Workplace & Employee Counselling
Support for employees. Clear arrangements for employers.
Work can be rewarding, but it can also bring pressure, difficult relationships and periods of uncertainty. Sometimes, personal concerns affect how we feel at work too.
Smiling Hearts And Minds (SHM) welcomes enquiries from employers seeking counselling support for their employees, as well as employees who wish to arrange counselling privately.
Before appointments begin, we clarify the service, fees and who will be responsible for payment.
How workplace counselling may help
Counselling offers a professional space to explore concerns such as:
- Work-related stress and feelings of exhaustion.
- Workplace relationships, conflict and communication.
- Difficulty setting boundaries or managing competing demands.
- Changes in roles, responsibilities or employment.
- Personal difficulties affecting wellbeing at work.
The focus of counselling is discussed with the employee, taking into account their needs and the agreed service arrangements.
For employers arranging support for employees
Your organisation can contact SHM to discuss counselling for employees when a need arises.
Before confirming appointments, we will discuss availability, suitability, fees, payment arrangements and the scope of support. Any employer-funded sessions must be agreed with SHM in advance.
Privacy and confidentiality arrangements—including what, if any, information may be shared with the employer—will also be explained. An employer paying for counselling does not automatically receive details of an employee’s conversations.
Does your workplace already have an EAP?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a service arranged by an employer through a particular provider. Eligible employees can access support under that employer’s agreement.
SHM counselling is separate from an EAP your employer has arranged with another provider.
Contacting or booking with SHM does not transfer your workplace’s EAP benefits to us. Our sessions do not replace your employer’s existing EAP service or automatically count as sessions funded under that program.
If you want to use your workplace EAP, contact the provider nominated by your employer. Your HR team or workplace benefits information can explain how to access it.
You are welcome to choose SHM for private counselling. However, you will be responsible for the fees unless a separate payment arrangement has been agreed in advance.
Who pays for counselling at SHM?
| How the appointment is arranged | What this means for payment |
|---|---|
| Your employer arranges counselling directly with SHM | Employer funding applies only to the sessions and fees agreed with SHM beforehand. |
| You book privately with SHM | You pay the session fees unless another payment arrangement has been confirmed. |
| Your employer has an EAP with another provider | That agreement does not automatically pay for appointments at SHM. Contact the nominated provider to access your EAP benefits. |
| You have private health insurance | Insurance does not automatically make SHM sessions free. Any rebate depends on your cover, the service and recognition of the treating practitioner. |
For example: Your workplace may offer several funded sessions through its EAP provider. If you independently book with SHM, those sessions are private appointments unless separate funding has been confirmed.
Private health insurance is different from EAP
EAP funding comes through your employer’s agreement. Private health insurance—sometimes called a health fund—is a separate arrangement with your insurer.
Having private health insurance does not automatically mean counselling at SHM is covered or free.
Before booking, check with your insurer whether your policy covers the proposed service and practitioner, how much you may be able to claim and whether any limits apply. SHM cannot guarantee a rebate.
If a rebate is available, you may still need to pay part of the cost. Please ask us for the relevant service and practitioner details if you need them to check your cover.
Clear information before you book
If you are unsure who will pay, please contact us before confirming an appointment.
Let us know whether:
- You are an employer arranging counselling for an employee.
- Your employer has agreed to fund your sessions.
- You are seeking private counselling.
- You need information to check a possible health fund rebate.
We can clarify SHM’s fees and payment arrangements so you can make an informed choice.