UMass Boston

These benefits are strictly confidential and are available to all faculty and staff and their family/household members. A "family member" is an individual living in the same household as the employee, including children who may be away for a portion of the year college student or non-custodial children, as well as domestic partners and elders.

This no-cost counseling service helps you address stress, relationship, and other personal issues you and your family may face. It is staffed by Guidance Consultants—highly trained master's and doctoral level clinicians who will listen to your concerns and quickly refer you to in-person counseling and other resources for:

• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Relationship/marital conflicts
• Problems with children
• Job pressures
• Grief and loss
• Substance abuse

Speak by phone with our certified public accountants and certified financial planners on a wide range of financial issues, including:

• Getting out of debt
• Credit card or loan problems
• Tax questions
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning
• Saving for college

Talk to our attorneys by phone. If you require representation, we’ll refer you to a qualified attorney in your area for a free 30-minute consultation with a 25% reduction in customary legal fees thereafter. Call about:

• Divorce and family law
• Debt and bankruptcy
• Landlord/tenant issues
• Real estate transactions
• Civil and criminal actions
• Contracts

Our Work-Life specialists will do the research for you, providing qualified referrals and customized resources for:

• Child and elder care
• Moving and relocation
• Making major purchases
• College planning
• Pet care
• Home repair

GuidanceResources Online is your one stop for expert information on the issues that matter most to you, including relationships, work, school, children, wellness, legal, financial, free time, and more. They offer the following:

• Timely articles, Help Sheets, tutorials, streaming videos and self-assessments
• "Ask the Expert" personal responses to your questions
• Child care, elder care, attorney, and financial planner searches

ComPsych offers a wide variety of workshops on work/life balance. Save the date for the following workshops.  Detailed information about each topic and registration links are emailed to staff and faculty from Human Resources before each event. If you are interested in a topic but unable to attend in-person, register and we will send you the link to the recording.

Save the Date

January 2026

Deskercise! Taking Care of Your Body During the Workday
Wednesday, January 14
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Time Management Principles
Thursday, January 29
1-2 p.m.

February 2026

Addressing Employee Performance Issues in a Supportive Way
Tuesday, February 10
1-2 p.m.

Psychological Pressures of Middle Managers
Wednesday, February 18
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Parental Burnout
Thursday, February 26
1-2 p.m.

March 2026

Personal and Professional Boundaries 
Tuesday, March 10
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

How to Receive Criticism and Make It Work for You
Thursday, March 26
1-2 p.m.