Counseling program eases faculty, staff stress
By Sarah LaVoie
Daily Forty-Niner
A new counseling service at Cal State Long
Beach is proving students are not the only people who get stressed with
classes and course work.
For the past three months, the Faculty
and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) has helped CSULB professors, lecturers
and other staff members deal with normal everyday difficulties by offering
advice on stress management, how to help a family member or dealing with
the loss of a loved one.
Faculty and staff are also introduced
to methods of crisis intervention and ways to handle concerns involving
money, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as work-related problems.
"It's been a long time coming here [to
CSULB]," FSAP Director Clyde Crego said. "But we're ready for it, and we've
enjoyed support from all of the vice presidents of all of the different
departments."
Crego has previous experience in dealing
with such programs because he was involved in the Employee Assistance Program.
The employee program originated in the
corporate world, and unions used the program as part of their employee
benefits package and as an alternative to disciplinary actions, Crego said.
"Many Fortune 500 companies, small companies
and major universities already have EAPs or FSAPs in place," said Tony
Aquino, a program staff member.
Aquino, also an EAP specialist and a licensed
clinical social worker with 27 years of experience, hopes to provide counseling
and further assistance to the campus community.
"Basically people can come to us for professional
help to resolve concerns, to better cope with life, and better respond
to the changes in life that we all experience," Aquino said. "[The program
will] enhance their sense of well being,"
The program was conceived a number of
years ago after a task force was formed to focus on violence prevention.
The need for a program to help faculty and staff deal with personal problems
soon became apparent, Crego said.
The program, which is supported by Academic
Affairs, Student Services, and the Division of Administration and Finance,
won a proposal for additional money from a state budget committee in May
1998.
The faculty and staff program now offers
five counseling sessions and will provide referrals to screened and personally
selected professionals in the community.
Other services offered include job performance
improvement strategies focusing on leadership-skills training, conflict
resolution and effective change management. Aquino can also provide job-site
intervention for interpersonal conflicts in the workplace.
Interested faculty and staff can call the
Counseling and Psychological Services to set up an appointment at (562)
985-4001. One may also call to schedule a private or telephone consultation. |
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