Stress is a part of life, with levels that rise and fall based on the events of the day, relationships, what is going on in the news and much more.
“Stress exists on a spectrum,” said Tami Long, Ph.D., director of the UAB Employee Assistance and Counseling Center, or EACC. “It ranges from everyday frustrations to chronic feelings of stress and overwhelm, whether in relationships, at home or at work. While some stress can motivate you, ongoing stress can take a toll on your well-being.”
Counseling, both in-person and telehealth, is available for all UAB employees and their immediate household members through the EACC (more details below).
“Not everyone has the flexibility to attend a telehealth or in-person counseling appointment,” Long said. “And many employees can benefit from quick, easily accessible support for stress management, anxiety and other emotional well-being concerns. Engaging in daily self-care helps you better manage life’s stressors, and digital resources can also provide guidance when life becomes challenging.”
TAO for UAB
Last fall, the EACC introduced TAO by Uplift a free, confidential, workplace-specific version of the Therapy Assistance Online digital platform. TAO has been available for UAB students for several years, and “it came highly recommended” by Angela Stowe, Ph.D., director of UAB Student Counseling Services, Long said.
“With TAO, employees can access a wide range of interactive tools to support their mental health and well-being,” Long explained. “TAO includes resources for journaling, managing stress, building coping skills, and addressing anxiety, grief, depression and burnout, as well as mindfulness and time-management techniques.”
One quick check-in that Long recommends on TAO is the Well-Being Index (WHO-5). “You just answer five short questions that assess mood, energy and interest in daily life over the past two weeks,” Long said. “Then you can revisit it every two to four weeks to track changes and see how you are managing and improving over time.”
To access TAO for UAB, employees can create an account using the button on this page and then log in using their BlazerID and two-factor authentication.
More resources you can access right now:
TAO is just one of many digital resources available from the EACC. Visit the EACC site for more, including:
- UABwell app — This UAB-specific app, available for Apple or Android, brings together UAB services, information and resources about mental health in one central location. (After downloading, be sure to select the “Employees” option.) The app also lets you build a personalized self-care plan to help reach your mental health and wellness goals, keep up with campus mental health events, and track your progress with the app’s habit tracker.
- Code Blaze mental health resources — These resource collections are designed to help employees with work/life integration, including specific toolkits listing local resources and help for:
- Online mental health screenings for depression, anxiety, work health, alcohol/substance use, eating disorders, and more. (Online screenings can be a helpful starting point, but they are not a substitute for speaking with a licensed healthcare professional, Long notes).
Quick guide to popular EACC offerings:
- Counseling (traditional and telehealth): UAB employees and members of their immediate household age 12 or older receive up to 12 free, confidential counseling sessions each year. These services are available in-person (at the Magnolia Office Park building) or via telehealth counseling. Counseling is available for individuals, couples and families. “Since the pandemic, we have found that the majority of client counseling visits are conducted via telehealth,” Long said. “Many people seem to prefer the convenience of finding a quiet place to meet with their therapist virtually.”
- How to get started: Fill out the appropriate intake paperwork on this page. The EACC will reach out within three business days to schedule an initial phone triage/consultation appointment.
- One-at-a-time therapy (OAAT): “For many people, one appointment is enough to help them gain skills and direction,” Long said. “This is a great option if you know what your issue is, have tried to make improvements on your own and aren’t sure about next steps. OAAT is also a good choice for someone “who wants to try out therapy and see if it’s right for them,” Long said.
- Stress management: In addition to counseling and digital resources such as TAO, UABwell and Code Blaze, the EACC supports employees through support groups, art therapy sessions, financial wellness counseling, eldercare assistance, tobacco cessation coaching and case management services.