Employee Assistance Program

Please call EAP at 800-477-2258 to determine if your employer's plan covers dependents.

Sutter EAP can provide resources and referrals to available programs in your area.

Your call is between you and the EAP staff only. No one else — including your employer — will be notified of your call. There are some limits to confidentiality. EAP employees are required by law to report suspected child or elder abuse to the proper authorities. Similarly, if they believe that someone might harm themselves or others, they’re required to take appropriate action.

Yes, if your plan includes it. Please call the EAP office to determine if your employer is enrolled in this plan.

No. There are no forms to fill out. When you begin seeing the provider EAP referred you to, the therapist will let EAP know so they can ensure the number of in-person and telephone sessions remains within your Sutter EAP covered benefits.

Yes, prior authorization is required. Request authorization by calling EAP at 800-477-2258 or by completing the online service request form.

No. EAP’s provider panel consists of licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and psychologists. Your therapist may be able to assist you in locating a psychiatrist.

No, there’s no cost to you for services covered under your plan. There’s no copayment amount due when you see a therapist you’ve been referred to by EAP. If you decide to continue receiving services beyond your authorized number of sessions, you may want to discuss fees with your provider and ask if they carry your health insurance plan.

Simply call 800-477-2258 between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, to speak with one of the professionally trained staff members. After hours, your call will be answered by a service with licensed intake counselors, and they’ll respond to these calls the next business day. If you complete the online form, one of the trained staff members will contact you.

An EAP intake counselor will ask you to briefly describe your area of need. EAP will contact the attorney’s office and provide them with information on the problem. The name of one or more attorneys specializing in the issue will be given to you along with contact information.

EAP staff is professionally trained to assess your needs and compare them with the list of providers available through the program. Since this is what they do every day, they’re very familiar with the providers and can help match you with the one who is the best fit for the types of services or areas of life issues you need, as well as practical issues such as location and times available.

Provider applications are screened by an EAP panel that includes a licensed therapist. All provider applicants’ licenses, insurance, references and experience are verified.

The number of in-person visits varies by plan. To find out what services are available to you under your employer's plan, please call Sutter EAP at (800) 477-2258 or contact your human resources department.

When you speak with one of the EAP staff members, please identify yourself and your employer so that they can ensure they provide correct information about the benefits available to you. The EAP staff will listen to you and ask questions designed to help them determine which services and providers to refer you to. They’ll also ask about personal preferences, such as location, times available, whether you prefer a male or female therapist and any other concerns. Once they locate a licensed provider who best meets your needs, they’ll contact you with the referral information. You can contact the provider and arrange to meet at your convenience.

It sometimes happens that there is a personality conflict or something about a provider you simply don't like. If this happens, call EAP and explain your concerns. With a list of more than 800 providers, they can refer you to another provider who meets your needs.

EAP intake counselors will do their best to locate a provider that carries your health insurance plan to cover continued services.

If your plan includes legal services, EAP provides a free phone consultation with a qualified licensed attorney, and if you retain the attorney, a 25% discount off that attorney’s regular rate. Available law services include: 

• Family law, such as divorce, custody and temporary restraining orders 
• Personal injury and property damage 
• Criminal law, including juvenile, DUI, traffic tickets, and assault and battery 
• Financial law, such as bankruptcy, collection and credit
• Contracts, including real estate, foreclosures, auto and construction
• Landlord and tenant disputes 
• Estate planning, such as probate, wills and trusts 
• Immigration and citizenship

No, your employer won’t be notified. This is a completely confidential service provided as a benefit to you by your employer.