We’re a premier coaching and training company dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.
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Years in business
In 2024, Aoifa and Erin met in a small coffee shop with a shared question at the center of the table: How do we name the work we’ve been doing all along?
For years, NEAP’s training and coaching services have helped individuals, leaders, and organizations move through real challenges like conflict, change, growth, and uncertainty. This wasn’t training for compliance or completion. It was learning that asked something of people. Learning that shifted behavior. Learning that created forward momentum.
At NEAP, we’ve always believed that insight alone isn’t enough. Real change happens when people are supported to move from awareness to action, from intention to practice, from where they are to where they’re capable of going. Our services are not events; they are pathways. Thoughtfully designed, human-centered, and grounded in behavioral health, they meet people in real moments and walk alongside them toward lasting growth.
As we searched for a name, familiar words surfaced: elevate, transform, improve. But they felt flat. Too abstract. Too finished. They described an outcome, not a process.
Then, something shifted.
Across the street from that coffee shop was a small Irish storefront. It sparked a conversation about heritage, roots, and language, about words that carry depth, history, and movement within them. That’s when we found it: Athrú.
In Gaelic, Athrú means transformation. But not as a single moment or dramatic leap. Athrú speaks to change as a process, an unfolding, an intentional movement from one state to another. It reflects the belief that transformation is not done to people, but built with them.
The name resonated immediately. Athrú captures how we partner with our clients: grounded, practical, and deeply human. It honors NEAP’s foundation in behavioral health while giving voice to the learning experiences we create. Experiences that challenge, support, and ultimately change how people lead, communicate, and work together.
Athrú is not just our name.
It is our promise: meaningful learning that creates real movement and lasting change.
At the heart of our strategy lies a dedicated team of Workplace Behavioral Health Experts, skilled in analyzing systems, diagnosing issues, and implementing strategies to improve the overall well-being of everyone involved. Our experience covers a vast range of workplace environments, from nimble startups to global corporations, giving us a broad perspective on the varied challenges businesses encounter. With a sharp focus on personal and professional development, we design and deliver customized programs that drive results.
With a profound understanding of human behavior and organizational dynamics, we craft bespoke solutions to meet your unique challenges head-on. This insight is crucial for identifying the underlying issues that impact training and coaching effectiveness.
Our specialized approach allows us to develop comprehensive strategies that are directly aligned with your business objectives. By addressing the core of your challenges, we ensure solutions that not only fit your needs but also promote sustainable growth and well-being.
Integrating considerations for mental health, employee well-being, and professional development, we devise training programs that contribute to a harmonious workplace environment. Our focus is on creating conditions that foster productivity and support your organizational goals.
Upon the first consultation, Athrú is focused on building a trusting working relationship with our clients. We understand that every organization and situation is unique, so we take the time to learn about you, your goals, and your people.
Athrú uses various tools to complete an in-depth needs assessment to identify the root cause of the issue presented.
Athrú creates a roadmap for success. This plan will outline all our identified services to address your concerns.
Athrú implements training and coaching services to address your goals and walk you through every step of the process.
Athrú evaluates our progress along the way using a variety of evaluations, including learning evaluations, participant feedback, and knowledge tests.
Aoifa O’Donnell, LCSW is a dynamic and visionary leader, founder of Athrú, and President and CEO of National EAP (NEAP), Inc. a nationally recognized provider of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and workplace solutions. With over two decades of experience in behavioral health, leadership development, and organizational strategy, Aoifa is known for transforming how organizations support employee wellbeing and performance.
Since 2008, Aoifa has led the expansion of NEAP beyond traditional EAP services, pioneering a more integrated approach that combines mental health support with learning, development, and coaching. This vision led to the launch of Athrú, a dedicated division delivering customized leadership training, professional development programs, and coaching solutions to organizations nationwide.
A licensed clinical social worker and trusted advisor, Aoifa partners with organizations to navigate complex and high-stakes challenges—including employee mental health, workplace crises, substance use, and organizational change. She equips leaders and HR professionals with practical strategies to respond with confidence, empathy, and impact.
Aoifa is a passionate advocate for employee growth and psychological wellbeing, and a sought-after speaker who regularly presents to audiences across the country. Her work emphasizes that a resilient, well-supported workforce is essential to organizational success.
Her leadership and impact have earned widespread recognition, including multiple Long Island Business News Dynamic Women Leaders honors, the Executive Circle Award, Top 40 Under 40, and the Caron Foundation Human Services/EAP Award. She has also been featured in prominent publications such as TIME, Newsday, and HR Benefit News, and was named a finalist for the ATHENA Leadership Award.
Deeply committed to advancing workplace wellbeing, Aoifa serves on the Board of the National Behavioral Consortium and remains actively engaged in initiatives that promote leadership development, mental health awareness, and the advancement of women in business.
Erin McKown, LMSW is the Director of Athrú, the workplace training and coaching division of National EAP (NEAP), Inc., where she leads the design and delivery of innovative learning and development solutions that empower individuals and elevate organizational performance.
With over a decade of experience in behavioral health, leadership development, and program design, Erin brings a strategic and collaborative approach to building impactful training initiatives. She partners closely with HR professionals and organizational leaders to develop customized programs that strengthen teams, enhance employee engagement, and drive meaningful workplace transformation.
Drawing on her background as a mental health therapist, Erin is deeply committed to fostering psychologically safe and supportive work environments. Her work focuses on cultivating empathetic leadership, improving communication, and equipping employees at all levels with practical skills to navigate today’s complex workplace challenges.
A trusted advisor and skilled facilitator, Erin has a proven track record of developing and implementing programs that bridge the gap between employee wellbeing and organizational success. Her passion for people-centered development continues to shape Athrú’s mission of delivering transformative training experiences that inspire growth, resilience, and lasting impact.
Spanning coast to coast, each pin on the map signifies our role in driving leadership excellence and organizational success nationwide, illustrating our trusted partnerships and impact.
