How to Become an EAP Provider

As a private practitioner, you’re likely familiar with all the different avenues you can take to build your caseload and connect with clients. Networking with other clinicians, giving and getting referrals, and having an online presence are all good ways to get new clients—as is being paneled with employee assistance programs, or EAPs. 

While it’s true that getting paneled as an EAP provider may be the right choice for some clinicians, there are still a lot of things to consider before officially signing up. What goes into being an EAP provider? How do you become one, and what are the unique considerations for business owners?

What is EAP Counseling? 

EAP programs are voluntary, confidential programs that employers can offer their employees as a resource to help them process both personal and work-related concerns. Some EAP providers might work with things like substance use, grief, family problems, and other concerns.

EAP programs are also often free to clients—giving them access to shorter-term, solution-focused care that they might not have had access to before. For someone who needs mental health care but may not be able to afford it otherwise, EAP counselors can be a much needed resource. 

Many EAP programs have a specific intake process for their paneled clinicians to follow to make sure each client and clinician are a good fit before they begin working together. Oftentimes, there’ll be specific documentation for the clinician to fill out before conducting  a session. This may feel familiar to anyone in private practice already offering consultation calls before the first session, but it’s worth noting the process may be slightly different. 

So from a client perspective, the benefits of an EAP program are pretty clear: it’s an easy, free way to access qualified providers when they need it most. But on the clinician side, there’s a little more to consider. How can you determine whether or not it’s a good fit for your business to offer services through an EAP service provider?

What to Consider Before Offering EAP Therapy

Consider your caseload, for instance. If you’re not looking to accept new clients, it probably doesn’t make much sense to be paneled as an EAP provider probably doesn’t make much sense. However, if you do have space in your schedule and are looking for new clients, then an EAP program is a great way to easily get your name out there and connect with people who need support.

At the same time, since EAP programs typically only cover a few sessions for each client, you may start to form a rapport only for them to finish their covered sessions. Some clients may have health insurance with benefits for additional sessions if they’re needed, and others may opt to return and pay for their sessions on their own, though. That makes being paneled as an EAP therapist can still be a good way to grow your caseload, especially if you’re just starting out.

Something else to consider is the reimbursement process and rates. Each EAP will have their own process and reimbursement rate, so you’ll have to do some research on the individual companies that you’re considering being paneled with. But in general, the EAP program will cover three sessions for a client, which they’ll pay you directly for. The rate they pay is generally pre-set, so before you sign any contracts you’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable with their standard rate. Some programs will allow you to negotiate your rates, so it’s always a good idea to ask and see if there’s any room to raise the fee if what they set is lower than what you would usually charge. 

Some EAPs may also require you to wait to submit your claim for reimbursement until after all sessions have been completed, so that’s another thing to factor into your decision. Make sure that you plan for any delays that may come from this reimbursement process, so you can budget accordingly. 

As with any contract, you’ll want to make sure you read anything you get from an EAP closely before you sign it. Look out for rules about things like cancellation policies, required documentation or notes for each session, and other technicalities that may affect your ability to get reimbursed later. As mentioned above, some contract terms can be negotiated if they don’t work for you, but it’s still a good idea to make sure you’re comfortable with what stands, so if you can’t negotiate you can still make an informed decision about whether or not a contract works for you.

How to Become an EAP Provider

So let’s say you’ve done your research and made all your considerations, and you’ve decided that being an EAP provider is the right choice for you and your practice. How do you actually get paneled?

Each EAP will have their own process, but in general it’s similar to getting paneled with insurance companies. Some panels may have certain education and license requirements (for example, a master’s degree in a related field and a specific professional license), or required experience working with a certain population or concern (like experience working with substance use). Some also have requirements regarding professional liability insurance as well. 

Once you’ve applied and been accepted onto an EAP, you’ll be considered “active” as long as you’ve had an appointment in the last 12 months. 

There’s a lot that goes into deciding whether becoming an EAP provider is right for you. It can be a great way to connect with clients and build up a client base if that’s what you’re looking to do, while also providing support to people who need it the most.

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