frequently asked questions
Look here to find out the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Executive Assistance Program (EXAP).
The Executive Assistance Program is a specialized support and insight program for executives that provides counselling and coaching with seasoned therapists and coaches. EXAP is designed to help executives zero in on their issues—both professional and personal—and develop personalized solutions that work.
- Employee assistance programs (EAP) offer a wide range of support services to employees at all levels of an organization. EAPs are often short-term and referral focused, designed to support and assist people to look at a few alternatives to dealing with a personal or emotional problem, and to reduce the anxiety and/or stress around their concerns. If they need longer term or specialized help, employees are referred outside of an EAP and it becomes a financial decision for the employee as to whether they continue with treatment. Due to the short-term nature of many EAP services, the possibility of problem resolution is low since it normally takes 8 or more sessions to affect behaviour change.
- Our Executive Assistance Program (EXAP) was built to help executives and senior leaders address the unique issues and concerns that come with the responsibilities of managing people, running lines of business, and leading an entire company. Services are provided exclusively by seasoned therapists and coaches with extensive experience working with senior leaders. Since EXAP includes up to 12 sessions of combined counselling and coaching, problem resolution is more likely to occur with EXAP.
Being an executive can sometimes come with enormous stress, which makes it hard for the average person to relate. An expert level executive assistance program like EXAP pairs executives with therapists and coaches who have decades of experience helping executives thrive. Executives are in a unique, but are often isolated in their role and need specialized support to manage their professional and personal issues.
Dr. Warren Shepell, the pioneer of employee assistance programs in Canada, always noticed that very few executives used their own EAP. There is greater stigma around leaders needing mental health support because senior executives feel that they have to come across as being in control of their responsibilities and having no mental health problems, when indeed they do from time to time.
With the longer-term expert counselling and coaching we provide, executives gain access to the resources they need to manage personal and professional obstacles, which reduces the risk of burnout and turnover in senior positions. If an executive decides to leave a company, the knowledge of the organization they have acquired over the years is hard to replace.
Yes! For individual executives who access the Executive Assistance Program, whether it is coaching or therapy, it is always confidential (within the limits of the law).
The Executive Assistance Program gives senior executives a confidential and safe space to talk with seasoned and experienced therapists and coaches virtually for up to 12 combined sessions per calendar year.
Yes, a CEO can make a corporate referral through the Executive Assistance Program. When a CEO deems it necessary for an executive to access EXAP, a corporate referral can be made to address personal or work-related issues.
Coaching and counselling provide a place for executives to explore their concerns, gain insights about their challenges, and develop strategies to help them move forward and make positive and lasting changes.
- With counselling, executives can explore a wide range of emotional and psychological issues that may extend beyond the workplace. The results of counselling are often around personal growth and self-awareness.
- With coaching, executives tend to focus on specific professional goals and objectives. This often involves developing action plans to achieve these goals. Coaching and counselling take place in a psychologically safe environment that includes accountability.
The Executive Assistance Program is built with this need in mind; executives are easily able to switch between coaching and therapy support.
Executives have specialized skills, overloaded calendars, and face unique issues; they can’t waste time explaining how things work in their corporate role to their coach or counsellor. By working with an experienced therapist or coach who knows the language, experiences and reality of the executive lifestyle, sessions can be much more productive and meaningful.
The Executive Assistance Program is fully paid by the organization and includes up to 12 coaching and/or counselling sessions per executive per calendar year.
To learn more about bringing the Executive Assistance Program to your organization, get in touch with your benefits consultant or contact us directly.
