A practical guide for counsellors providing Employee Assistance Program services
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) work can be some of the most rewarding and varied work a counsellor does. It can also be some of the most complex. Every EAP session sits inside a relationship between three parties: the employee who comes to see you, the organisation that pays for the service, and the EAP provider that holds the contract. Each has legitimate interests, and they do not always point in the same direction.
This guide is for counsellors who work in EAP now or are considering it. It covers the practical, ethical and professional issues that come up most often, with worksheets and scenarios you can use on your own or in supervision.
The golden rule of EAP work
Always follow the policies and procedures that apply to your work
EAP providers differ in how they operate, and their policies and procedures can change over time. What one provider allows, another may prohibit. This guide describes common practice and professional standards, but it cannot tell you what any provider requires.
If you contract to or work for an EAP provider, you must follow that provider’s policies and procedures. Read them before you start, keep a current copy, and check for updates regularly.
If you run your own EAP service, you need to develop your own written policies and procedures, and your contracts with client organisations should reflect them. Part 2 includes a checklist to help.
Throughout this guide, look for the two-column policy check boxes. They show what to look for in your provider’s policies, or what your own policies should address.