How many EAP sessions should I offer my people?

When offering therapy through an EAP, the number of sessions available can shape what support your people are able to access and how effective it can be. This guide explains what can typically be achieved within a range of sessions, and why offering more (when possible) can make a meaningful difference. We also recognise that budgets vary, so this guide can help you make an informed choice that balances standard of care, with practicality.

Minimum Package: Three Sessions 

Suitable for non-clinical presentations or mild mental health issues. 

A minimum of three sessions are needed to achieve a meaningful outcome from counselling. The recommended approach for three sessions is known as Solution Focused Brief Therapy. The therapist works with the client to identify and address “everyday”, or non-severe, problems that are impacting the client negatively. The therapist also supports self-help through recommending appropriate resources.   

Standard Package: Six Sessions  

Suitable for mild to moderate mental health issues.
Six sessions is the standard number funded through primary health care packages, such as GP referrals, and is commonly used by organisations as a standard in EAP. Typically, this begins with an initial assessment session, followed by four therapy sessions, and a final session focused on relapse prevention.    

Gold Standard Package: Twelve Sessions 

Ideal for mild to moderate mental health issues.
Twelve sessions is the minimum number for the evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model of treatment to be undertaken. This is an effective structured form of therapy used to treat a range of mental health conditions when people are stable and lucid.  

* Session Extensions 


Extensions are designed for situations where one to three additional sessions are required to achieve the therapy goals for any of the approaches described above. They can also be used as “booster” sessions after completion of a course of counselling, which are helpful to prevent relapse.

Additional sessions are not intended for moving a client from one package to the next. Therapists are expected to orientate a client to what type of counselling will occur based on how many sessions their employer allocates. Therapists are required to plan to refer a client to alternative services if ongoing treatment is required. 

For more information on Session Extensions please see here.

General Considerations 

EAP counseling is not suited to severe mental health concerns, but can sometimes support a person in crisis while they are being referred to more intensive services.