Well-being Through Counseling

An Employee Well-being professional is available during work, at lunch breaks or after work to confidentially talk with you regarding any personal or professional difficulty that you are experiencing. If you have any questions or wish to access our services, contact us.

Counseling and Referral

We offer free and confidential assessment of personal and professional concerns and short-term counseling to NIU employees, retirees and their household members.

Examples of issues addressed include work-related issues, relationship and family concerns, anxiety, depression, stress, grief and loss, substance use/addictions and other personal concerns.

After a consultation regarding your situation, an NIU Employee Well-being professional may recommend counseling with a community provider. Many of the community counselors have a web address so you can learn more about them. A referral to a community counselor approved by your insurance provider means you will be accessing your insurance benefits and may pay a co-pay.

The Employee Well-being professional may meet with you until you have had your first meeting with your preferred community counselor. When your counselor is not available, an Employee Well-being professional may provide crisis support.

Crisis/Trauma Consultations/Debriefing

We respond to campus and/or departmental crises through individual crisis intervention, individual or group debriefings, and consultations for supervisors or departmental leaders following a critical incident or traumatic event such as the death of a coworker.

Accessing Your Own Counselor

Find a complete listing of the State of Illinois Employee Insurance Companies, then select "Plan Administrators" for phone numbers and web addresses for your insurance. To see your plan highlights and providers in your insurance network, choose the appropriate link.

Accessing Your Mental Health and Substance Abuse Benefits

For maximum coverage of inpatient and many outpatient services, you must have pre-certification or a referral from your primary care physician (PCP).

See plan highlights and providers in your insurance network. There is a complete listing of the State of Illinois Employee Insurance Companies with phone numbers and web addresses.

For state EAP benefits services for outside counselors (five free sessions) contact:

ComPsych Corporation
833-955-3400
800-697-0353 (TDD/TTY)

Difficulty Finding a Counselor

Contact Employee Well-being at 815-753-9191.

Contact Us

Employee Well-being
Holmes Student Center 709
815-753-9191
employeewellbeing@niu.edu
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