Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Employee Assistance Counselor

🎯 Role Definition

An Employee Assistance Counselor (EAP Counselor) delivers confidential, short‑term counseling and work‑life support services to employees and their household members through an Employee Assistance Program. The role focuses on assessment, crisis intervention, brief therapeutic counseling, case management, and referrals to community resources and specialty providers. The counselor collaborates with HR, benefits teams, and management to support workplace wellbeing, productivity, and successful return‑to‑work outcomes while strictly maintaining professional and legal confidentiality standards.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Master’s level clinician roles (e.g., mental health clinician, staff counselor)
Community behavioral health or substance abuse counselor positions
Human resources or occupational health specialist with counseling background

Advancement To:

Senior EAP Counselor / Clinical Lead
EAP Program Manager or Director of Employee Wellbeing
Behavioral Health Program Director or Clinical Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Organizational Development Specialist focusing on wellbeing
Workplace Resilience Trainer or Corporate Wellness Consultant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide confidential, short‑term, solution‑focused counseling to employees and eligible family members for a wide range of personal and work‑related issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, marital or family conflict, and workplace performance concerns.
Conduct timely clinical assessments and risk evaluations to determine level of care, safety concerns (including suicidal or homicidal ideation), and immediate crisis needs, and implement crisis interventions and safety plans when required.
Develop individualized brief treatment plans and goals with clients, using evidence‑based approaches such as cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT), solution‑focused brief therapy (SFBT), motivational interviewing, and trauma‑informed care appropriate to the presenting problem.
Provide telehealth, phone, video, and in‑person counseling sessions while ensuring accessibility, clinical quality, and continuity of care across modalities.
Coordinate and manage case referrals to community mental health providers, specialty clinicians, inpatient or outpatient services, substance use treatment programs, and other community resources when extended care is needed.
Deliver workplace consultations to managers and supervisors regarding employee performance issues, reasonable accommodations, return‑to‑work planning, conflict mediation strategies, and best practices to support employee reintegration.
Perform assessments and provide consultations for work‑related issues including workplace stress, harassment/hostile work environment, critical incident response, fitness for duty screenings, and employee leaves of absence.
Maintain accurate, timely, and legally compliant clinical documentation for all client contacts, assessments, case notes, referrals, and aftercare recommendations in accordance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
Monitor and follow up on open cases to ensure clients are connected with recommended services, track outcomes, and close cases appropriately while preserving confidentiality and data security.
Facilitate group workshops, trainings, and educational seminars for employees and supervisors on topics such as stress management, resilience, mental health awareness, substance misuse prevention, and work‑life balance.
Participate in employer outreach and EAP marketing activities to increase program utilization, including on‑site presence, informational sessions, newsletters, and digital communications.
Respond to critical incidents and worksite emergencies by providing on‑site or virtual critical incident stress debriefing, trauma support, and referral resources for impacted employees.
Conduct fitness for duty assessments and collaborate with occupational health and HR to provide clinically informed recommendations on accommodations, return‑to-work planning, and phased re‑entry.
Maintain clear boundaries, professional ethics, and confidentiality while navigating dual‑role inquiries, organizational reporting requirements, and mandatory reporting laws.
Track and report on utilization metrics, clinical outcomes, and quality indicators to EAP leadership and client employer contacts while protecting client anonymity and confidentiality.
Support specialty programs such as substance use employee assistance, caregiver support, eldercare consultations, financial stress referrals, and legal consultations as part of integrated EAP offerings.
Engage in collaborative interdisciplinary coordination with physicians, therapists, human resources, and benefits administrators to align clinical interventions with organizational policies and benefits eligibility.
Provide culturally competent counseling and outreach, adapting interventions to meet diverse needs across cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, and LGBTQ+ identities.
Maintain professional development through clinical supervision, peer case review, trainings, and staying current on evidence‑based brief treatment modalities and workplace mental health trends.
Ensure compliance with local licensing laws, federal privacy regulations (e.g., HIPAA), and organizational policies governing data protection, record retention, and reporting procedures.
Support program development by contributing to policies, protocols, clinical guidelines, and continuous improvement initiatives for the EAP.
Track and address barriers to access, including language, telehealth technology, schedule constraints, and stigma reduction efforts to improve overall engagement and outcomes.

Secondary Functions

Develop and deliver tailored manager and leadership consultation sessions that translate clinical recommendations into practical workplace strategies and reasonable accommodations.
Create and update resource directories and community referral lists for mental health, substance use treatment, legal aid, financial counseling, childcare, and eldercare services.
Participate in quality assurance reviews, peer consultation, and case audits to maintain high standards of clinical care and program integrity.
Support employer client meetings by preparing utilization reports, trend analyses, and recommendations for program enhancements that align with organizational wellbeing goals.
Assist in developing marketing collateral, intranet content, and digital campaigns to promote EAP awareness, preventative care, and early intervention services.
Cross‑train with benefits, HR, and occupational health teams to streamline referral pathways, clarify benefits entitlements, and reduce barriers to care.
Help design and evaluate wellness initiatives and preventative programs such as mental health first aid, resilience-building curricula, and return-to-work education.
Maintain confidentiality while collaborating with legal, compliance, or risk management teams when required for organizational safety or mandated reporting.
Manage scheduling, caseload triage, and administrative tasks to ensure timely access to care and equitable distribution of clinical resources.
Participate in research, program evaluation, and outcome measurement projects to demonstrate EAP value and ROI to employer clients.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical assessment and crisis intervention skills, including suicide and violence risk assessment and safety planning.
Proficiency in short‑term, solution‑focused therapeutic modalities (CBT, SFBT, brief dynamic therapy) used in EAP settings.
Case management skills including referral coordination, follow‑up, and discharge planning.
Knowledge of workplace laws and regulations related to confidentiality, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, and mandatory reporting requirements.
Experience delivering telehealth, phone, and video counseling with competence in digital documentation and telepractice ethics.
Competence using electronic health records (EHR) or EAP case management systems and standard office software (MS Office, scheduling platforms).
Ability to prepare utilization reports, clinical outcome metrics, and employer‑facing summaries while protecting client anonymity.
Familiarity with substance use screening tools, brief interventions (e.g., SBIRT), and community treatment resources.
Training or certification in critical incident stress management (CISM) or psychological first aid is preferred.
Knowledge of cultural competency frameworks and evidence‑based approaches to serving diverse workforces.

Soft Skills

Strong active listening and empathic communication skills that build trust quickly with employees in distress.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear clinical documentation and manager consultations.
High degree of professionalism, ethical judgment, and discretion in managing sensitive information.
Ability to set and maintain appropriate clinical boundaries while delivering compassionate care.
Problem‑solving and case prioritization skills to triage high‑risk situations and manage a variable caseload.
Flexibility and adaptability to work across multiple delivery modes, time zones, and shifting employer needs.
Collaborative teamwork skills to work effectively with HR, benefits, occupational health, and external providers.
Cultural humility and competence to serve employees from varied backgrounds and identity groups.
Resilience and self‑care strategies to manage vicarious trauma and prevent burnout.
Coaching and training facilitation skills for delivering workshops, manager briefings, and wellbeing programs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), Counseling (MA, MEd), Clinical Psychology (MA/MPH/PhD/ PsyD), or a related behavioral health field.

Preferred Education:

Licensure as an LCSW, LPC, LMFT, Licensed Psychologist, or equivalent clinical license in the practicing jurisdiction.
Additional certifications such as Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), CADC, or trauma‑informed care credentials are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Clinical Social Work
Counseling Psychology
Marriage and Family Therapy
Mental Health Counseling
Behavioral Health or Clinical Psychology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of direct counseling experience post‑licensure or post‑degree, ideally with at least 1–2 years of EAP, occupational health, or workplace counseling experience.

Preferred:

3–5+ years working in an Employee Assistance Program, corporate EAP, employee wellbeing, managed care, or community behavioral health setting with demonstrated experience in brief, solution‑focused therapy, crisis response, and employer consultations.
Experience providing telehealth services and working with HR or organizational stakeholders to support workplace mental health initiatives.