Lisa Kimmel, director of Yale employee wellbeing, wants staff and faculty to take advantage of the free benefits from Optum’s Emotional Wellbeing Solutions, Yale’s employee assistance program.

Lisa Kimmel, director of employee wellbeing, in the courtyard of Evans Hall..

Lisa Kimmel, director of employee well-being, joined Yale in 2008 after working as a registered dietitian at Yale New Haven Hospital for 15 years. She spent most of her career at Yale Health, transitioning to Human Resources in 2024 where she is now part of the Total Rewards team. While Kimmel’s early career focused more on physical wellness, nutrition, and exercise, her current position reflects a broadening of scope that embraces holistic well-being and a dedication to helping others in the mental, emotional, financial, social, and physical spaces.

What can you tell us about Yale’s employee assistance program?

First, it is free and confidential for all benefits-eligible Yale employees, including post-doctoral associates and fellows, local 33 graduate students and their household members. You do not need to be enrolled in a university health plan to access these services. It’s an invaluable benefit that helps us care for our Yale community.

Optum provides many rich resources that address critical moments regardless of where you and/or your household members are in life’s journey. It extends beyond the six free counseling sessions for short-term support, the premium membership for the Calm app, Talkspace, or the virtual behavioral coaching program for stress, anxiety, and depression. There are adult, eldercare, childcare, parenting, financial and legal resources. We recently added Sober SideKick, which includes a range of recovery resources including peer support with direct messaging, access to 24/7 virtual meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous), educational articles, and videos.

What is the best way to access Optum’s services without getting overwhelmed?

A great place to start exploring is through the Optum Support Finder where all of the resources are housed within one location. The first step is to create an anonymous username by clicking on the white Register button (sign in if you have already created one). Once you arrive at the homepage with Yale in the upper lefthand corner, click on the Benefits tab underneath the Yale logo or the button below that says See all my benefits. This will open the front door, so to speak, unlocking all the free services. What’s even better is that you can filter the services by clicking on coaching, financial and legal, other benefits, self-care, and therapy.

The last thing I would ever want is for a Yale employee to be overwhelmed by the services we offer, so if navigating the platform feels too daunting, call the toll-free number: 866-416-6586. Licensed counselors will listen to your concerns and guide you to resources.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Improve sleep, reduce stress, and live mindfully with a free premium subscription to the Calm app for Yale employees. Register and download the app using the company access code “YaleSB.” Update your existing app profile by following these steps:

  • Open the app
  • Go to Profile > Settings > Link Organization Subscription
  • Enter organization code: “Optum EWS”
  • Enter company access code: “YaleSB” in the group code field

Can you please highlight the various counseling options?

First I would like to shine some light on Yale’s caring and compassionate dedicated onsite counselors who specifically work with employees. You can schedule an in-person or virtual session directly with them. Employees and members of their households also have access to a vast network of Optum providers. This program offers six free and confidential counseling sessions per person, and per life-challenging issue, each year. People often engage with the program to help navigate caregiver support, relationship problems, workplace conflicts, financial concerns, and stress, anxiety, or depression. If you and your provider feel that you would still benefit from support beyond the six sessions, they will work with you to find additional resources, which may lead to using a behavioral health service, which differs from Optum.

For 24/7 licensed therapists, Optum’s Emotional Wellbeing Specialists, who operate on the same terms, you can call 866-416-6586 or go to the Optum Support Finder (add link) select Benefits at top and below, filter by Therapy, and click on Provider Finder, for an array of mental health professionals.

Another free resource is virtual behavioral coaching also found through the Optum Support Finder. It’s an eight-week program that provides one-on-one sessions with a coach by video. This program is founded on cognitive behavioral therapy to focus on stress, depression, or anxiety. I participated in the coaching program and found it extremely helpful to restructure and develop new coping skills. Part of it is self-paced with homework, and the weekly check-in with the coach provides accountability, which personalizes and tailors the experience and provides opportunities to practice.

Talkspace is another option where you can engage with a licensed therapist 24/7, via voice or virtual video. Call 866-416-6586 to obtain a one-time authorization code prior to registering.

What drives your passion for your work?

When I was in high school, my father developed a chronic illness where I witnessed the medicinal power of food and healthy lifestyle choices. This experience had a profound impact on me and ignited my desire to pursue a career dedicated to helping others and making meaningful changes in their lives.

I’m a firm believer that a healthy and engaged community is the cornerstone of a vibrant learning and working environment where we can all thrive. I’ve been advocating for a collaborative holistic approach that prioritizes well-being in all its dimensions—mental, emotional, physical, financial, and social. I am deeply grateful that the university has supported the well-being program, creating opportunities to shape and nurture it.

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