Trauma Coverage

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and having thoughts of hurting yourself, you should promptly call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 or 988. Learn more about the Suicide Prevention Lifeline now.

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, domestic violence, school violence, and sexual assault are among the most widely recognized causes of trauma, but trauma can also result from exposure to, or even one’s direct experience to the tragedies of daily life—such as the sudden loss of coworkers. Most people experience one or more such events in their lifetime.

Trauma Counseling seeks to explore your emotional and physical reactions to the event. It seeks to find ways of helping you to process what has happened to you, and to help you cope with any reactions that you may be having, so that the trauma moves from being a current problem, to a memory.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), primary provider of the Trauma Counseling Benefit, is making it possible for PEF MBP to extend this free trauma counseling benefit to PEF members—to provide help and healing from an assault that took place at work or at home, whenever needed, and wherever a member may be.

Trauma counseling

Trauma Counseling is a confidential, measurement-based program empowering recovery after every day and workplace incidents. Whether it’s an infectious disease, a natural disaster, an assault, or a secondary trauma, PEF MBP wants PEF members to have the resources they need for recovery.

To be eligible to participate in this benefit at no cost, you must be an active, dues-paying PEF member who is actively working or on leave status. Eligible members receive up to 21 sessions of trauma counseling for up to one year after the date of the covered incident. Trauma counseling sessions are conducted with highly trained therapists via video, phone, or text after a covered incident, and all sessions are completely private.

Covered incidents

To receive this free benefit, active, dues-paying PEF members may inquire about eligibility for trauma counseling for up to one year after experiencing one of the following incidents listed below, while at work or home. If you are uncertain whether or not you qualify for this no cost benefit, we encourage you to submit an inquiry form and a representative will contact you. You may also reach out to Eric Hukey at (855) 631-1421 or email Eric with any questions your may have.

24/7: AT WORK:
Aggravated assault Bullied, harassed, or threatened
Domestic violence Traumatized by witnessing a violent incident
Sexual assault Infection by contagious disease
Mass shootings Secondary trauma*
Acts of terror
Major disaster
*Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another.

Covered Incidences Defined

View definitions for covered incidences

Convenient & Confidential

Therapy re-invented for the way we live. Talk with a therapist from multiple devices. Sessions take place over video, phone, or text.

Secure & Confidential

Enjoy secure, password protected access to your own private therapy room that only your therapist sees.

HIPAA-Compliant

Your privacy is taken seriously. The entire platform is HIPAA-compliant and respectful of all your information.

Specialized Treatment

Incident-based trauma counseling from a licensed Master’s level or higher skilled therapist.

Clinically Proven

The trauma counseling benefit delivers evidence-based, measurable, clinical outcomes that make a real difference in the lives of members.

FAQs

Never participated in trauma counseling? Have more questions? View our FAQs to get the answers to the questions you have.

View FAQs

To Inquire About Eligibility for Counseling

If you are uncertain whether or not you qualify for this no cost benefit, we encourage you to submit an inquiry form and a representative will contact you. You may also reach out to Eric Hukey at (855) 631-1421 or email Eric with any questions your may have.

Before submitting your Inquiry Form to determine if you are eligible to receive Trauma Counseling, please verify the following:

• The incident occurred at work or at home, within the past year,
• It’s a covered incident,
• And you’re an active, dues-paying member of PEF.

Inquiry form Trauma brochure