Workplace Counselling
When someone on your team is struggling, they need somewhere to turn
Confidential employee counselling — delivered by qualified, professionally registered counsellors, online nationwide and face-to-face across England. Most employees are seen within 7 days of referral.
NCPS Organisational Member
Fully Confidential
Typically seen within 7 days
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I didn’t know where to start when things got really difficult at work. The counsellor I was matched with understood immediately. I felt heard from the very first session.”
Employee referred through workplace support
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
Est 2014
Over a decade in practice
7 Days
Average time to first session
This page is part of our Workplace Counselling Hub — visit for a full overview of our employee assistance programme for UK businesses
What is employee counselling — and why does it matter?
Employee counselling is a confidential, professional support service that employers provide for members of their team. It gives employees access to a qualified counsellor — someone they can talk to about whatever is affecting them, whether that is stress, anxiety, a difficult situation at home, something that has happened at work, or simply a feeling that things are becoming too much to carry alone.
Sessions are paid for by the employer. The employee accesses support directly and confidentially. Their employer does not receive information about what they discuss. That confidentiality is not a small detail — it is the thing that makes people actually use the service. An employee who is not sure whether their manager will find out what they said will not come forward. One who knows the line is firm usually will.
The difference between having a counselling service in place and not having one is not just a matter of benefit packages. It can be the difference between a team member getting help at the point when help is still relatively straightforward, and watching someone reach a crisis point before anyone intervenes.
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services is an NCPS Organisational Member. Our NCPS membership covers our counselling and psychotherapy services and means we adhere to the NCPS Code of Ethics. Individual therapist registrations vary and are confirmed before matching.
What It Can Help With
Employees do not need to be in crisis to benefit
Counselling can help at any stage — whether someone is finding things difficult, feeling stuck, or going through something significant. These are some of the areas our counsellors regularly support employees with.
Stress and anxiety — including work-related pressure, performance anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed
Low mood and depression — feeling flat, withdrawn, or struggling to find motivation
Burnout and exhaustion — when the demands of work have left someone running on empty
Relationship and family difficulties — including separation, parenting pressures, and conflict at home
Bereavement and loss — supporting someone through grief, whether recent or long-standing
Workplace difficulties — conflict with colleagues or managers, organisational change, redundancy
Self-esteem and confidence — feeling uncertain, undervalued, or struggling to believe in oneself
Trauma — including past experiences that are resurfacing or affecting daily life
Anything else — employees do not need to fit a specific category. If something is affecting them, that is enough of a reason to talk
Our Approach
Evidence-based counselling — matched to the individual
Our counsellors draw on a range of approaches depending on what is most useful for the employee’s situation.
What our clients say
Experiences from employees and employers
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I didn’t know where to start when things got really difficult at work. The counsellor I was matched with understood immediately. I felt heard from the very first session, and things are genuinely better now.
Employee referred through workplace support
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We had an employee who was clearly struggling but didn’t feel able to ask for help directly. Being able to refer them somewhere confidential and professional made a real difference. They’re back to themselves.
Line manager, SME employer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The counsellor was exactly right for me — patient, non-judgmental, and genuinely skilled. I came with a lot of anxiety about work and came out with a way of understanding it that actually helps.
Employee referred following workplace stress
Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experience and do not constitute a guarantee of outcomes.
How it works
Simple to set up. Straightforward for employees to use.
We have designed the referral process to be as uncomplicated as possible — for employers and employees alike.
1
The employer contacts us
You reach out by phone or email to discuss what you need. We agree a referral process that fits your organisation — whether that is manager-led referrals, self-referral, or a combination of both. No long contracts required to get started.
2
The employee is matched
We match the employee with a qualified counsellor suited to their situation and preferences — including any relevant specialisms, preferred format (online or face-to-face), and day and time availability. Most employees are seen within 7 days of the initial contact.
3
Sessions begin — confidentially
Sessions are delivered online via video or telephone, or face-to-face in locations across England. Everything the employee discusses is confidential. The employer receives no information about session content. The employee and counsellor work together on what is most helpful.
Standards you can trust
What you can expect from our counsellors
Every counsellor we work with is qualified and professionally registered. Here is what that means in practice.
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
Confidentiality — what employers need to know
Employers sometimes ask what they will be told about an employee’s counselling. The answer is straightforward: nothing about the content of sessions. Your employee’s confidentiality is protected throughout.
There are limited exceptions, as with all professional counselling — for example, where a counsellor identifies a serious and immediate risk of harm to the employee or another person. These are explained to the employee before sessions begin. Beyond those limited circumstances, what an employee discusses remains between them and their counsellor.
This is not just the ethical position — it is also the practical one. An employee who is not sure whether their employer will find out what they say is far less likely to seek help in the first place.
Common Questions
Questions about employee counselling
What is employee counselling?
Employee counselling is a confidential, professional support service that employers arrange for members of their team. It gives employees access to a qualified counsellor to work through personal or work-related difficulties — including stress, anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship problems, or anything else affecting their wellbeing or performance. Sessions are paid for by the employer and kept entirely confidential from the organisation.
Will my employer know what I discuss in counselling?
No. Employee counselling is confidential in line with professional ethical standards. Your employer does not receive information about the content of your sessions or anything you have discussed. There are limited exceptions — for example, where a counsellor identifies a serious risk of harm — and these will be explained clearly to you before sessions begin.
How quickly can an employee access counselling?
Most employees are matched with a counsellor and seen within 7 days of referral. This is significantly faster than NHS waiting times, which can stretch to 18 weeks or more for similar support. Speed of access matters — the longer someone waits, the harder it can become to take that first step.
What can employee counselling help with?
Employee counselling can help with a wide range of personal and work-related difficulties — including stress and anxiety, depression and low mood, bereavement and loss, relationship and family difficulties, workplace conflict or bullying, burnout and exhaustion, trauma, and difficulties with self-esteem or confidence. Employees do not need to be in crisis to benefit. Counselling can be useful at any point — including when things are manageable but getting harder.
Can employee counselling be delivered online?
Yes. All our counsellors offer sessions online via video or telephone, giving genuinely nationwide coverage. This means employees can access support wherever they are in the UK, without needing to travel or take time off work. Face-to-face sessions are also available in locations across England for employees who prefer in-person support.
How do I refer an employee for counselling?
Contact us by phone on 07379 538411 or email . We will talk through the situation and agree how the referral should work. In most cases we can have an employee matched with a counsellor within 7 days. Employees can also refer themselves directly if your organisation has an open-access arrangement in place.
Related Support
Other workplace services
Workplace services
Conditions employees may be dealing with
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 refer an employee — or find out more?
A free, no-obligation conversation with our team. We will listen to what you need and talk through the options — 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.