Employee Assistance Programs

EAPs offer assessment and treatment services to employees for personal and/or work-related matters. They are completely voluntary, and are offered free of cost to the employee by the employer. Some employers also offer EAP services to their employees’ spouses and dependents. 

EAP services are time-limited and solution-focused. Individuals and their therapists will generally only work on one issue at a time. Some EAPs may allow for additional sessions to be authorized if there are other issues the individual would like to work on in counseling once the presenting issue is resolved. In most other cases, if the individual would like to continue with therapy services, the therapist will provide resources in the area for the individual, and the individual will be given the option to continue with their current provider or to choose another option, depending on their health insurance benefits or willingness to self-pay for services.

Some issues commonly addressed during EAP sessions are: 

• Work stress
• Family or other interpersonal issues
• Grief and loss
• Depression or anxiety

When an employee requests EAP services, the EAP company will refer the employee to a provider in the area and will generally authorize 3-6 sessions with a therapist, depending on the agreement they have with the individual’s employer. Please note that an employer may contract with one company to provide EAP services, and contract with another to provide health insurance or may choose to have the health insurance provider also provide their EAP services. Individuals looking to use EAP services should contact their employer’s Human Resources department for information on how to access these benefits.

Aspire Counseling at Sheppard Pratt is committed to providing quality EAP services to the community. Our therapists are well versed in providing the quality short-term, solution-focused services that EAPs require. Aspire Counseling at Sheppard Pratt is currently contracted with the following EAP companies: 

• Lifework Strategies 
• Aetna
• United Behavioral Health (Optum)
• Cigna
• Workplace Options
• Anthem/Beacon Health
• Kepro
• Lytle