Information for State Employees:
Family Member Participation in CSEAP Services
Statute and Personnel Rule Addressing EAP Services
In accordance with personnel rule and state statute, CSEAP is able to provide individual counseling to state employees and couple or family counseling that includes the state employee and their partner/spouse or family members.
State of Colorado personnel rules and state statute indicate that state employees “may request the participation of other persons [in EAP sessions] if [participation is] necessary to provide effective assistance to the employee” and that participation of others is appropriate if “such assistance is necessary to provide effective counseling to a state employee.”¹ ²
Services to State Employees and Their Family Members
Individual Sessions
CSEAP individual counseling sessions are available only to state employees. CSEAP is unable to provide individual counseling to family members, loved ones, or partners/spouses of state employees. However, state employees may include their family members or loved ones in couple or family sessions. In addition, CSEAP is able to work with state employees to identify appropriate individual counseling services for their family member(s).
Family Sessions and Including Children in Sessions
Family sessions are intended to address family interpersonal dynamics that create stress or difficulty for the state employee. Please note that CSEAP serves family members who are age 15 and older. Family sessions may include the following participants:
- State employee (parent/caregiver) and their child/ren, age 15 and older
- State employee, their child/ren (age 15 and older), and an additional caregiver (parent, stepparent, co-parent)
- State employee and their parent/parents
EAP counseling, by design, is short-term and brief in time frame. This counseling model may not provide ample time for children and adolescents to develop trust and connection with a mental health provider. For this reason, it may be advantageous to work with a CSEAP counselor in identifying appropriate longer-term family counseling referrals.
Couple Sessions
State employees may include their spouse or partner in couple sessions. Couple sessions are intended to address stress, distress, difficulties, parenting concerns, mental health concerns, and other issues that impact the couple and the relationship.
Referrals
CSEAP works with state employees to identify appropriate mental health referrals and other resources for their family members.³ These resources can be helpful when the employee is seeking individual counseling exclusively for their child or adult family member. Please schedule a consultation with an CSEAP EAP Specialist for assistance in identifying available services for your family member. In addition, your health insurance provider can provide referrals for any family members covered on your plan. Your family member may also have access to an EAP service through their employer.
What To Expect
Family Sessions
Family sessions are focused on improving family communication and connection, and are offered in situations when the state employee is identifying family or parenting concerns as the primary stressor causing impact to their work or personal life. Parent/child sessions may also focus on improving communication and understanding between parent(s) and child (adolescent 15+ or young adult). Family sessions may include identifying resources and strategies to support the child when childhood mental health is the primary concern.
When clinically appropriate, your CSEAP counselor may request to speak to one or more family member(s) individually outside of a family session. These individual sessions are to support the family counseling sessions, and count toward the available 8 counseling sessions per rolling year. Family sessions are available via video or in-person (as safe and approved during the time frame of pandemic).
Couple Sessions
Couple sessions include the state employee and their partner including spouse, co-parent, dating partner, or long-term intimate partner. Couple sessions are available to state employees identifying stress in their adult relationship as the primary stressor causing impact in their work or personal life.
Couple sessions aim to improve understanding, communication, and connection between partners. In addition, couple sessions may include focus on strategies that the couple can implement to support one or the other (or each other) in managing mental health or physical health concerns. Couple sessions may also be focused on caregiving stressors, problematic substance use, amicable separation or divorce (as mutually agreed upon by the couple), and/or co-parenting. CSEAP is able to work with 2 adult intimate relationship partners.
Couple sessions are available via video or in-person (as safe and approved during the time frame of pandemic). When clinically appropriate, your CSEAP counselor may request to speak to one or both relationship parties individually, outside of a couple session. These individual sessions are to support the couple counseling sessions, and count toward the available 8 counseling sessions per rolling year.
CSEAP subscribes to a ‘no secrets’ policy when engaged in couple counseling which means that the couple is seen as the client and any information shared - even if shared in individual sessions that are part of couple counseling - may be addressed in couple sessions. However, when domestic violence is a concern, CSEAP therapists do not share information that could inadvertently create risk for a potential victim of domestic violence. CSEAP applies best practice regarding domestic violence including not providing couple counseling when the presenting concern is domestic violence. Also in accordance with best practice, CSEAP therapists do not provide couple counseling when the providing therapist is concerned that violence is being perpetrated during the timeframe of counseling or when past violence impacts the potential usefulness or efficacy of couple counseling.
Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Neglect or Abuse
CSEAP employees must abide by mandatory reporting requirements. Regardless of the type of CSEAP service or counseling provided - including individual, couple, or family counseling - CSEAP therapists must report suspected neglect or abuse of children, at-risk elders, and at-risk adults. For more information on mandatory reporting requirements, visit APS and CDHS.
Additional Information and Resources
¹ Code of Colorado Regulations, State Personnel Board and State Personnel Director, 4CCR 801-1, 11-27 (A) (p. 92).
² Colorado Revised Statute, Title 24 (24-50-604, III, p. 1351), Government-State (2020).
³ ‘Referral’ for the purposes of this document includes suggested resources or service providers. CSEAP does not seek approval from your health insurance provider for referrals; CSEAP does not contact providers to seek specific services for you. Employees are responsible for fully vetting suggested resources and ensuring that providers are covered, if necessary, on their health insurance plan. CSEAP cannot recommend any specific provider or validate credentials.