December 2, 2024
Monthly Office Hours with EAP Clinician
Dallas, Texas
December 11, 2024
Area Clinician for All Staff Gathering; Available for EAP Services for the staff.
Nashville, Tennessee
December 11, 2024
Area Clinician to observe agent tactical training to better understand DEA occupational stressors.
Dearborn, Illinois
December 17, 2024
safeTALK Training
Charleston, West Virginia
December 18, 2024
safeTALK Training
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Employees, spouses, children under the age of 26, children of any age with special needs, and anyone living in the employee’s home as a family member are eligible for counseling services with TCTI.
EAP covers 12 sessions per Fiscal Year (Oct 1 – Sept 30) per issue.
Every employee is eligible for a new set of sessions at the start of the fiscal year which is October 1st; however, do not hesitate to call us and we can explore what other options may be appropriate at the time.
Yes, all EAP clinicians and staff are legally required to maintain strict confidentiality and are prohibited from sharing any information about client contact or involvement with EAP unless provided with written consent. Clinicians are not allowed to communicate with the DEA directly. Employees are also not able to access information about their adult age family members’ services unless consent is received.
Section 21 – Psychological and Emotional Health
The U.S. government recognizes the critical importance of mental health and advocates proactive management of mental health conditions to support the wellness and recovery of Federal employees and others. Every day, individuals with mental health conditions carry out their duties without presenting a security risk. While most individuals with mental health conditions do not present security risks, there may be times when such conditions can affect a person’s eligibility for a security clearance.
Individuals experience a range of reactions to traumatic events. For example, the death of a loved one, divorce, major injury, service in a military combat environment, sexual assault, domestic violence, or other difficult, work-related, family, personal, or medical issues may lead to grief, depression, or other responses. The government recognizes that mental health counseling and treatment may provide important support for those who have experienced such events, as well as for those with other mental health conditions. Nothing in this questionnaire is intended to discourage those who might benefit from such treatment by seeking it.
Mental health treatment and counseling, in and of itself, is not a reason to revoke or deny eligibility for access to classified information or for holding a sensitive position, suitability or fitness to obtain or retain Federal or contract employment, or eligibility for physical or logical access to Federally controlled facilities or information systems. Seeking or receiving mental health care for personal wellness and recovery may contribute favorably to decisions about your eligibility.
21A Has a court or administrative agency EVER issued an order declaring you mentally incompetent?
21B Has a court or administrative agency EVER ordered you to consult with a mental health profession (for example, a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, etc.)?
An order to a military member by a superior officer is not within the scope of this question, and therefore would not require an affirmative response. An order by a military court would be within the scope of the question and would require and affirmative response.
21C Have you EVER been hospitalized for a mental health condition?
The following question asks whether you have been diagnosed with a specified mental health condition that may, particularly if untreated, impact your judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness. If you answer in the affirmative, information will be requested about the seriousness and symptoms of the condition, as well as any applicable course of treatment. It is important to note that any such diagnosis, in and of itself, is not a reason to revoke or deny eligibility for access to classified information or for holding a sensitive position, suitability or fitness to obtain or retain Federal or contract employment, or eligibility for physical or logical access to federally controlled facilities or information systems.
21D Have you EVER been diagnosed by a physician or other health professional (for example, a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or nurse practitioner) with a psychotic disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, bipolar mood disorder, borderline personality disorder, or antisocial personality disorder?
21E Do you have a mental health or other health condition that substantially adversely affects your judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness even if you are not experiencing such symptoms today?
If your judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness is not substantially adversely affected by a mental health or other condition, then you should answer “no” even if you have a mental health or other condition requiring treatment. For example, if you need emotional or mental health counseling as a result of service as a first responder, service in a military combat environment, having been sexually assaulted, a victim of domestic violence, or marital issues, but your judgment, reliability or trustworthiness is not substantially adversely affected, then answer “no”.
No, anyone over the age of 18 will need to initiate the referral process directly.
No, all services are confidential, and the employee will not be made aware of services offered/completed.
Our program is geared towards short-term support; however, not all challenges can be addressed quickly. We encourage you to have a discussion with your therapist about the use of insurance, out-of-network benefits, and/or have the therapist contact the EAP to explore if an extension is possible.
EAP provides short term counseling and does not provide extensive clinical notes, clinical diagnosis, or court ordered treatment. Services are offered to help you through the difficult transition, but our clinicians will not be able to complete any court ordered documents on your behalf.
We are here to support you at any time amidst a variety of challenges; however, most of our therapists are only licensed in the state in which they reside. If you relocate to another state, you will need to change your therapist.
Feel free to refer your current therapist to us or provide us with their information for us to initiate contact. We will discuss our program and requirements/requests to participate; however, the decision to join our network of providers will ultimately be up to the individual therapist.
No, inpatient treatment is NOT covered by EAP. It is something to explore via your medical insurance. EAP can assist in helping locate a facility for you, but admission and costs will need to discussed with the facility.
Call back before the start of the third session and let us know. We will locate a new clinician for you.
Many clinicians respond at the end of the day or early the following day; however, do not wait more than 2 business days to call us back if you have issues scheduling your first appointment.
Please let us know and we will contact their respective office/therapist to remedy the situation.
We do our best to find a clinician in a timely manner that would be appropriate given you (or your family member’s preferences); however, the following can contribute to a prolonged delay: residing in a remote location, high demand or limited availability of clinicians in area, limited in-office hours, challenges matching clinician and employee’s availabilities, and the specialization of the request/need. Changing one or more of these parameters will usually expedite the ability to find an appropriate culturally competent clinician.
Yes! If you need any information from that referral or if the clinician is no longer available to meet, you can call us back and we will connect with another clinician.
Please contact Carla Sanders via Firebird or at 571.776.3096 for information about the Leave Donation Program.
Retirees are eligible to receive EAP services for up to one year after retirement.
Please call 571.62.9487 for information on how to become a confidential informant.
DEA employees and contractors can call 571.362.9847 for help with computer issues.
Phone number to Report Unlawful Activities: 1-877-792-2873
To report unlawful or suspicious activities on the Internet only:
Unlawful Internet Prescription Drug Sales or Suspicious Online Pharmacies
To report pharmaceutical drugs (i.e., oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc.); doctors and pharmacies:
Illegal Prescription Drug Sales/Distribution (RX Abuse Online Reporting)
You can find information on this website: https://www.dea.gov/how-
No. Eligibility to receive EAP services ends on the last day of employment. Any remaining sessions on the current authorization will be forfeited.
No. The EAP benefit for a retired TFO ends on the last day of employment. Please follow up with your parent agency.
Please be advised that Reasonable Accommodations do not fall under the EAP. Please contact the Reasonable Accommodations Department by calling them directly at 202.655.0649 for assistance.
LifeCare is sponsored by the Employee Assistance Program and is provided to DEA Employees and their families at no cost. Everyday LifeCare provides assistance to DEA employees, 24/7/365. They will access your needs, provide personalized one-on-one assistance, send you written materials, prescreen providers, generate detailed referrals with confirmed availability and follow up with you until your needs are completely satisfied. From child/senior care to home maintenance to financial planning, no task is too big or small. Click here to view LifeCare brochure, or call 866-426-0416 to learn more.
International Association of Chiefs of Police
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), as the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders, is committed to advancing the safety of communities worldwide. https://www.theiacp.org/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. https://www.samhsa.gov/
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988.
Disaster Distress Helpline
24/7 crisis counseling for emotional distress related to a disaster. Call 800-985-5990.
First Responder Wellness
Comprehensive inpatient/outpatient behavioral health treatment program exclusively for public safety professionals; treatment for post-traumatic stress, alcohol, addiction, anxiety, and depression. Call 888-443-4898 or go online https://www.firstresponder-wellness.com/
Resource Links for GSA Travel
Per diem rates | GSA Travel resources | GSA
Resources for Service Members
Military OneSource
A free service provided by the Department of Defense to service members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns, including possible mental health problems. Call 800-342-9647.
The Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE)
PHCoE provides psychological health research consultation and expertise to leaders, providers, service members, and their families. Call 866-966-1020. https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence
Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE)
TBICoE promotes state-of-the-science traumatic brain injury care from point-of-injury to reintegration for service members, veterans and their families. https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Center-of-Excellence
TRICARE®
A health care program serving uniformed service members, retirees, and their families worldwide. https://www.tricare.mil/
Resources for Veterans
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Resources
Provides information about mental health and support services specifically for veterans. https://www.va.gov/
VA Mental Health
connects veterans to mental health services the VA provides for veterans and families. All mental health care provided by VHA supports recovery. The programs aim to enable people with mental health problems to live meaningful lives in their communities and achieve their full potential. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/
Vet Centers
Community based centers that provide a range of counseling, outreach and referral services to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life. https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The center’s purpose is to improve the well-being and understanding of individuals who have experienced traumatic events, with a focus on American veterans. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
Resource to ensure homeless veterans or veterans at risk for homelessness have access to trained counselors 24/7. The hotline is intended to assist homeless veterans, their families, VA medical centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community. Call 877.424.3838
Make the Connection
VA’s public awareness and outreach campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness on mental health symptoms, conditions, and treatment and encourage Veterans to get the care and support they have earned through their service. https://www.maketheconnection.net/
Resources for Both Service Members and Veterans
National Resource Directory (NRD)
Connects wounded warriors, service members, veterans, and their families with national, state, and local support programs. NRD is a partnership among the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. https://nrd.gov/
Moving Forward
A free, online educational and life coaching program that teaches problem-solving skills to help you to better handle life’s challenges. It is designed to be especially helpful for veterans, service members and their families. https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/movingforward/
The Headstrong Project – 501c3 nonprofit for Veteran Mental Health
The Headstrong Project is a non-profit mental health organization providing confidential, barrier-free, and stigma-free PTSD treatment to our Veterans, Service members, and family members connected to their care. https://theheadstrongproject.org/
United Way 211
The most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services in the country. Call 211.
The Counseling Team
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to