The demand for in-person mental health counseling and coaching is at its highest point since the beginning of the pandemic. Telebehavioral (video) treatment was a lifesaver during the pandemic when in-person appointments were mostly unavailable. But today, twice as many employees prefer in-person care over virtual care, according to CuraLinc Healthcare’s participant data – not just for themselves, but for their dependent children as well. 

In-person treatment has widespread appeal across people of all ages and genders and is also incredibly effective. The International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications just published a peer-reviewed study based on health and productivity outcomes from over 35,000 CuraLinc employee assistance program (EAP) cases that were delivered in person – the largest study of its kind – demonstrating outstanding results: 

Depression   78% of people at risk for depression were no longer at risk after completing in-person treatment  

Anxiety   80% of people at risk for anxiety were no longer at risk after completing in-person treatment 

Alcohol misuse   68% of people at risk for alcohol misuse were no longer at risk after completing in-person treatment 

Presenteeism   88% of people at risk for presenteeism were no longer at risk and had a level of performance in the range of a typical employee after completing in-person treatment 

Absenteeism   Employees with an absenteeism problem missed 20.94 fewer hours of work on average in the 30 days after completing in-person treatment 

“When it comes to mental health care, choice is always part of the cure,” explains CuraLinc’s Chief Operating Officer, Dave Pawlowski, LCPC, CEAP. “While both video and in-person treatment can be effective, allowing employees to choose the type of care they feel comfortable with sets the stage for a strong therapeutic alliance and positive clinical outcomes.” 

Workforce mental health programs that cannot facilitate timely access to in-person appointments will miss critical opportunities to engage and support a significant portion of every employee population. A modern and comprehensive approach must include a range of therapeutic modalities, including in-person, virtual and digital, to cater to today's diverse workforce's individual needs and preferences. 

Methodology 

For this study, CuraLinc analyzed utilization data for over 35,000 individuals who chose in-person counseling at a clinical office setting through the EAP between April 2017 and May 2023. CuraLinc evaluated employees upon accessing the program and then again during the follow-up process once the counseling sessions were complete. Evaluations of depression risk, anxiety risk, alcohol misuse, workplace absenteeism and workplace presenteeism were completed with clinically validated tools, including the PHQ-2, GAD-2, AUDIT-C, WOS and SPS-6.