⚠️ The program launches on August 1, 2026. Booking will be unavailable until then.
Grow Therapy partners with the UAW/UMass Health & Welfare Trust Fund (UAW/UMass) to expand mental health access for eligible grad student employees, postdocs, and their dependents through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit. This guide provides an overview of the program and explains how to book your first appointment using your employee benefit.
Key Points
Eligible grad student employees, postdocs, and their dependents receive three EAP sessions per benefit year, fully covered by UAW/UMass. Household members who aren't dependents aren't eligible for this benefit.
The benefit year runs August 1 through July 31, and unused sessions don't roll over into the next year.
Booking is done through a dedicated UAW/UMass benefit directory, where you can filter for providers and schedule directly from a provider's profile.
No-shows and late cancellations count against your three-session total.
Program overview
Through this partnership, you can book with any Grow Therapy provider who:
Has opted in to support UMass clients
Holds an active license in your state
If your insurance isn't one that your provider accepts, you'll still receive your three complimentary sessions. If you choose to continue care with the same provider afterward, you can pay out of pocket or work with a new provider who accepts your plan.
Use your UAW/UMass employee benefit as a new client
Follow these steps to find a provider who’s right for you and schedule your first appointment:
Visit the UAW/UMass-specific booking link.
Use the search tool filters to select your state and any therapy needs.
Select Search.
You will be prompted to add insurance for future coverage. Select your insurance provider from the drop-down, then select See results.
You’ll see a list of providers who match your criteria and accept the UAW/UMass benefit. You can use the additional filters at the top of the page to further refine your results. As you update your selections, the provider list will automatically refresh.
Browse provider profiles to learn more about their background, specialties, and availability. When you’re ready, select Book session on their profile or choose a time directly from their availability calendar.
Complete the booking form. You'll enter your personal and residential information, along with insurance details for any future sessions you schedule.
Review and accept Grow Therapy policies, then select Book now to confirm your appointment.
A confirmation message will appear with a link to activate your client portal. You'll also receive a confirmation email.
Continue care after EAP benefits end
After you complete your three covered sessions, you can continue care with your provider using insurance (if they accept your plan) or by self-paying. If your provider doesn't accept your plan, you can match with a new provider to continue care.
Before continuing care, you’ll be asked to confirm your coverage details. You’ll receive a message, a portal task, and an email prompting you to complete this step. Follow the steps below to confirm your coverage and continue care with your provider:
Select the prompt or the Confirm coverage link in the pop-out message.
Select Insurance to add coverage details or Pay-out-of-pocket if you’re opting to self-pay. Select Continue. If you self-pay, you'll be billed at the self-pay rate. See Self-pay for out-of-network providers for details.
🌟 Note: Clients with active, accepted insurance coverage are required to use their benefits for eligible services. If you choose to see a provider who is out of network or does not accept your insurance, you may opt to self-pay for sessions, meaning you'll be responsible for the full cost of care.
If you're using insurance, select your insurance from the drop-down menu, enter your member ID, then select Verify & estimate cost to verify coverage. Select Continue.
Enter your payment details. Grow Therapy requires a valid debit or credit card on file to pay for patient-responsible costs such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. Select Continue.
A confirmation message will appear, and your insurance details will be reflected in the Coverage tab of your Account dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Can spouses, household members, or dependents use this benefit too? Grad student employees, postdocs, and their dependents can each access their own set of three sessions. Household members who aren't dependents aren't eligible for this benefit.
Do I have to use all three sessions with the same provider? No. You're welcome to use your sessions with any provider who accepts the UAW/UMass benefit.
Is couples counseling covered? Yes. Couples counseling is included under this benefit.
Do unused sessions roll over? No. Your three sessions refresh at the start of each new benefit year (August 1) and don't carry over.
Are there late cancellation or no-show fees? Late cancellations and no-shows may be billed, and they count against your three-session total.
Can I apply this benefit to past sessions and receive a refund? No. The UAW/UMass benefit can only be applied to sessions that occur after you've enrolled in the program. Sessions completed prior to enrollment, including those paid through insurance or self-pay, aren't eligible for retroactive coverage or refunds.
What happens after my three free sessions? You can continue seeing your provider on an insurance or self-pay basis. Grow Therapy will guide you through a smooth transition to your preferred payment method.
Can UAW/UMass see any details about my sessions? No. Grow Therapy doesn't share session details or clinical notes with UAW/UMass. We may share anonymized, aggregate usage data that can't identify individual participants. All information is handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.
Where can I go if I have more questions about this benefit? You can reach our Support Team through the Help Widget in your client portal.