What EAP-counseling is and what it means for employees

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a psychological counseling service that a company funds for its employees, who can use it confidentially. In most cases, the company contracts an external employee assistance provider—a service provider that offers support for both work-related and personal issues. Common reasons for seeking assistance include conflicts with coworkers or supervisors, as well as personal concerns, such as those related to family or relationships.

Confidentiality in the Program

In a confidential program, the employer receives neither the content of the sessions nor the names of the participants. In the case of a licensed psychotherapist or a professional psychologist, the following applies: legal duty of confidentiality under Section 203 of the Criminal Code (StGB) applies to counseling as well; for other counselors, it depends on their Occupational Group or in the contract. A second characteristic is access: The Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists’ checklist for such programs lists counselor confidentiality and employee anonymity as quality criteria, so that no one within the company can draw conclusions about individual employees. If you’re unsure, ask about these three specific things before your first session: who is providing counseling, how the program works, and what information is shared with the company.

Advice Independent of the Employer

Anyone who does not have access to such a program through their employer, does not wish to use it, or is looking for additional guidance can seek private counseling, as a self-paying patient and independent of the employer. These One-on-one video counseling I offer this. A program is used most often when employees believe that nothing comes back to them: it’s a matter of the person providing the advice and the rule behind it.

This service is psychological counseling, not psychotherapy. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition.