Coordinating With Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Workplaces are increasingly acknowledging the significance that mental health plays in productivity and job satisfaction. Because of this, many employers now offer Employee Assistance Program mental health resources as part of the benefits packages. So if you’re dealing with a mental health issue, these programs can give you quick access to confidential support to address personal or professional stressors.
The problem is that, though EAP counseling services for employees are available, a lot of professionals still aren’t sure how these services work or what happens after they reach out for help. This is what this guide is here to help with. Our focus is on helping you understand:
- What Employee Assistance Programs are and the types of support you can receive through them
- Why EAPs are important for mental health and productivity
- When you might need more support and how EAPs can connect you with ongoing care
- The benefits of using an EAP for therapy treatment
- The process of accessing EAP mental health care
- The answers to commonly asked questions about Employee Assistance Programs
What Are Employee Assistance Programs?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a workplace benefit that provides you with free, confidential support if you’re dealing with personal and/or work-related problems. [1] The services included in an EAP are:
- Assessments and evaluations
- Short-term counseling
- Referrals and follow-up services
These services are not only available to you, the employee, but also to your immediate family members, such as spouses, children, or domestic partners.
Types of Support Available Through EAP Programs
Most corporate wellness EAP programs provide only short-term guidance and connect you with appropriate resources. These services can provide you with help for concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, major life transitions, or work-related pressure. Some programs also provide EAP psychiatric referrals for those who may benefit from medication management or psychiatric evaluation.
But it’s not only mental health counseling that your EAP may provide. Many employees also have access to other types of resources, including financial counseling, legal consultations, childcare resources, and referrals for physical treatment. [2] And if you’re dealing with substance use, some providers can connect you to addiction treatment through EAP referral networks.
So not only do they connect you to workplace mental health support, but EAPs also offer a wide range of support services and referrals. Although each program operates slightly differently based on what your workplace provides, most EAPs serve a similar purpose. This is to provide you with accessible, confidential support. They act as entry points to additional, continued care.
Why Are EAPs Important?
Employer EAP mental health benefits are vital because they encourage employees to pursue support and recovery for behavioral health issues. Further, research shows that the availability of mental health support through EAPs is important. Recent surveys show that 76% of US workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition [3]
Mental health conditions also play a big role in lost productivity every year because of absenteeism and attending work while sick or not engaged (presenteeism). [4] In fact, according to research, missed work days because of mental health have resulted in $47.6 billion annually in lost productivity. [5]
These numbers are staggering, and EAPs have the potential to reduce them by supporting mental health. Confidential counseling EAP programs benefit employers and employees by:
- Increasing productivity because employees are healthy, happy, and engaged
- Reducing absenteeism as employees improve their well-being and take fewer sick days
- Boosting employee retention when employees know their company supports their health and well-being
So not only can EAP services support your overall well-being, they can make the workplace a happier place to work while also boosting productivity [6]
When You Might Need More Than EAP Support
Employee Assistance Programs are a great starting point for many people, especially if you’re needing immediate guidance or space to talk through a difficult situation. But EAP services are typically short-term supports, rather than long-term treatment.
Most programs cover around three to six sessions that focus on immediate problem-solving, emotional support, and identifying the next steps. While this can be very helpful in the early stages of stress or conflict, it may not always provide enough time to address deeper or more complex mental health concerns.
You may need more support than an EAP can provide if you’re dealing with more serious concerns that require long-term treatment. More support may also be necessary if you’re simply looking to stay involved in some sort of therapy. This is the biggest difference in EAP vs. private therapy, with EAP providing a short-term entry into treatment, but private therapy offering continued support. Continued treatment, past the short-term counseling provided by your EAP, is helpful if you’re experiencing:
- Ongoing anxiety, depression, or mood changes
- Trauma-related symptoms
- Chronic burnout
- Significant life changes that require more consistent support
In these situations, EAP counselors can provide you with referrals for longer-term therapy or specialized programs that better match your needs.
How to Navigate the EAP Process
Getting support through an EAP can feel a little unclear at first. These few simple steps can help you make the most out of accessing EAP mental health care.
1. Book an Appointment
The first step in the process is contacting your EAP provider and making an appointment. You can usually find the number for your Employee Assistance Program in your benefits package. If you’re unable to find it or unsure of the process, you can ask your HR representative. You can also ask them about your EAP eligibility for mental health.
2. Ask About Your Session Limits
As you’re booking your appointment, ask about how many sessions you’re provided. Most programs offer a set number of sessions with a counselor. Knowing this early can help you plan to use the time effectively.
3. Plan for Continued Support if Needed
Sometimes the initial counseling sessions help resolve a short-term issue. In other cases, you may realize you would benefit from ongoing therapy or additional support. Recognizing when to move beyond the EAP model and into longer-term care can help ensure that you receive the level of support that best fits your needs.
4. Clarify Referral Options
If you decide you would like to continue with treatment, asking about how the referral process works can give you a clearer understanding of what happens next in your care. Most of the time, EAP services will connect you with therapists, psychiatrists, or specialized treatment programs within your insurance plan.
5. Verify Insurance Coverage
Of course, if you decide to continue with treatment beyond the short-term counseling with EAP services, it’s helpful to understand what your insurance plan covers. Most of the time, your EAP counselor will guide you toward providers who work within your insurance network, which makes the transition to continued care more manageable. But this may not always be the case, so it’s best to check whether the therapist or service you’re provided falls within your insurance coverage. You can do this by contacting your insurance company, the program, or the provider directly.
How EAP Mental Health Referrals Work
After meeting with your EAP counselor, if you decide to continue with treatment, you can work with them to connect you with long-term services. EAP professionals often have a list of treatment providers and programs, usually through your health insurance plan, that they can connect you to so you can continue receiving care.
Here’s a breakdown of how this referral process works:
- Start by talking about the difficulties or concerns you want to address
- The EAP counselor will then work with you on identifying the resources that best match those needs
- They will provide you with a list of approved providers and programs
- You and the counselor can contact referrals together, and, with your permission, they can provide the new treatment provider with any documentation to facilitate faster, more effective coordination of care
This approach allows you to move from short-term services into long-term care without having to navigate the search for providers alone.
The Benefits of Coordinating With an EAP
The biggest benefit to coordinating with an EAP is faster access to care. Many workplace mental health support EAP programs allow employees to speak with a counselor quickly without having to depend on waitlists for the next available appointment. Most of the time, you can connect almost immediately with an EAP counselor, which can be especially helpful when stress, burnout, or emotional concerns begin affecting daily functioning.
Another benefit is knowledge of the resources that are available to you. By coordinating with your EAP, you can learn about the different treatment options and services available to you, such as financial support, nurse advice hotlines, and crisis support EAP services.
Working with your EAP can also make transitioning into continued treatment faster and smoother. It’s usually an easier first step than trying to sort through all the different programs and providers on your own. And you’re less likely to delay care or abandon the process when you feel supported and able to understand the next steps.
Ultimately, coordinating with your EAP helps remove many of the practical barriers that prevent people from seeking help. By providing an accessible starting point and guiding employees toward the right level of support, these programs play an important role in helping you prioritize your well-being while continuing to manage the demands of your career.
Coordinating Care Through Mission Connection
While Employee Assistance Programs offer a great starting point for addressing mental health concerns, continued care beyond those initial services provides longer support for your well-being. This is where Mission Connection can come in. We provide outpatient mental health treatment for people transitioning from EAP services into longer-term support.
At Mission Connection, we provide care for a wide range of mental health conditions, including (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, trauma, and psychosis. And if you’re looking for insight beyond what’s provided by your EAP, take our free mental health assessment. This short, five-minute assessment will connect you with our certified professionals to provide you with information about our programs and empower you to take the next steps in your recovery.
If you’re considering next steps after EAP counseling, Mission Connection can help you explore your treatment options. With in-person treatment programs across the country, as well as remote therapy options, we can provide long-term mental health support that fits around your work responsibilities. Contact us today to learn more.
FAQs About Employee Assistance Programs
If you’re considering using an EAP for mental health support, you may have questions about how these programs work and what to expect. The following answers address some of the most common questions professionals have when exploring Employee Assistance Program mental health resources.
How Is an EAP Different From Therapy?
An EAP is different from therapy in that it generally only provides short-term counseling and support. EAPs to connect you with services, rather than provide you with ongoing care. Whereas traditional therapy involves continued treatment where you can work more deeply on mental health challenges over time.
What Are the Disadvantages of an EAP?
The biggest disadvantage of an EAP is the length of the services. While EAPs are helpful starting points, they are just that: a place to start rather than a comprehensive treatment. The number of sessions you receive is often short, making many people feel rushed through treatment. However, it’s important to remember that EAPs are there to connect you with continued services if needed.
Will My Employer Know if I Use My EAP?
No, your employer will not know if you use your EAP. EAP services are confidential and operate separately from your employer’s internal systems. This means the EAP counselor does not share details of your sessions with your employer, coworkers, or HR representatives.
Does Mission Connection Work With EAP Referrals?
Yes, we work with people referred to us through their EAP programs and are seeking continued mental health support. If your EAP counselor recommends ongoing therapy or specialized care, we can help you transition into one of our outpatient treatment programs and continue the progress you’ve already started.