Counseling Services

MAP Counseling Program Member Benefit

The Membership Assistance Program (MAP) is a benefit that provides three free, confidential counseling sessions per year for union members and their families. The MAP program offers counseling in a broad range of areas including:

• Work Problems
• Relationship Issues
• Marriage and Family problems
• Alcohol or Other Chemical
• Stress Management Dependency Problems

The MAP is a safe place to explore solutions to problems

The MAP is a service that consists of confidential counseling, consulting, and referral services in a broad range of areas, such as:

• Work problems
• Marriage and family problems
• Stress management
• Relationship issues
• Communication issues
• Bereavement
• Life changes
• Anxiety and depression
• Alcohol or other chemical dependency problems

Job Related Assistance

A unique feature of the IFPTE Local 21 Membership Assistance Program is that it offers consultation and communication skills training to members. Local 21 members experiencing problems associated with their job are encouraged to call a Membership Assistance counselor for a problem-solving consultation. Such consultations are offered separately from the three session limit per member per year.

The MAP also can offer a variety of workshops and training to union members in areas such as:

• Stress management
• Alcohol and drug awareness
• Assertiveness
• Dealing with change
• Communication skills
• Team building
• Handling conflict

About Work Life Support Services

Work Life Support Services is a project of the Institute for Labor and Mental Health. The Institute for Labor and Mental Health is a non-profit educational and counseling center. Founded by a group of mental health professionals, the Institute has been serving trade unions in Northern California since 1977. The programs of the Institute in the field of stress-reduction have gained national acclaim and support by the federal government. Our staff includes psychologists, social workers, marriage and family counselors, and health educators. Work Life Support Service's main office is located at 1250 Addison St., Berkeley, CA and our San Francisco office is at 1195 Valencia St.

Signs of Stress

• Greater levels of fatigue
• Increased susceptibility to illness
• Increased cigarette smoking
• Increased caffeine consumption
• Increased alcohol consumption
• Headaches Neck and back pains
• Insomnia
• High blood pressure
• Being more angry than you would like to be
• Loss of appetite
• Over-eating
• Feeling impatient and frustrated
• Feeling powerless
• Unable to relax without TV
• Generally depressed
• Uninterested in anything
• Accidents at home or work
• Tensions with people around you
• A general state of nervousness

When am I eligible for these services?

Coverage begins as soon as you become a union member and continues as long as you remain a member.

How can I get more information?

For more information about the Membership Assistance Program, you can call Work Life Support Services at 1-888-526-5161. You can also download informational flyers and other resources below.