What is EAP?

If you have ever heard someone mention EAP at work and wondered what it actually is, you are not alone. EAP stands for Employee Assistance Programme, and it is one of the simplest and most effective ways employers can support the well-being of their staff.

By Julia Sharkey, EAP Counsellor and Clinical Lead at Habit Health 

EAP provides confidential, short-term support for employees who might be struggling with personal or work-related challenges. EAP services are designed to help people feel heard, supported, and equipped with the right tools to move forward.

In the past, EAP might have been seen as counselling for people in crisis, but it’s much broader than that. Our team provides counselling as well as health coaching and navigation support for financial, legal, career and health matters. Whether you’re facing a challenge, or simply want to talk to someone outside of your friends and family, we’re here to help. 

What does EAP include?

EAP covers much more than counselling. Depending on the arrangement your organisation has with an EAP provider, different services may be included.

Counselling is always included and forms the heart of EAP support. In addition to that, many programmes include access to professionals such as:

• Financial advisors who can help with budgeting or debt worries
• Lawyers who provide short consultations to answer employment or family law questions
• Health coaches and nutritionists who focus on lifestyle and wellbeing goals
• Specialists who support people going through menopause or men’s hormonal changes.

Some clients also choose to add leadership or learning services. That might include supervision or mentoring for managers, webinars on topics like self-care or resilience, or group presentations that build wellbeing awareness across a workplace. Employees can also access the habithealth+app, which offers guidance, motivational tools, and resources for everyday health goals. All workplaces have access to the WellbeingHub, where staff can find articles and resources on a wide range of wellbeing topics written by our experts.

Who can use EAP?

EAP is for employees of the organisations that partner with Habit Health, and in many cases, their immediate family members as well. It depends on the company’s agreement, but often a spouse or child can also access sessions.

For example, if an employee has not used their sessions but a family member is struggling, that person may be able to use the benefit instead. It is a great way for families to get the support they need when life becomes challenging.

How to access EAP

You do not need to go through your manager or HR team to use EAP. Employees can contact us directly by: 

• Visiting our online portal 
• calling 0800 327 669
• or by using the habitheath+ app.

When booking online, you can read about our counsellors and health coaches and pick one that feels right for you. You can also select if you'd like to meet in person, on a video call, or over the phone. 

Once you have booked, you will receive a confirmation message and a consent form that outlines important details such as confidentiality and session limits. 

If you need urgent support, we can usually arrange a telehealth or phone session on the same day. Face-to-face appointments are generally available within a few days depending on location.

What to expect from your first session

For a counselling appointment: 

If it is your first time using EAP or attending counselling, you might not know what to expect. Your counsellor will start by explaining how EAP works and what confidentiality means. They will also let you know how many sessions are available to you, which is usually between three and six.

From there, the focus is on you. You will have the space to talk freely about whatever is on your mind. The counsellor will ask a few questions to get to know you and to understand what you would like to get out of the sessions. You might come in with a clear goal, or you might just know that something feels off and you need to talk it through. Either way is perfectly okay.

EAP counselling is designed to be short-term and solution-focused, helping you find clarity, develop coping strategies, and feel more confident managing challenges in your work or personal life.

For a health coaching session or service navigating financial, legal, career or health matter:

For these sessions you would usually come in with a specific goal or question in mind. The clinician will make sure that you are both on the same page as to what you would like to achieve. From there they can provide information, answers to your questions and explore the different options available to help you reach your goals.

Is EAP confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important parts of EAP. Everything you share stays between you and your counsellor or clinician. Your employer will never know who has attended an appointment or what was discussed.

The only information a company might receive is a general summary for billing purposes, such as the number of sessions delivered over a certain period. These summaries never include names or personal details.

Many people ask this question more than once, and that is understandable. It can feel strange talking to a counsellor through a service provided by your workplace, but EAP is completely private.

What issues can you talk about?

A common misconception is that EAP is only for work problems. In reality, you can talk about anything that is affecting your wellbeing. That might include stress, anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, financial pressures, or big life changes.

We even offer couples counselling through EAP. Personal issues do not stay at home, and work challenges do not stay at work, so we encourage people to use their sessions for whatever is weighing on their mind.

Our health coaching and navigation support sessions mean you can also address matters that are affecting your life or lifestyle too. From physical health to financial pressures or questions, we have a range of people ready to help.  

What if you need longer-term support?

EAP counselling is brief by design, but if you feel you would benefit from ongoing sessions, you can continue seeing your counsellor privately through Habit Health. Many people choose to do this once their funded sessions end.

You can also see an EAP counsellor directly even if your employer does not provide EAP. Private appointments are available to anyone and can be booked through Habit Health.

How EAP helps employers

For employers, EAP is an investment in both people and performance. Having EAP in place means managers are not expected to act as counsellors or life coaches. They can instead focus on their role, knowing their staff have access to professional, confidential support when they need it.

EAP can also be used through a manager referral pathway. This is where a manager refers a staff member for support and the employee agrees to attend a set number of sessions. It can be helpful in situations such as repeated absences, performance concerns, or workplace conflict.

Managers also have access to guidance from EAP clinicians on how to support staff through difficult times. Whether that is helping someone who is grieving, managing stress after a restructure, or navigating team dynamics, our team are here to help leaders feel confident supporting their teams.

Why EAP matters

When employees have access to the right support, everyone benefits. People feel valued, workplaces become safer and more supportive, and small issues are addressed before they turn into bigger problems.

When support for mental and physical wellbeing is on offer,  EAP is about giving people the space to talk, find perspective, and feel more capable in both work and life. It is one of the simplest ways for organisations to show they truly care about their people.

Need support for yourself or your team? 

Habit Health’s EAP services are available nationwide. Learn more about EAP or request a quote to find out how we can support your organisation.