The COVID-19 pandemic has caused employees and missionaries to experience the stress of making almost constant adaptations in uncertain circumstances. Reliant is committed to proactively supporting our employees and missionaries so they can stay well to serve well within the pandemic and beyond. Therefore, for 2021 we are introducing a new service - the Aetna Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are employee benefit programs offered by businesses to help employees deal with personal and work-related issues they may have that negatively impact their work performance, health and general well-being. These initiatives usually include assessment, counselling and referral for employees and, often, their immediate family. 

While EAPs are often associated with mental health and counselling, Aetna confidential employee assistance service includes support for other areas such as physical health and life admin.


The Aetna Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be available to all Reliant employees (with the exclusion of International employees covered under the Aetna medical plan) effective starting 1/1/2021.  Please see below to learn about this new resource.  

For International employees covered under the Aetna medical plan - see Aetna EAP - Mental Health/Personal Support Resources for details on your Aetna International EAP Plan.  

The EAP program is designed to be used as needed and in conjunction with other practical and spiritual resources to support employees and missionaries in the following ways:

 

  1. Short-term counseling for mental/emotional health issues. The Aetna EAP program offers 6 free counseling sessions, per issue, per year, for each family member.  Reliant employees and missionaries can call the designated toll-free phone number and be paired with a counselor whose credentials best align with the caller’s problem and preferences.  Those who call the EAP can request a counselor based on gender, area of expertise and Christian beliefs.  The Aetna EAP has over 5,000 Christian counselors within their nationwide network. 
  2. Daily life assistance and referrals. The Aetna EAP can help Reliant employees and missionaries in accessing services for dealing with the daily difficulties of life.  This service provides free 30-minute consultations with professionals specializing in financial and legal problems, including identity theft.  The EAP assists callers in finding referrals for dealing with typical family needs, such as childcare, eldercare, and educational resources.
  3. Education and information. The Aetna EAP provides the Resources for Living website that contains articles, information, and tools to assist employees and missionaries in learning more about mental/emotional health and work/life balance.  As with all educational information provided by outside vendors, we encourage employees and missionaries to use biblical discernment and filter all information through the truth of God’s word as found in the scriptures. 


Reliant encourages all employees and missionaries to proactively attend to their physical, mental, and emotional health as we work within our God-given assignment to advance God’s kingdom.   As with all information provided by outside vendors, we encourage employees and missionaries to use biblical discernment and filter all information through the truth of God's word as found in the scriptures. 

Contacting Aetna's EAP Plan


Aetna's call center is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.


Coming Soon! To avoid confusion with employees trying to access this service before it is available, this information will published later in December, prior to 1/1/2021.  

  • Employee will be able to Log in to Aetna's secure member website to find a counselor or to access other services the EAP offers.


The following services are covered under the EAP Plan:

Employees referred for counseling will receive structured telephonic, face-to-face, or online support. A case manager oversees the process of matching the
employee with a counselor who has the appropriate experience and specialization. The employee then works with the counselor to schedule each session.

Once you have been connected to a counselor, sessions last for up to 50 minutes.  The Aetna plan covers 5 counseling sessions per issue per year per enrolled member (or dependent). 

Aetna can connect employees to counselors based on their Christian (religious) preference and gender preference. 

Types of counseling services provided include:

  • Marital/Family stress
  • Child care and behavioral concerns
  • Social adaptation needs
  • Alcohol/Substance Abuse
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Depression
  • Crisis response - catastrophic accident, employee death(s), natural disaster, violent attack




This service is very broad and covers a variety of needs members may be facing.  By reaching out to Aetna's EAP you’ll be able to explain your needs to someone on the phone. Aetna will do the leg work for you to find trusted service providers or put you in touch with recommended third-party experts.

Types of potential services include:

  • Assistance with finding child-care providers
  • Assistance finding elderly parent care providers
  • Legal Services
  • Financial Services
  • Travel arrangement services





Aetna offers support services to help members build a heathier lifestyle in the following areas:

  • Fitness
  • Tobacco cessation
  • Weight management
  • Stress management
  • Self-care


Do you have a local or international team to manage? Do you need development coaching to help you manage the everyday challenges of management? Managers call in with their request and receive a return call within two business hours. 

An expert will work with you to develop a schedule of practical support. This could take the form of training, coaching, emotional support or education around one or more of the following: 

  • Time management skills
  • Communication
  • Developing emotional intelligence
  • Business etiquette
  • Resolving issues between employees
  • Delivering bad news
  • Addressing low productivity
  • Providing constructive feedback



  • Motivating individuals or teams    


Are you experiencing symptoms of stress or anxiety? Struggling with lightheadedness, trouble concentrating, a pounding heart, trouble relaxing or sleeping and mood swings? Aetna's mindfulness-based stress reduction technique can work alone or in combination with any of the above services.

The Aetna clinical team will assess your needs. If they find that AWARE would be a good option for you, you’ll be connected with a clinical therapist who can best meet your needs. You’ll have an initial consultation during which you can talk about your current emotional state, your goals and what you’d like to get out of the mindfulness session. You’ll be guided through the development of a personalized plan with impactful weekly mindfulness techniques and exercises.

Aetna will put you in touch with a professional practitioner for one-to-one support. Your practitioner will create a six-week mindfulness plan and help you learn how to put it into practice.  The coaching plan comprises one session per week and will be designed to:

  • Fit in with your schedule
  • Help you develop emotional and mental resiliency
  • Help you develop your concentration and focus skills
  • Help you improve your sense of well-being
  • Guide you through breathwork.
  • Teach you coping mechanisms to manage your stress and live in the present


Boost your emotional health using the myStrength website and mobile app. These confidential, clinically proven self-help resources offer:

Insight through articles, videos and eLearning programs
• Inspirational quotes
• Mood tracking
• Check-in reminder option