email page to a friendHow to Choose an EAP Provider
Assessment and Referral Service Model
This program type offers a limited number of counselling sessions per employee, primarily for purposes of assessment, with the ultimate objective of referring the employee to a community-based service or to a fee-for-service private practice clinician.
Con
- Imagine being seriously distressed and meeting with a counsellor for “assessment”. By the conclusion of your meeting you have told your emotionally draining story and feel confident that the counsellor understands and is sympathetic to your dilemma. Now, instead of returning to meet further with this counsellor you are referred to another counsellor for “treatment.”
- Many community-based services are undergoing severe funding cuts. The results can be waiting lists of 6 months to a year. And private practitioners, charging anywhere from $75 to $200 per hour, may not be affordable for some employees.
- Usually the method to access counselling services through this model is via the Human Resource department so confidentiality is compromised and utilization rates will be low.
- This is a reactive, non-preventative service.
Pro
- This is an inexpensive program.
- Total control of the costs.
- Problem gets assessed.