these cases, employees don’t have the financial wherewithal to pay so they stop seeking help with their problems.

When I first started EAPs, I knew people needed easy access to help with mental health issues and emotional problems - either personally or/and in their relationships, when they needed it. It was tough, and still is, in many organizations, to get companies to pay for mental health and wellness counseling for employees through to problem resolution. Most started with paying for very brief (2 3 session model) counseling. Then the employee or family member was on their own financially. They stopped seeking mental health counseling because they could not afford it. On the other hand, if the costs (for reimbursement) were passed on to the organization's employee benefit plan, then the organization came down hard on the employee benefits broker for rate increases. BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND THE EMPLOYEE LOSES. I cannot emphasize enough that employees with fewer unresolved emotional problems make organizations stronger.
On average, people need up to eight sessions to get problem resolution and behavioral improvement. Research on counseling duration repeated points this out. However, too many companies are still stuck at a limited number of sessions.
Organizations need to lift the financial barrier to employees seeking effective mental health and wellness in their lives and make counseling available to all employees through to problem resolution through their EAP at whatever the cost may be. Keeping satisfied and well-balanced employees in your organization knows no cost limitations.