Frequently Asked Questions

Personal Assistance Service (PAS) is the faculty/employee assistance program of Duke University and Health System. Our staff of licensed professionals offers assessment, short-term counseling, and referrals to help resolve a broad range of personal, work, and family problems. If something is troubling you, it could be beneficial to talk about your concern, in confidence, with a counselor. PAS is a resource you can use as needed, on a voluntary basis.

All Duke Faculty, staff, employees, and benefit-eligible family members are eligible to use PAS. You are welcome to contact PAS to discuss any issue or concern. Supervisors and managers are encouraged to consult PAS about employees who have persistent performance or attendance problems because these are often associated with personal problems. A counselor may recommend treatment, but the decision to pursue counseling is made by the employee.

PAS provides services to help you and your family resolve personal or work related problems. Our staff offers confidential assessment, short-term counseling, and referrals depending upon the nature of the problem and your specific circumstances. Your counselor will listen to your concerns, talk with you about them, and then work with you to determine a plan of action. This plan may include short-term counseling at PAS or a referral to other resources at Duke or in the community. You are under no obligation to follow a counselor’s recommendations.

There is no charge for any service provided by the PAS staff. If you and your PAS counselor determine that additional assistance outside of PAS could be beneficial, referrals will be suggested. If a referral is made outside of PAS, your counselor will work with you to obtain qualified, affordable services. Some of these services may be covered in part by your health care insurance.

PAS carefully adheres to professional standards of ethics and confidentiality. Appointments and services are confidential to the fullest extent permitted by law. Except for danger to self or others, child abuse or neglect, or authorized legal access, no information is released without written consent of the client. Information maintained by PAS is not a part of, or accessible by, any other University or Medical Center record system.

An appointment to meet with a PAS counselor may be arranged by calling the PAS office at 919-416-1727 (919-416-1PAS). Receptionist hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Out-of-state Duke employees can be connected with clinicians in their own area for in-person or virtual consultations for themselves or eligible family members. Staff and faculty outside of North Carolina can call 1-800-327-2251 (press option 1 on main menu) to receive assistance.

Please see Virtual Counseling Services for more information about this flexible option for individuals who work in remote locations or have difficulty getting to the PAS office.