A sense of affiliation and belonging is an essential human emotional need. By belonging to a group, we feel a part of something larger and more important than ourselves. This need for belonging is a reason why membership in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) has grown rapidly. When people have a sense of belonging, they feel included, leading to a more meaningful life.

Join this session to:

• Learn about what belonging means and why it is so important
• Gain strategies to cultivate a sense of belonging
• Understand what organizations can do to foster a culture of belonging

Presented by EAP

Working under excessive pressure for a prolonged period can result in chronic stress, which can have a significant adverse impact on a person’s mental and physical health. Without intervention, stress can contribute to mood disorders, as well as an elevation in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones.

Without understanding the physical stress response, it can be difficult to develop healthy coping strategies to tackle stress effectively, causing a build-up of stress hormones in the mind and body, which leads to significant health issues, such as burnout and depression.

Join this session to:

• Understand the science of the stress response
•  Recognize your own stress triggers
•  Develop the ability to respond rather than react
•  Discover powerful stress-busting strategies

Presented by EAP

Although grief touches everyone, and grieving is normal, the pain of loss is unique to everyone. Major losses trigger conflicting emotions, from anger and denial to experiencing relief. This session will help participants explore their own reactions to loss, from a death to divorce.  Learn why some people are stuck in a “grief rut” as they discuss more healthy ways to grieve.

How participants will benefit: Following this session, participants will be able to:
• Learn the different and individual ways each person handles grief and loss
• Understand the ways both adults and children can learn to grieve in a healthy manner
• Discover how offering support can make the grieving process more tolerable

Presented by Alice Strachan and introduced by EAP counselor Kimberly Smith, MA, LCMHC

When much of the world is experiencing turmoil, it is hard to escape the feelings of anxiety and fear. The associate director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders at Mass General, Dr. Luana Marques,  has created a presentation that aims to help you process the effects of these feelings.

This guided meditation is designed to help us start befriending ourselves and treating ourselves with more kindness.

Presented by Elizabeth Petegorsky, LICSW, LADC1, CEAP

Learn this simple breathing exercise designed to refocus your mind and breath in times of stress. This relaxing practice helps combat feelings of being overwhelmed.

Presented by Shira Davis, LICSW, CEAP, Team Lead

This meditation emphasizes that you are not alone, and that even when faced difficult circumstances, the stress we feel is a manageable part of the human experience.

Presented by Cate Leonard, LICSW, CEAP, Senior Employee Assistance Consultant

Take 15 minutes for this gentle practice following the traditional autogenic technique for relaxation.

Presented by Lisa Goss Staffiere, LICSW, CEAP, Senior EAP Consultant, Yoga teacher

A relaxing 30-minute chair yoga practice to stretch your tight muscles and ease your busy mind.
Presented by Lisa Goss Staffiere, LICSW, CEAP

Monthly Zoom meetings (12:00pm, every 2nd Wed)  allowing mothers to share and learn with their colleagues, no matter the age of their children. During each session, experts share information, leaving time for questions and discussion. Participants are welcome to join the session as their schedule allows.

If you’re interested in joining a session, or receiving more information about the Mothers’ Group, please email Joan Sapir: jsapir@partners.org.

Monthly Zoom meetings (12:00pm, every 1st Tuesday of the month)
A virtual support group for moms who are divorced or are in the middle of separation and divorce. Meetings, which attendees view as confidential, occasionally include experts—attorneys, mental health professionals, EAP staff—and most often are devoted to sharing, mutual support, and problem solving.

TO REGISTER
For more information and to be added to the group, please email Joan Sapir via jsapir@partners.org.

Special speaker for December’s session: Susan Chaityn Lebovits

How to Support Aging Parents: Navigating Challenges, Building Trust, and Finding Solutions.

The one-hour workshop, presented as part of EAP’s online support group, will provide a toolkit of strategies to ease the burdens of caring for aging parents while ensuring a healthy work-life balance.

Our speaker will address the challenges of being a caregiver, whether you’re across town or across the country. All resources are national.

The workshop will cover:

• Physical, Mental, and Emotional Changes
• Effective Communication Techniques
• Healthcare Management
• Lifestyle Adjustments and Home Safety
• Support Systems and Resources
• Legal and Financial Planning

A note about this monthly online support group:
This group is designed as a “drop-in” where we foster a safe and supportive venue for MGB employees who are caregivers.

Participants can share concerns, discuss self-care and resources, and hear from professional speakers about managing the unique challenges of caring for aging loved ones. Outside of the summer months, this group meets the 1st Wednesday of each month via Zoom.

Presented and moderated each month by Owen Wyatt, LMHC, EAP Consultant
For registration questions email: rreid6@mgb.org

This monthly support group is designed as a virtual “drop-in” where we foster a safe and supportive venue for MGB employees who are caregivers.

Participants can share concerns, discuss self-care and resources, and hear from professional speakers about managing the unique challenges of caring for aging loved ones. Outside of the summer months, this group meets the 1st Wednesday of each month via Zoom. For January it will be held on 1/8/2025 due to the holiday.

Presented and moderated each month by Owen Wyatt, LMHC, EAP Consultant
This registration Zoom link is valid for all group meetings in 2025
For any registration questions email: rreid6@mgb.org

Navigate the financial steps to care for yourself as you age, or care for your elderly family members.
Presented by EAP and HUECU

This 60-minute webinar is designed to assist employees with their questions about Medicare as well as the process.

Presented by EAP

Saving for college and private schools can be challenging. This seminar focuses on common myths about 529 plans, one of the tools available to save for education, and help determine if one is right for you.

Presented by Merrimack Valley Credit Union and sponsored by EAP

Are you interested in better understanding credit reports, credit scores, and how they work together?  Maybe you know what is on your credit report but are unsure how it all comes together to calculate a credit score. This webinar will discuss the factors impacting a credit score, how to build or improve your score, and debunk common credit myths. We can point you in the direction to find out if your score has inaccuracies and how to take action to correct them. You do not need to be an Harvard Federal Credit Union member to attend.

Presented by Harvard Federal Credit Union and sponsored by EAP
Introduced by Kimberly Smith, LCMHC, CEAP, EAP Consultant

This 60-minute webinar is design to help participants learn easy to implement strategies and tips for creating and using a budget as a strong foundation for saving money.
Presented by Merrimack Valley Credit Union and Sponsored by EAP

Get tips to strategize repaying your federal and private student loans, while still managing your other financial goals. Plus, learn if refinancing or Public Service Loan Forgiveness makes sense for you. Open to all Mass General Brigham employees and family members.

Presented by Harvard University Employee Credit Union and sponsored by EAP

This 60 minute webinar is specifically designed to help managers and supervisors to respond to distressed employees. This training will provide information to managers and supervisors on how to recommend the EAP to an employee and will review how the EAP can help an employee or their immediate household member.

Presented by Allison Caravana-Lilly, LICSW, CEAP, EAP Director

This 60 minute webinar is designed to increase managers’ awareness of domestic violence and to discuss ways to address the problem either in one’s personal life or at work. Workplace issues related to domestic violence are addressed, including concerns about coworkers.

Presented by Cate Leonard, LICSW, CEAP, Employee Assistance Consultant

An employee who has an untreated substance use disorder can compromise patient care and impact staff morale. But what makes it so difficult to identify? When does concern and support become enabling? This EAP manager training is designed to help leaders learn about assisting employees and highlight the resources available.

Presented by Henrietta Menco, LICSW, CEAP, Senior Clinical Manager

This 45-minute manager training is designed to help supervisors handle the impact of critical incidents. This webinar will provide support to leadership to help employees, and to create a culture of psychological safety with a concentration on maintaining productivity, returning-to-work, and staying-at-work.

Presented by Allison Caravana-Lilly, LICSW, CEAP, EAP Director

This 60 minute webinar is specifically designed to help managers and supervisors to respond to distressed employees. This training will provide information to managers and supervisors on how to recommend the EAP to an employee and will review how the EAP can help an employee or their immediate household member.

Presented by Allison Caravana-Lilly, LICSW, CEAP, EAP Director

As part of our recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month we invite you to join the moderators of  both the EAP mothers and the eldercare group as they highlight the resources, and connections facilitated through these monthly online meetings.

Presented by Joan Sapir, Ed.M., MBA., Executive in Residence at MGH and Owen Wyatt LMHC, CEAP, EAP Consultant, and moderated by Allison Lilly, LICSW, CEAP, EAP Director

Learn more about these small, facilitated groups covering various mental health and wellness aspects, along with access to moderated chat rooms. The webinar will include time for Q&A.

Presented by Vincent F. Caimano, Ph.D. and moderated by Shira Davis, LMHC, CEAP, Senior EAP Consultant

Explore the benefits of mediation in reducing stress and enhancing social connections at work and home.

Presented by Darshan Mehta, MD., MPH. Medical Director, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Education Director, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine

Building supportive workplace connections can make a huge difference in people’s lives. We may notice changes in our colleagues’ emotions and behaviors, and we want to feel confident asking if they are ok. This webinar will empower employees to meaningfully connect with colleagues and to lend support when they may be struggling with life challenges.

Presented by Susannah Colby, LICSW, CEAP, Sr. EAP Consultant and Shira Davis, LICSW, CEAP, Sr. EAP Consultant