Employee Assistance Programs


A useful source of work for many counsellors is Employee Assistance Program work (EAP). An EAP is a program of supports that an employer provides to employees as part of their employment contract. The supports offered usually include support for a range of work related issues (including performance), and other issues such as legal issues, family and life issues.

Photo no (3)One way in which these supports are offered is through a fixed term of counselling sessions, usually between 3 and 8 per employee or member of their household.

The idea is that an unhappy or troubled employee is unlikely to give of their best to the organisation, and therefore if the employer can assist in addressing issues at an early stage, it’s a win all round. Typically, these services are provided free of charge to the employee. Many large and medium sized employers provide such services, and also some smaller firms too.

The services are often contracted to an EAP company, who provide these supports on behalf of the employer. An example of this is VHI who provide an EAP service to many companies. VHI in turn contract this service to other companies who provide the individual services. In this way, employers can make these services available for their employees, without the hassle of finding a solicitor, or counsellor etc each time an employee requires one.

Clients are generally assessed by the EAP company, who find an available counsellor, in the relevant location, with the appropriate experience or qualification. Generally, only accredited counsellors or therapists are used.

EAP work has a number of advantages:

  • The client is already assessed for you and the presenting issue identified
  • There is a team of case managers (themselves counsellors or supervisors) available to support the therapist
  • Issues of fees and payment generally don’t arise, as the contract for payment is between the therapist and the EAP company. Payment is generally made when the allocated sessions are completed or the work comes to an end
  • The work can be very focussed, as clients know the number of sessions the employer is willing to fund, and are often motivated to work productively
  • Contract terms regarding cancellations, confidentiality etc are laid down by the EAP company and generally provided in writing to the client at the commencement
  • There is a clear separation between the employer and the counsellor, who only ever deals with the EAP company

Some counsellors don’t like EAP work for the following reasons:

  • There is often a restriction on further work between the client and counsellor at the conclusion of the EAP agreement, or for a period of time eg three to six months
  • Rates of pay vary between EAP companies, and are generally non-negotiable
  • Clients have not had the opportunity to choose their counsellor, nor the counsellor the opportunity to meet the client before accepting the case. They may not therefore be a good match for each other.
  • There is usually some paperwork to be completed and returned. Confidentiality between client and therapist is not therefore as contained as in other private work.
  • There is generally some form of measurement of the results of the process, eg through use of CORE forms

While this can be a good source of work for therapists, EAP companies do vary in lots of ways. Check out their terms and procedures, and see which work for you. You can be on the list of more than one company, and the work you receive from each may vary in quantity and in nature.

To find out which EAP companies are recruiting therapists, watch the IAHIP classifieds list (issued each Friday), or ActiveLink (Google it.)

If you’d like support with finding more work with clients that suit you, please contact me here to make an appointment or for a free 20 minute consultation.