Frequently Asked Questions

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Office (FSAO) is the employee assistance office for Boston University. The FSAO provides counseling, resources, and referrals to the employees of Boston University, and their families, on a variety of work-related and personal issues.

Assessment:
At your appointment, a licensed clinician will sit down with you and learn about your problem. He may ask questions to clarify and understand the nature and scope of your issue. The clinician will give you a summary of his impressions and make some recommendations about what might be helpful.
Brief Treatment:
You may meet with the clinician for up to 6-8 sessions to identify some strategies to address your problem, try them and resolve the issues. You might also meet with the clinician until a good referral plan is developed.
Referral:
You and the clinician will discuss his recommendations, which may include referral to an experienced clinican in the community or another resource. The clinican may contact the resource to insure it's availability to you, eliminating the need for you to contact multiple providers.
Crisis Intervention:
You, your family or work group may need a more urgent response from FSAO if there has been a crisis such as an accident or illness. The FSAO will be available rapidly to respond to the situation.

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Office maintains the confidentiality of all patients. As with any counseling/referral service exceptions are made only in cases of: a signed release, danger to self or others, and child/elder abuse and/or neglect. If it is in your best interests, the counselor may ask you to sign a release of information so that she can speak on your behalf to a supervisor, medical provider, or family member. Otherwise, no one will know you have used the service unless disclosed by you.

Any full or part-time employee of Boston University and their family members are eligible to receive services at the FSAO. The employee does not need to be present at the appointment for a family member to seek services at the office.