What Is an EAP? Using Your Employee Assistance Program for Therapy
If you have health benefits through your employer, you may have access to a resource you’re not fully aware of: an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). An EAP can provide confidential support for a variety of personal, emotional, and work-related concerns - and it may include short-term therapy sessions at little or no cost to you.
For people who have been thinking about starting therapy but are concerned about cost, an EAP can be a helpful place to begin. But how does an EAP work, how many therapy sessions does it cover, and will your employer know that you’re using it?
Here’s what you need to know about using an EAP for therapy.
What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
An Employee Assistance Program, commonly called an EAP, is a workplace benefit designed to help employees and, in some cases, their eligible family members manage personal or professional challenges.
EAP services can vary from one employer and provider to another, but may include support for concerns such as:
Stress and burnout
Anxiety and depression
Relationship or family difficulties
Workplace conflict
Grief and loss
Anger and emotional regulation
Financial or legal concerns
Substance use concerns
Major life changes
Many EAPs also provide access to a limited number of short-term counseling or therapy sessions with participating mental health professionals.
How Many Therapy Sessions Does an EAP Cover?
One of the most common questions about EAP therapy is: How many sessions do I get?
There isn't one standard number for every EAP. Your employer's plan may provide a specific number of counseling sessions per issue, per year, or per eligible individual. Some programs may offer a handful of sessions, while others may provide a larger number.
Because benefits vary, it's important to check the specific terms of your EAP before scheduling an appointment.
Your EAP provider can tell you:
How many sessions are available
Whether sessions are free or have a copayment
Who in your household is eligible
Whether you can choose your own therapist
Whether virtual therapy is available
Whether you need authorization before your first appointment
What happens when your EAP sessions are used
If you need additional therapy after your EAP benefits end, you may be able to continue treatment using your health insurance or another payment option. You can learn more about our Fees and Insurance options when you're ready to explore ongoing care.
How Do I Find Out If My Employer Offers an EAP?
If you're not sure whether you have an EAP, start by checking your employee benefits information. Your employer may provide EAP details through an employee benefits portal, HR department, insurance materials, or an employee handbook.
You can also contact your human resources department and simply ask:
"Does our company offer an Employee Assistance Program, and how can I access it?"
You don't necessarily need to explain why you're asking. If you'd prefer not to contact HR, check your benefits website or search your benefits documents for terms such as "EAP," "Employee Assistance Program," or "employee counseling."
The EAP provider, not necessarily your employer, typically handles the process of connecting you with counseling services.
Can I Use an EAP Without My Employer Knowing What I Discuss?
Privacy is an important concern for many people considering therapy through an EAP.
In general, your employer does not receive the details of what you discuss with your therapist. Therapy conversations are confidential, and your employer should not receive the content of your counseling sessions simply because you use an EAP.
However, it's important to understand that EAP programs can have their own administrative procedures and privacy policies. Your employer may know that EAP services are available to employees, but that is different from receiving information about what you discuss during therapy.
Before beginning treatment, you can ask the EAP provider or your therapist questions such as:
What information is shared with my employer?
Will my employer know that I contacted the EAP?
Will my employer know how many sessions I use?
Who receives billing or authorization information?
What are the confidentiality limits for my therapy sessions?
Understanding these policies ahead of time can help you feel more comfortable taking advantage of your benefits.
As with any therapy service, confidentiality also has legal and ethical limits in certain circumstances, such as situations involving an immediate safety concern or suspected abuse or neglect. Your therapist can explain these limits before treatment begins.
How Do I Use My EAP for Therapy?
If your EAP includes counseling benefits, getting started is often straightforward.
First, contact your EAP provider using the phone number or website provided through your employer's benefits information. Let them know that you're interested in counseling and ask about your available benefits.
The EAP may give you a list of participating therapists or authorize a certain number of sessions with a provider.
If you're interested in working with a specific therapist or practice, you can also ask whether that provider participates in your EAP. Not every therapist participates in every EAP, so confirming coverage before your first appointment can help prevent unexpected costs.
Once your EAP authorization is confirmed, you can schedule your first appointment and begin discussing what brought you to therapy.
What Can You Address in EAP Therapy?
EAP counseling is often designed to provide short-term support, making it useful for addressing a specific concern or life challenge.
For example, you might use EAP therapy to work on:
Managing stress or anxiety
Improving communication
Coping with a difficult transition
Processing grief
Navigating workplace challenges
Understanding patterns in relationships
Developing healthier coping strategies
Learning techniques for managing anger
If anger is affecting your relationships, work, or daily life, Anger Management therapy may also be an option worth exploring.
Because EAP benefits are often limited, you and your therapist can work together to identify your most important goals and make the most of the sessions available to you.
What Happens When My EAP Sessions Run Out?
Using your EAP doesn't necessarily mean therapy has to end when your covered sessions are finished.
Depending on your circumstances and insurance plan, you may be able to continue working with the same therapist through your health insurance or another payment arrangement. Your therapist can discuss available options with you so you can decide what makes sense for your needs.
For some people, EAP counseling provides the short-term support they need. Others discover that ongoing Individual Therapy would be beneficial.
The important thing is to start by understanding your benefits and discussing your options with your therapist.
Don't Let Unused Benefits Keep You From Getting Support
If you've been considering therapy but have hesitated because of cost, your Employee Assistance Program may be worth looking into. You may already have access to several counseling sessions through your workplace benefits.
Take a few minutes to check your employee benefits or contact your EAP provider to find out what's available. If you're ready to take the next step, contact ThinkSpot Therapy to ask about using your EAP benefits for therapy.
Whether you're dealing with stress, relationship concerns, anger, anxiety, or another personal challenge, reaching out for support can be a meaningful first step.
Contact ThinkSpot Therapy today to learn more about our therapy services and find out how we can help you get started.