Employee Assistance Program

Call 888-980-8740 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Employee Assistance Program

Powered by Optum, the NYU Employee Assistance Program is available to U.S.-based:

  • full-time faculty, administrators, professional researchers, and staff
  • adjunct faculty with an active appointment
  • part-time administrators and staff
  • graduate student employees in Local 2110
  • spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of eligible faculty and employees

A Key Element of Your Benefits

The success of NYU as a progressive academic institution is critically linked to the physical health and total well-being of our faculty, employees, and your family members. NYU's Employee Assistance Program, powered by Optum (Summary Plan Description PDF), provides services and support for challenges such as depression, anxiety, grief, loss, substance use, relationship management, and more. These supportive, confidential services (English PDF, Spanish PDF) are provided at no cost to you and your eligible dependents and are a click or toll-free phone call away.

How to Connect for Immediate Support

First Call Provider Search

To support NYU members quickly and efficiently finding an available provider, the Optum EAP team will proactively offer to conduct a provider search on the member’s behalf. Based on the member’s specific preferences, availability and presenting issue, Optum will work to identify an appropriate provider with appointment availability. Call toll-free: 888-980-8740

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Assistance Program

Call Toll-Free: 888-980-8740

Speak confidentially with master’s-level specialists for immediate help. Specialists may connect you with a network provider for a no-cost, in-person or virtual consultation. You can also receive complimentary consultations with attorneys, financial planners, and other professional experts.

NYU will not be informed if you call or view information online. All communication is kept confidential except in the circumstances of potential harm to self or others.

Download the Optum App

Download the Employee Assistance Program app, Optum Assist, featuring live chat. Learn about the program's services, read helpful articles, find a provider for in-person counseling, and obtain authorizations – anytime, anywhere. Use the click-to-call or live chat features to connect with a specialist.

Downloads:

Access Support & Tools Online

Access support and self-help tools online. Find resources to address concerns and questions. Explore thousands of articles, videos, podcasts, interactive programs, and other tools to help you with everyday life. Obtain online authorizations and search for a network provider for counseling sessions.

To Access:
  1. Visit Optum online at liveandworkwell.com
  2. Browse resources as a guest using access code NYU (no registration or login required)

Connect with Your On-Campus Counselor

As more of NYU's community of faculty and employees reconvene to in-person instruction and work this fall, and anticipate the personal planning ahead, NYU has partnered with Optum to introduce a new, highly personalized enhancement to complement the above 24 hours a day, seven days a week options of connecting with the Employee Assistance Program.

Dedicated consultation services, both tele-health and in-person, offer support, information, and referrals to help you navigate daily challenges and cope with unexpected events. Like the other well-being services and support provided by Optum, the expert, on-campus mental health counselor can provide assistance across a variety of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, as well as helping individuals go from surviving to thriving by building personal resilience. As always, consultations remain confidential and may provide referrals for additional assistance or mental health counseling.

The counselor service is available to eligible faculty and employees only. However, spouses, domestic partners, and dependents are welcome to use all of Optum's other existing services and resources above.

Upcoming Events

Building a Culture of Kindness: Strategies for Promoting Positive Mental Health and Strong Relationships
Wednesday, February 21, 12:00pm EST

This session explores the critical role of kindness in building strong relationships and promoting positive mental health. This will include strategies and practical ways to demonstrate kindness on a daily basis. Participants will delve into the motivations behind performing altruistic acts and examine the science behind gratitude by providing practical strategies for incorporating it into our daily routines. We will also discuss the benefits of giving and helping others for our own mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of kindness as a key element of a healthy workplace. Through the combination of scientific insights and practical strategies, this session aims to empower participants to create a culture of kindness and gratitude, promoting positive mental health and strengthening relationships.

Learning Points:

- Understand the critical role of kindness in building strong relationships and promoting positive mental health
- Identify strategies and practical ways to demonstrate kindness on a daily basis
- Explore the motivations behind performing altruistic acts
- Discuss the science behind gratitude and practical strategies for incorporating it into our daily routines

How to Understand and Develop Emotional Intelligence
Tuesday, March 19, 12:00pm EST

Attendees will learn all about Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – from its definition to strategies for enhancing it. This program will help participants identify stress reduction techniques and guide them through writing their own action plan for developing their EQ.

Learning Points:

- Define emotional intelligence. Assess individual emotional intelligence
- Develop a “feeling” vocabulary Examine the basic concepts of emotional intelligence
- Determine the benefits of a healthy emotional intelligence
- Explore strategies for enhancing skills -Identify appropriate stress reduction techniques

 

Dr. Bob Talbot

Robert Talbot, Ph.D., LCSW, CEAP

Dr. Bob Talbot is a human behavior expert with 30 years of clinical experience and 13 years as an employee assistance program consultant.

He holds a Ph.D. in clinical social work from New York University and is licensed to practice in New York State.

Read bio and learn more (PDF).

Counselor Appoinment Availability  

In Office:
Mondays 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesdays 10:30 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesdays 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Thursdays 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Remotely:

Fridays 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

View the scheduling portal tip sheet (PDF). For additional scheduling assistance, contact robert_talbot@optum.com or 763-732-6089. If you are scheduling an appointment less than 2 hours in advance, please call the number above to confirm your appointment.


What is the Employee Assistance Program?

Employee Assistance Program

The benefit is designed to help you address life concerns and stressors that interfere with your concentration, motivation, and enjoyment of life. Contact Optum if you need help with various problems or situations such as:

  • Job Stress
  • Family Conflict
  • Emotional Strain
  • Financial or Legal Difficulties
  • Relationship or Parenting Support
  • Drug and Alcohol Dependency Issues

Why Use the Employee Assistance Program?

For well-being concerns, counseling services offer support, information, and referrals to help you deal with daily challenges and cope with unexpected events. Your benefit provides up to five virtual or telephonic consultations per issue per year with a professional behavioral health clinician skilled in your area of concern. As an additional resource, an on-site counseling service will be available for consultation.

For work life services, connect with verified resources and educational material to help you best integrate work and life. 

Well-Being Concerns Work Life Services*
Resiliency Caregiving Resources
Stress Alzheimers and Related Disorders
Anxiety Estate Planning
Depression In-Home and Nursing Care Options
Drug or Alcohol Abuse Transportation Services
Relationships Homeschooling
Self-Esteem Parenting
Grief and Loss Special Needs Programs
Mental Health Referrals Adoption Information
and more Child Care Options
  Teen Community Programs
  Pet Services
  Auto and Home Repair
  Relocation

* Full-time faculty, administrators, and professional researchers are provided with individualized consultations through subject matter experts at the NYU Work Life office. For assistance with many of the above services, visit NYU Work Life.

For managers and the HR community, consultations and critical incident responses are available. Licensed staff can provide consultation and resources regarding employee concerns or the broader organizational dynamic. Formal referrals can also be reviewed if the workplace requires confirmation of adherence to treatment recommendations.

Critical incident response services may be arranged 24 hours a day, seven days a week with an Optum coordinator by calling 888-980-8740. On-site services may be provided by a consultant from Optum's national network to provide group, individual, or management debriefings following a disruptive event.

If you are a manager in need of any of these services and support, or wish to access enhanced resources at liveandworkwell.com, contact your Human Resources Officer or Business Partner for consultation and special access code.


Call 888-980-8740 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

NYU will not be informed if you call or view information online. All communication is kept confidential except in the circumstances of potential harm to self or others.