Clinical Support

How MHN Can Help

The goals of EAP consultations and counseling are to:

• Identify and evaluate the nature and severity of problems and concerns [more]
• Provide immediate assistance for emergent/urgent issues [more]
• Help members resolve problems through short-term counseling when possible [more]
• Screen for conditions that might require long-term treatment or a more intensive level of care
• Develop a referral plan if needed
• Offer relapse prevention and follow-up to ensure satisfactory problem resolution [more]

Remember that EAP services are not medical care or mental health treatment of any kind. If, in the course of a consultation, clinical problems are suspected, including drug or alcohol problems, we will offer a referral to appropriate medical or mental health services.

The First Step - Assessment

Because we're committed to delivering the right care for each individual's unique needs, we provide our network clinicians with a standardized tool for making thorough, clinically sound assessments. Every completed written assessment includes, for example, the caller's chief complaint, a history of the presenting problem and past treatment, a psycho-social history and mental status examination.

The assessment typically requires one to three sessions. As part of the assessment, the clinician formulates a plan to resolve or manage the problem and obtains the member's agreement on plans, methods, and goals. MHN encourages active clinician involvement with the member through guidance, questioning, feedback and motivation techniques.

 

Emergent/Urgent Clinical Cases

All intake calls that are clinically emergent or urgent are immediately transferred to an onsite clinician for further telephone assessment. In these cases, a member of a MHN clinical service team follows-up to ensure and verify that the client receives emergency care, either with a network counselor within 48 hours, or immediately by emergency personnel.

Onsite clinicians provide coverage for crisis and emergency calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Where a significant risk exists to the caller or others, MHN involves community resources, family members, or local law enforcement personnel to intervene immediately.

Short-Term Counseling

Most member problems, such as phase of life, marital/family, and work-related issues, are amenable to short-term counseling. Our philosophy is to help members resolve problems through short-term counseling whenever possible. Short-term counseling can be used to:

• Review a problem in work or family life
• Discuss situational problems or stressful life events (losses, changes, etc.)
• Resolve relationship problems via couple or family counseling (we maintain a sub-network of marriage and family specialists)
• Gain insight for effective parenting and managing adolescents
• Develop interpersonal communication skills
• Learn stress management techniques
• Improve skills in dealing with a difficult co-worker
• Work through the bereavement process

Substance Abuse

MHN clinicians are experienced in the diagnosis, intervention and treatment (through referral) of alcoholism and drug abuse. After conducting a thorough assessment, the clinician works with the chemically dependent member to:

• Reduce denial
• Increase motivation
• Design an appropriate recovery plan
• Seek evaluation for medical/physical problems
• Encourage participation in 12-step programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, ALANON, etc.)
• Make referrals for detoxification, outpatient, day, residential or hospital-based treatment after analyzing the individual's clinical needs, financial resources and benefits

EAP Follow-Up

MHN's comprehensive EAP care coordination and follow up program helps ensure appropriate coordination and resolution. The program includes:

• Immediate follow-up of emergent/urgent clinical cases
• Long-term follow-up of formal management referrals (i.e., job performance-related issues and DOT referrals) to help ensure results, measure efficacy and track compliance with treatment plans