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Q: What is trauma counseling?
A: Trauma counseling is an innovative form of mental health care that provides confidential therapy after a traumatic incident. Through the AFT trauma counseling benefit, you can be matched with a therapist any time in the one-year aftermath of a covered incident and use phone, video, and sometimes in-person visits to access help when you need it.
Q: Who is eligible?
A: All AFT members who are either actively employed or on a leave of absence and who have experienced a covered traumatic incident are eligible to receive this benefit. Retired members and agency fee payers are not eligible for this coverage.
Q: What is covered and when?
A: You are covered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, if the incident involves any of the following: domestic violence, aggravated assault, sexual assault, mass shooting, terrorism, or a FEMA-declared major disaster. Coverage also includes incidents in your workplace if you are traumatized by contracting an infectious disease, witnessing a violent incident, bullying, harassment, threats, or secondary traumas. Secondary traumas are incidents that happened to another person but are having an impact on you. Examples include the death of a student or the suicide of a colleague.
Counseling must begin within one year following a covered incident. The benefit offers up to 21 sessions of therapy.
Q: What does this cost?
A: There is no cost to you; this is an AFT-paid benefit for eligible members.
Q: How do I sign up? How can I trust that this service is confidential?
A: Members can gain access to the program through the AFT Member Benefits portal: aft.org/members-only. This requires registration with an AFT Member ID; after that, you will work directly with the provider. (If you need your AFT Member ID, complete this form and we’ll send you a registration link: go.aft.org/lcs.) Your employer will not be notified that you have sought or received this service. Additionally, your information is fully protected under federal regulations.
Q: Why am I required to submit a claim to receive benefits?
A: Trauma counseling is provided through an insurance program, and submitting a claim is the process to request benefits—like requesting healthcare benefits through your health insurance company.
Q: Is this different from an employee assistance program?
A: Yes. The counselors in this program have all received specialized training in post-traumatic care.
Q: If I use trauma counseling, can I also receive benefits from workers’ compensation, my employer, and/or counseling through my insurance?
A: Yes, this trauma benefit is in addition to those benefits. If you are already working with a counselor, you may be able to use this benefit to receive post-traumatic care through that counselor.
Q: When is this benefit not available?
A: Coverage ends if you are no longer an AFT member actively employed or on a leave of absence.
Q: Do I need to enroll?
A: Working AFT members are automatically enrolled.
Q: Is there a waiting period?
A: No. Once you successfully register at the AFT member portal, you are immediately eligible to receive this benefit.
Q: How do I find a therapist who is covered by this trauma counseling benefit?
A: You don’t have to find a therapist. The trauma counseling program will connect you. It has identified high-performing therapists across the United States. Each is a master’s level or higher licensed therapist, is trained in post-traumatic incident mental health care, and has undergone an extensive background check. If you are currently working with a therapist or have a preferred therapist, you may use this benefit to compensate them directly.
Q: What if I don’t have time to see a counselor?
A: Because this counseling is facilitated by today’s technology, you have great flexibility in setting up your sessions, which can occur 24/7 from anywhere. Of course, sessions must be scheduled at times agreeable to both parties.
Q: How do I file a claim?
A: Claims can be filed directly on the trauma counseling page reachable via the link at aft.org/members-only. Under plan resources, members will find a Submit a Claim tab to provide more information.