What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and how do I actually use mine?

HR mentioned we have an EAP but never really explained what it covers. What is it and is it actually private from my employer?

An Employee Assistance Program is a benefit some employers offer (often at no direct cost to you) that typically includes a set number of free, short-term counseling sessions, plus resources for things like financial or legal consultations, and referrals for ongoing care if you need more than the covered sessions. It's usually run by a separate third-party company, not your employer's HR department directly, which is the whole point — legitimate EAPs are confidential, meaning what you discuss in sessions isn't reported back to your employer or manager, only aggregate, anonymized usage data typically gets shared at the company level (like "X employees used the EAP this quarter"). To use it, check your employee benefits portal or ask HR for the EAP provider's name and contact info — you usually call or go through a portal directly, not through your manager. If the sessions run out and you want to continue, most EAPs will help refer you to ongoing therapists, sometimes including ones covered by your regular health insurance.