Recovery EAP merges with New Directions

by Ann Bucy

SBJ Contributing Writer

Recovery EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and Consulting, a local company, has merged with Kansas City-based New Directions Behavioral Health.

"We reached a point where we had to take a look at upgrading our infrastructure," said Gary Turner, Recovery EAP's president and chief executive officer.

"We felt it was in the best interests of the clients to look at someone who could help us stay in the market and grow," he said.

"New Directions has the capability of working in all 50 states. The merger won't change what we do, but will add to it. It will help us increase our services and give us the capability of doing some nationwide projects," Turner added.

Dr. John Quick, a licensed psychologist, is CEO of New Directions. "I'm real excited about working with Gary," Quick said. "He has a great business going there, and we're trying to grow it and use our infrastucture to help his business grow vs. moving it here to Kansas City."

Quick said a mutual friend introduced him to Turner. "We kept talking, and we knew that this is something we should be doing: getting into the Springfield market" Quick said. "It's a growing market, and one we haven't been in before. Springfield is also a base for Branson, Joplin and West Plains. I hope the merger will push the development of EAPs in the area."

When an employer enrolls in an employee assistance program, the employer pays a certain amount of money to the EAP provider, then "Employees can receive three to eight free counseling sessions a year," Turner said. The number of counseling sessions depends on how much money the employer initially puts into the program, he added.

Turner said companies are looking for ways to cost-effectively offer benefits to keep their employees, and an EAP is an option.

Recovery EAP has a network of 50 therapists who work with the company on a contract basis, in addition to working with therapists with St. John's and Cox health systems.

"We provide assistance to the employees and their families in four major life areas," Turner said. "They are 1. emotional issues