Employee Assistance & Counseling Center

Telemental health counseling includes the practice of providing clinical counseling services through interactive audio and video or telephone communications. Telemental health counseling is available at the EACC via a HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform.

Currently, due to state licensing board requirements, access to counseling via telemental health will only be available to people who are in Alabama at the time of their appointment. If you are out of state during your appointment time, please call 205-934-2281 to reschedule.

If you are a new client, please complete the intake paperwork and a member of our team will call you within two business days to schedule an appointment for a telephone intake. If you are a current client, please call 205-934-2281 to schedule an appointment with your counselor and indicate you would like telemental health as the appointment type.

Your counselor will send you an encrypted email with the HIPAA-compliant Zoom link. For all non-uabmc email accounts, the email will indicate you have a secure message and prompt you to create a login, password, and security question to access the information. Securely save your login and password as you will need to login each time you open an encrypted email. If you forget your password or have other trouble opening the email, please contact HSIS at 205-934-8888 for assistance.

Yes, in most circumstances you can do couples or family counseling via telemental health. Young children may find telemental health a challenge and may be better suited for in-person therapy; please talk with your counselor about family counseling with young children via telemental health. The EACC requires that all people participating in counseling are in the same physical location within state lines during telemental health appointments.

• Convenience: Telemental health appointments don’t require traveling and often mean less time off work.
• Fewer Barriers:For those who may have been hesitant to look for mental health care in the past, telemental health services might be an easier first step than traditional mental health services.
• Advances in technology: As telemental health services have increased, providers have become more familiar with evolving videoconferencing technology, making scheduling and attending these appointments easier for all.

• Access to technology: Services may be limited by lack of internet connection and devices.
• Quality issues: Varying levels of technological quality can affect how services are provided and received. It can be frustrating if the video freezes or audio cuts in and out during your appointment.
• Privacy: Cameras in users’ homes and virtual online platforms pose privacy considerations. Individuals also might be more hesitant to share sensitive personal information with a counselor in a situation where others might hear. For tips to help manage privacy concerns, view the EACC's Suggested Privacy Measures.
• Crisis: Telemental health may not be appropriate if you are having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, acute psychosis, or other emotional crisis.

Clients experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis should go to the UAB Emergency Department (ED), the UAB Highlands ED, or the nearest ED for immediate assistance. You may also access these emergency resources.

• Birmingham Crisis Center: 205-323-7777
• 24hr Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• 24hr National Hopeline Network: 1-800-784-2433
• Crisis Text Line: Text “UAB” to 741741
• Alabama Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-650-6522