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EAP counselors provide confidential assistance to employees with work-related and personal issues, such as stress, substance abuse, and conflicts. They have a degree in counseling and maintain confidentiality. Employers use EAP to manage small situations and avoid productivity loss.
An Employment Assistance Program (EAP) counselor is a person who provides assistance to people with problems at work. Large companies may have a team of EAP advisors available to their staff, and additional advisors are sometimes hired to help employees during stressful times, such as when completing large projects on time or adjusting to new management. It is also sometimes possible to see an EAP counselor outside the workplace through an agency or community program designed to help people while they are working.
A typical EAP counselor has at least a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a related field, and many have a master’s degree and related experience. Although they work for companies, the work they do is confidential. Only EAP counselors have access to records kept in their offices and do not report anything they hear unless there is a belief that an employee may be in danger; in that case, the director may be required to submit a report.
An EAP counselor can help people with issues that affect job performance, even if they are not work related. Common topics include stress, grief, substance abuse issues, conflicts with coworkers, divorces, adjustments to new departments or staff, and depression. The EAP counselor can provide people with coping tools as well as information about programs and services that may be helpful. If a program is beyond the scope of an advisor, a referral to another person or agency may be offered.
Confidentiality is an essential part of an EAP counselor’s job, and these professionals take the privacy and security of the employees they see very seriously. If an employee does not want to visit an EAP counselor at work because he might attract attention, arrangements can be made for an after-hours visit or a meeting at another location. Employees are not required to follow any recommendations made in counseling, nor are they required to report to anyone what happens in counseling.
Some people may find working with an EAP counselor very helpful. Having a friendly ear can help people process and resolve issues, and constructive advice can help people address specific issues. EAP counselors are used by employers to manage small situations with the goal of avoiding costly lost productivity and other problems that can arise if employees allow problems to escalate. People in workplaces where counseling is not provided as a free service might consider asking agencies that provide assistance with work-related questions about counseling programs and referral services that might be helpful.
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