LifeMatters@CSUN - Employee Assistance Program
As a Cal State University Northridge employee, when you or your family members (your dependents and permanent household members) need helpful guidance, problem assessment, short-term counseling, and/or referral to local resources, your LifeMatters@CSUN program (administered by Empathia Pacific, Inc.) is just a phone call away at 1-800-367-7474, and it is available on a live basis, 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Log on to the my LifeMatters website* for more information.
* If you need the LifeMatters password or phone number, please log into the CSUN Portal (HR > Benefits > LifeMatters).
Human Resources is pleased to offer the Employee Assistance Program as part of your robust benefits program. We encourage you or your family to take advantage of the helpful guidance, counseling, and referral services to local resources or reliable professional care, LifeMatters can offer. Please feel free to reach out to your Benefits Representative if you have any questions.
Counseling, In Person, Virtual, or Telephone
Completely separate from your medical benefits and 100% confidential, you and your eligible family and household members may receive three (3) free sessions with a professional licensed therapist to assist you in resolving issues related to:
- Stress, depression, and personal problems
- Balancing work and personal needs
- Grief and loss
- Domestic violence
- Family and relationship concerns
- Alcohol or drug dependency
- Workplace conflicts
- Any other issue of concern in your life
Work/Life Services
LifeMatters can help you connect with financial and legal consultants to
- Set up a budget
- Obtain and review credit report information
- Assist with debt management and consolidation
- Consumer Law
- Family Law
- Traffic citations and fender benders
- Estate planning
Online and Assisted Searches
Let LifeMatters know what type of service you need and they can research potential providers on
- Child and elder care resources and guidance
- Adoption assistance
- Educational resources
- Personal security
- Home improvement
- Veterinarians, pet-sitting, and obedience training
Webinars
LifeMatters offers monthly webinars , live and on-demand, to help you and your family understand and respond to a variety of common and unique circumstances that can pop-up.
- For live webinars, click on the link for the webinar you would like to attend and follow the registration instructions. You must register prior to the start of the webinar to attend.
- Transcripts for non-captioned, archived webinars are available upon request.
FAQ's
FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
- PREPARE: Before calling LifeMatters, make sure you’re in a place you can speak confidentially and at length.
- PHONE: Call the LifeMatters Help Line at 1-800-367-7474. This phone line is available 24 hours a day! Remember, your family and household members can also call.
- INTAKE: A representative will conduct a brief intake over the phone in order to assist in finding the most appropriate help for you. LifeMatters will provide you with information of a local counselor for in-person sessions. Up to three (3) sessions will be authorized on a per problem basis.
- CONTACT: LifeMatters will give you, the client, the counselor’s contact information. You can then directly contact the counselor and set up an appointment at a time convenient for you. When scheduling the appointment, be sure to tell the counselor that you were referred to them through the Empathia/LifeMatters@CSUN program.
- REFERRAL: LifeMatters will set up a referral and communicate to the counselor that you are coming to see them through Empathia/LifeMatters@CSUN.
- FEEDBACK: If you have any questions or concerns regarding your experience with the counselor or process, please call the LifeMatters Help Line at 1-800-367-7474 and share your concerns.
The program includes up to three (3) sessions on a per problem basis with a contracted counselor at no cost to the employee or the employee's dependents/household members.
If it is determined that ongoing counseling or services are beyond the scope of LifeMatters@CSUN, the counselor will make a referral through accessing providers covered by your medical insurance plan and/or community resources.
Yes, the decision to seek outside services is the client’s decision and financial responsibility. The employee’s medical plan is the first source Empathia contacts for additional counseling.
Yes. The program provides up to three (3) sessions per person on a per problem basis. If it is determined additional counseling or services are recommended, the counselor will assist with accessing providers covered by your medical insurance plan.
LifeMatters has a network of over 3,000 contracted, licensed providers in California. Empathia contractually guarantees that anyone who needs face-to-face counseling may see a local counselor within a 10-15 mile radius of where the individual resides or works. In more rural areas, Empathia guarantees coverage within 30 miles. If Empathia finds they do not have adequate coverage in any given area, they will add to their network so coverage is more complete.
Empathia has Spanish speaking counselors as well as assistance through a telephonic Language Line and interpreters. TDD is also available for the hearing impaired.
Empathia is Knox-Keene licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care as a specialized health care provider.
You may download the Empathia rider by logging into the website and selecting the “Combined Evidence of Coverage and Disclosure Rider” at the footer of the site. In addition, you can request a hard copy by writing to Member Services: Empathia Pacific 5234 Chesebro Road, Ste 201, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Yes, consistent with all applicable laws, employee participation remains strictly a matter between the employee and counselor.
You may call LifeMatters Member Services at 1-800-367-7474, or for written complaints, you may log on to mylifematters.com and complete the Member Grievance/Complaint Form online.