Workplace counselling that actually reaches people
A qualified employee assistance programme for UK businesses — with most employees seen within 7 days and support delivered by professionally registered counsellors. For businesses of any size, across England.
NCPS Organisational Member
90+ Qualified Therapists
Most employees seen within 7 days
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“We had an employee going through a very difficult time. Hope Therapy arranged sessions quickly, handled everything professionally, and kept us appropriately informed. It made a real difference.”
HR Manager, professional services firm
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
Est 2014
Over a decade in practice
7 Days
Average time to first session
Your employees are under pressure. The question is whether they have anywhere to turn.
Poor mental health costs UK employers an estimated £51 billion every year — through staff absence, presenteeism, and turnover (Deloitte, 2024). For every £1 invested in workplace mental health support, businesses typically see a return of £4.70. The business case is clear. What is less clear, for many organisations, is how to put something in place that employees will actually use.
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services provides workplace counselling and employee assistance support for businesses across the UK. Our service is built around one simple idea: that your people need to be able to speak to a real, qualified counsellor — quickly, confidentially, and without having to navigate a complicated system to get there.
Most employees are matched with a counsellor and begin sessions within 7 days of referral. That compares to NHS waiting times that can stretch to 18 weeks or more. When someone on your team is struggling, the last thing they — or you — need is to wait months for support to arrive.
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services is an NCPS Organisational Member. Our NCPS membership covers our counselling and psychotherapy services. Coaching is offered by qualified practitioners and is not covered by our NCPS Organisational Membership, which applies to counselling and psychotherapy only. Individual therapist registrations vary and are confirmed before matching.
The numbers
£51bn
Annual cost of poor mental health to UK employers — from absence, presenteeism and turnover
£4.70
Average return for every £1 invested in workplace mental health support
18 weeks
Average NHS wait vs our 7-day average to first session
Sources: Deloitte Mental Health and Employers Report 2024 · NHS England waiting time data
What We Offer
Support for your people — and your organisation
We offer a range of workplace counselling and coaching services. Each can be arranged as a standalone service or combined as part of a broader employee wellbeing programme.
Employee Counselling
Confidential counselling support for employees dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, bereavement, or any other personal or work-related challenge. Delivered online nationwide and face-to-face across England by qualified, professionally registered counsellors.
Find out more →
Employee & Executive Coaching
Goal-focused coaching for employees at all levels — from staff building resilience and confidence, to senior leaders navigating transition, performance, or career development. Our coaches bring both professional coaching qualification and real-world commercial experience.
Find out more →
Why Hope Therapy
What makes our approach different
We are not a digital platform or a low-cost per-head contract. We are a clinical counselling service — and that distinction matters.
Qualified, registered therapists
Every counsellor we work with holds appropriate professional registration — with BACP, NCPS, BABCP or equivalent. Registrations are confirmed before matching. We do not use unqualified practitioners.
Fast access — typically 7 days
The average time from referral to a first session is 7 days. We aim to match employees quickly, because the longer someone waits, the harder it becomes to take that first step.
Flexible for all sizes
We work with organisations from a handful of staff to multi-site teams across England. Our service is flexible — not a one-size contract — so you get support that fits your business, not the other way around.
Online nationwide, face-to-face across England
All our counsellors offer online sessions via video or telephone — giving you genuinely national coverage. Face-to-face appointments are available in locations across England for employees who prefer in-person support.
Built on 25 years of commercial experience
Our founder, Ian Stockbridge, spent 25 years in senior management and directorial roles before retraining as a counsellor. He has sat on both sides of the conversation — as an employer watching staff struggle, and as a clinician helping them. That experience is built into how we work.
What our clients say
Experiences from individuals and organisations
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We had an employee going through a very difficult time. Hope Therapy arranged sessions quickly, handled everything professionally, and kept us appropriately informed. It made a real difference to that person and to our team.
HR Manager, professional services firm
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I didn’t know where to turn when work became overwhelming. My employer arranged counselling through Hope Therapy and from the very first session I felt genuinely listened to. I’m in a much better place now.
Employee referred through workplace support
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The coaching sessions with Hope Therapy were exactly what I needed — practical, focused, and built around what I was actually dealing with. Ian’s background in commercial management means he understands the pressures involved.
Senior manager, coaching programme
Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experience and do not constitute a guarantee of outcomes.
Getting Started
How it works
Setting up employee support with Hope Therapy is straightforward. Here is what to expect.
1
Speak to our Team
Contact us by phone, email, or book a free 15-minute consultation. We will take time to understand your organisation’s needs and talk through the options — no pressure, no obligation.
2
We agree a referral process
We agree a simple referral process that suits your organisation. When an employee needs support, you or they contact us, and we take it from there — matching them with an appropriate counsellor within days.
3
Employees access support
Sessions are delivered online or face-to-face, at a time that works for the employee. The process is confidential throughout — your team can access support knowing that their employer receives no information about what they discuss.
Standards you can trust
The clinical standards behind our service
When you refer an employee for counselling, you need to know that the person they see is properly qualified and working to professional standards. Here is what underpins our service.
Professionally registered therapists — confirmed before matching
Every counsellor we work with holds appropriate professional registration. Most are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), or the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Individual registrations are confirmed before any employee is matched.
- All counsellors hold recognised professional qualifications and body registration
- Regular clinical supervision maintained in line with professional body requirements
- Ongoing continuing professional development across the team
- Confidentiality standards explained clearly to employees before sessions begin
- Risk management protocols in place — therapists follow professional guidelines on safeguarding and duty of care
- Founder-led clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited) — who continues to lead clinical standards across the service
Our NCPS Organisational Membership
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has held Organisational Membership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) since 2014. Our NCPS membership covers our counselling and psychotherapy services and means we adhere to the NCPS Code of Ethics and professional standards. Coaching is offered by qualified practitioners and is not covered by our NCPS Organisational Membership, which applies to counselling and psychotherapy only.
Common Questions
Questions employers often ask
What is an employee assistance programme (EAP)?
An employee assistance programme (EAP) is a confidential support service that employers provide for their staff. It typically includes access to professional counselling, coaching, and wellbeing support to help employees manage personal and work-related challenges. At Hope Therapy, our EAP centres on clinical counselling delivered by qualified, professionally registered therapists — with most employees seen within 7 days of referral.
How quickly can employees access support?
Most employees are matched with a counsellor and seen within 7 days of referral. This compares to NHS waiting times that can stretch to 18 weeks or longer for similar support. For critical incidents, we aim to arrange a first session at short notice — contact us directly and we will work with you as quickly as possible.
Is employee counselling confidential?
Yes. Employee counselling is confidential in line with professional ethical standards. Employers do not receive information about individual sessions or what an employee has discussed. There are limited exceptions — for example, where a counsellor identifies a serious risk of harm to the employee or another person — and these are explained clearly to the employee before sessions begin. Confidentiality is one of the most important factors in whether employees actually use the service.
Can you support businesses of any size?
Yes. We work with organisations of all sizes, from small businesses with a handful of staff to larger organisations needing support across multiple sites and locations. Our services are flexible and arranged around what your business actually needs — rather than a fixed package that may not fit.
What is the difference between employee counselling and coaching?
Employee counselling focuses on mental health and wellbeing — helping staff work through stress, anxiety, personal difficulties, or workplace challenges in a confidential clinical setting. Coaching is forward-facing and goal-oriented — working with individuals or managers to develop skills, build confidence, and navigate career transitions. Both are available through Hope Therapy, and many employers use a combination depending on the needs of different staff.
Do you provide support following a critical incident at work?
Yes. If your business experiences a critical incident — such as a bereavement, serious accident, or traumatic event — we can put support in place at short notice. Contact us directly on 07379 538411 or at and we will work with you to arrange appropriate support for affected staff as quickly as we are able.
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Meet Our Founder
Built by someone who has seen both sides
★
SCoPEd Band C
MBACP & SNCPS Senior Accredited
“Having worked for more than 25 years in senior management, I saw the same thing repeatedly — people struggling with mental health and relationship challenges, and so often struggling to access the right support when it was needed. It was out of this recognition of human need that Hope was born.”
Ian Stockbridge founded Hope Therapy after 25+ years leading large commercial teams — watching colleagues carry stress, anxiety, and personal difficulty with nowhere to turn. He has sat in meetings where the conversation could not happen, and in rooms where someone was quietly falling apart. He understands what organisations face, and he understands what employees need.
After retraining, Ian now holds Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS, alongside SCoPEd Band C — the highest independent competence verification in the UK counselling profession. He remains a practising therapist, clinical supervisor, and published author.
MBACP (Senior Accredited)
SNCPS (Acc)
SCoPEd Band C
BSc (Hons) CBT
PGCert Supervision L7
Quality Award 2024 — 95%+
Ready to talk about supporting your team?
A free, no-obligation conversation with our team. We will listen to what your organisation needs and talk through how we can help — no pressure, no script.
Get in Touch
Enquire about employer services
Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in strict confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“From the very first phone call, I felt heard. They didn’t rush me — they helped me work out what I needed.”
Hope Therapy enquiry feedback
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.