Mental Health Vs. EAP
Guidelines for Understanding the Differences Between an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Mental Health Carve-Out
EAP benefits differ from traditional mental health 'carve-out' benefits in many ways but can work in tandem to provide the most effective mental health treatment. To begin to understand how the EAP and mental health 'carve-out' work together effectively, it is important to first understand the differences:
EAP is for Assistance, not therapy. It is a crisis benefit designed to assist an employee in identification of community resources to solve an acute problem or stressor.
EAP is extremely time-limited, usually resolved in less than 4 visits. EAPs aim to resolve a crisis within a matter of 4-6 weeks. During that time the intervention is specifically focused on diffusing the crisis by utilizing problem-solving skills, resource referral, practical advice, and limited provision of emotional support.
EAP utilization is not necessarily expected to resolve the underlying stressor. It is only intended to diffuse the crisis situation, and the client is expected to then utilize the resources identified and/or the problem solving skills developed to independently resolve the underlying stressor after completing the EAP sessions. This is where the integrated EAP and 'carve-out' can be integrated most effectively, transitioning patients from diffusing the crisis into treatment for issues of an enduring nature.
Mental health benefits are intended to provide psychotherapy over a period of either several weeks, months or years. The goal of treatment is to address problems of a more enduring nature compared to the immediate crisis focus of EAP programs. Typically patients in psychotherapy will be seen for at least 6 visits, but often are seen for longer periods of time.
Mental Health treatment is appropriate for stresses of an enduring nature, for chronic emotional conditions/mental disorders, and for any evaluation and treatment with psychotropic medications. Additionally, catastrophic traumatic stressors are more appropriately suited to Mental Health treatment (as opposed to EAP intervention) due to the high risk of prolonged psychological effects of trauma.
Download Mental Health Vs. EAP PDF