Employee Assistance Program

COVID-19 Emotional Support

Learn more about Chico's On-Site Counseling Services for employees, extended through June 2023.

This time is troubling for all of us. The uncertainty of the situation, the changing home life for many, the concern for those in the community who are facing the risks of the virus every day all contribute to these feelings.

Please remember that the Employee Assistance Program (password: csuchico) remains available, not just for emotional support and counseling, with a wealth of additional resources.

Returning to Work During COVID

Live Webinars & Virtual Classes

Articles & Readings

De-Escalation Tips

Tips for Managers

COVID-19 Hub

MyLifeMatters service has a special  hub of COVID-19 resource topics(opens in new window) including:

We encourage all employees to take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program and explore all of the benefits available to you.

  • Service Options(opens in new window) - services are available to the employee and anyone in the employee's home, including roommates and family
  • Counseling(opens in new window) - LifeMatters (by Empathia) is still servicing calls (and requests for counseling referrals) from our employees 24/7, including Spanish interpretation, via its main line: 800-367-7474. They will provide referrals to counselors so long as the provider lives within the state of CA and has a secure platform for both phone and video meeting services.

Webinars (Pre-Recorded)

See all webinars...

Finding "Silver Linings" and Building Resilience, provided by LifeMatters (1 hr., 2020)

  • As we emerge from the pandemic, it's a perfect time to reflect. In the midst of some of the biggest challenges our world has ever faced, what about you? What have you discovered about yourself? What "silver linings" might you've uncovered this year? Have you re-prioritized your life, found creative ways to stay physically active or new coping strategies that you'd never tried before? This session focuses on hidden treasures uncovered during COVID-19 and ways to continue to build resilience as we roll through 2021.

Parenting in a Pandemic, provided by LifeMatters (1 hr., 2020)

  • Challenges for parents abound. During COVID-19 parents have been thrust into uncharted waters as they try to not only remain valued employees but help navigate their children's education and social and emotional well-being. This session focuses on helping parents more successfully navigate all that is before them.

Self-Care for Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic(opens in new window) (1 hr., 2020)

Cultivating Our Best Selves in Response to COVID-19(opens in new window) (1 hr., 18 mins., 2020)

  • Presented by Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW and co-founder of the Trauma Resource Institute, and Linda Grabbe, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC. This presentation focuses on the Community Resiliency Model ("CRM") for self and others to remain calm amid many unknowns. 

COVID-19 Facts you Need to Know(opens in new window) (49 mins., 2020)

  • This spring 2020 webinar includes two sections: the first 28 mins are facts and information about COVID-19 (e.g., signs and symptoms, how to protect yourself, etc.), while the second part discusses the emotional impact of the virus and how to handle stress and anxiety you might be feeling. Webinar by Dr. Ellen Content.

Other Resources

The campus Work-Life Balance While Working Virtually(opens in new window) web page provides links to CSU Learn, LinkedIn Learning, and articles. These resources address the emotional impact of COVID-19 and working virtually.

The California Childcare Portal(opens in new window) has been created to help families working in essential fields (such as health care, police, postal services, grocery, and emergency services) find licensed childcare in their area during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The site is easy to use by just typing in a zip code for a result of childcare centers and homes that are currently open, their capacity, licensing history, and other useful information for choosing care.