Here to Help: Get to Know Johnson’s Employee Assistance Program
We all have moments when we struggle and could use a helping hand. Whether we feel stressed about work or family, are navigating major life adjustments, or are dealing with other emotional and mental health issues, having someone to talk to and being comfortable seeking help can make a big difference.
The counselors at Johnson Space Center’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are here to lend an ear.
Led by director Jackie Reese, the EAP is Johnson’s onsite counseling and mental health resource office. Team members help all Johnson employees – civil servants and contractors – and their families manage stress, process grief, address family and relationship issues, treat mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, and tackle drug and alcohol abuse. Depending on an individual’s unique situation and needs, that help might be in the form of brief, solution-focused visits with an EAP counselor, or it could involve longer-term support and referrals to community professionals.
“We work to make sure that we have resources for everybody for all aspects of mental health care,” Reese said.
EAP offerings extend beyond counseling with a range of self-help and group support tools that promote employee well-being. These tools include EAP-led workshops and presentations on topics such as mindfulness and meditation, stress management, assertiveness and communication skills, domestic violence, and suicide prevention. Several EAP-organized support groups meet regularly throughout the year, including the Autism Support Group, Life After Loss Support Group, and the Caregiving and Eldercare Support Group. Libraries of physical and virtual self-help resources are accessible through the EAP’s website and office, as well.
Reese and her team encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out to the EAP. “We strongly encourage folks to reach out early in their struggle instead of waiting,” she said. “The sooner you reach out, the sooner you start to feel better. Suffering in silence and trying to go through it alone prolongs and can even prevent recovery.”
Johnson team members can contact the EAP by calling the office directly at (281) 483-6130 or emailing jsc-employeeassistanceprogram@mail.nasa.gov. Voluntary contacts with the EAP are kept confidential unless there is a need to prevent a clear imminent danger to yourself or others. Job and promotion opportunities are not jeopardized by a request for counseling or a referral from the EAP.
Get to know Johnson’s EAP team by reading the profiles below.
Josefina (Josie) Sierra, Counselor