EAP Affiliate Counsellor
Mark Nevin, an experienced EAP counsellor, gives an interesting insight into the specialist nature of EAP work;
I am a psychotherapist and counsellor in my fifth year of clinical practice, I work from consulting rooms in Highgate in North London and Harley Street in Central London. My training was integrative, which means I have learned how to bring together a wide range of counselling theories. Each provides its own valuable perspective and is potentially enhanced when carefully integrated with another. It is an approach that fits well with the broad range of issues that I am confronted with as an EAP counsellor. I am accredited by the UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy) and a full member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), so I operate within both organisations’ strict ethical guidelines to ensure safe and contained clinical practice.
The referral of a new client begins with a call from one of the various EAPs with whom I am affiliated. If I have availability I will accept the case and then log into their website to pick up the clients contact details. When I contact the client they are expecting my call (or email if they have stated this as a preferred way of communication) and together we arrange a mutually convenient time for the first session. This is usually within 5 working days and often sooner, especially if the person in question is feeling especially vulnerable in some way. In cases like these it is re-assuring to have a team of supervising case managers on hand to offer support should the need arise, I feel confident that whatever occurs, their experience and know how is behind me.
While most of my private practice is open-ended psychotherapy, I enjoy the challenge and variety that my role as an EAP counsellor presents me and I am often amazed at how much can be achieved through short term counselling. The dynamic of the limited time frame can sometimes focus and accelerate the healing process and, while deeper routed issues may need the attention of long-term psychotherapy, it is surprising what a beneficial effect the slightest shift in perspective can have.
One of the aspects of the work I appreciate is how from hour to hour I am engaged with employees on all levels of the corporate ladder, from shop floor to senior management, the thing we all have in common is our humanity. The communications engineer engaged in a conflict with his line manager may be reenacting a drama with another authority figure, his father perhaps, the chance to explore old feelings about his father may lend way to a different way of thinking about the current difficulties and lead to a re-evaluation of problems that seemed insurmountable prior to counselling. Likewise, the senior manager whose identity as the ‘strong one’ is tested by a family bereavement or marital difficulties, may benefit profoundly by the availability of a place to express, explore and process his feelings in confidentiality. This in turn allows him to return to his position of leadership with renewed focus and energy.
I am encouraged by what seems to be a growing trend to acknowledge counselling as a resource for good mental and emotional well-being, more and more it seems to be regarded in a similar way to how we consider the gym in relation to physical fitness. It appears that the stigma that used to surround psychotherapy and counselling is increasingly a thing of the past and we are freer to ask for the help and support we need. I am glad too, to see that employers are taking the emotional and psychological needs of their employees seriously and making this kind of service available to them.
Working as EAP counsellor helps me to feel that I am a part of the everyday and not-so everyday life of the people with whom I share the tube ride into work. Each day is a new challenge and each and every hour with every person, unique.