EAP offers personal and professional aid to Hanscom's civilians

  • Published
  • By Jessica Casserly
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Everyone faces daunting circumstances at times. When a civilian employee at Hanscom is in need of professional resources to address a work-related issue or a problem at home, the Federal Occupational Health Employee Assistance Program is there to offer support.

A federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EAP offers free, short-term counseling to civilian employees and their family members on a variety of issues.

"We deal with both workplace issues and personal problems," said Ina Bachman, the senior consultant for Employee Assistance and Work and Life Programs at Hanscom. "People might reach out to us for relationship issues with family members or co-workers. People also come for stress. It could be anything from serious depression to something really simple like wanting to improve their time management skills."

Though Bachman's office hours at the Airman and Family Readiness Center are limited to Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., civilians can also seek support from affiliate, private therapists, legal and financial professionals and others out in the community. Bachman said many program participants appreciate the flexibility seeing a private practitioner therapist offers.

Whether meeting in her office or seeing a private therapist off base, Bachman understands that confidentiality can be a concern for anyone considering the program.

"We understand that people won't use the program unless they feel it is safe," Bachman said. "If you contact the EAP or meet with one of our counselors, we can't let anyone know that you have done so unless we have your written authorization."

Legal documentation between EAP members and participants outline whether the member may discuss  an individual's situation and what may be said. The only time this document becomes void is if there is a safety concern, Bachman said.

"If someone tells us they have an imminent plan to harm themselves or if there are children or elders in a situation of abuse or neglect then we have to report that," Bachman said. "Otherwise, we keep the information shared in these sessions private and safe."

While confidential, professional counseling is a key component of the program, the EAP offers other avenues of life and workplace support. In addition to free legal consultations with an attorney and discounted rates, the EAP also provides free financial guidance on topics such as debt reduction and planning for the future.

Civilian supervisors can also take advantage of the EAP's short-term coaching program. The program focuses on developing leadership style, enhancing teambuilding and conflict resolution skills. Civilian supervisors and military supervisors of civilians can also reach out to the EAP for a consultation if they have a workplace issue regarding a civilian employee and want a neutral person to consult with, Bachman explained.

Onsite group sessions are also available for offices of civilian employees. Bachman said common focus areas for discussions include resiliency, stress management and the multi-generational workforce.

The A&FRC is just one office that has benefited from Bachman's onsite group sessions, said Dawn Andreucci, A&FRC Community Readiness consultant team leader.

"I have seen Ina facilitate multiple presentations and she always does a wonderful job connecting to her audience and her subject," Andreucci said. "Her skills were particularly essential through periods of downsizing, uncertainty and change. She's helped us, as a helping agency, provide even more compassionate service to others."

In addition to exploring one-on-one and group support options, Bachman also encourages Hanscom civilians to utilize the resources available on the EAP website.

"Our website is a really great resource to check out," Bachman said. "We offer webinars like balancing work and family or managing stress. I encourage people to visit the website even when they are not currently experiencing an issue, because they're more likely to use it when they need it if they are familiar with the resources available."

To view the various tools offered on the EAP website, visit www.FOH4You.com.

Ultimately, EAP resources are there to empower Hanscom civilians to address problems early, so they can avoid significant crises down the road, Bachman said.

"So often people let a problem fester for a long time before seeking help," Bachman said. "I like to use the analogy that what we do is like dental care. If you have tooth pain and you go to the dentist early, it may just be a cavity and you can get a filling. But if you wait and wait, you may end up needing a root canal. I see the EAP as a prevention model to keep small problems from blowing up and impacting our lives in a big way."

To speak to a live counselor about the EAP or to schedule an appointment, please call the 24 hour national service center at 1-800-222-0364.