Employer frequently asked questions

An employee assistance programme (EAP) is a confidential support service that employers provide for their staff. At Hope Therapy, our EAP is built around clinical counselling delivered by qualified, professionally registered therapists — not a digital platform or a phone triage system.

It gives your employees access to professional support for personal and work-related difficulties — including stress, anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship difficulties, burnout, and more. Most employees are seen within 7 days of referral, compared to NHS waiting times that can stretch to 18 weeks or more.

Yes. All counsellors we work with hold appropriate professional registration — with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), or an equivalent professional body. Individual registrations are confirmed before any employee is matched.

Hope Therapy & Counselling Services holds Organisational Membership with the NCPS, which covers our counselling and psychotherapy services and means we adhere to the NCPS Code of Ethics and professional standards.

Most employees are matched with a counsellor and seen within 7 days of referral. This is significantly faster than NHS waiting times for equivalent support. Speed of access matters — the longer someone waits after seeking help, the harder it can become to take that first step.

For critical incidents — such as a workplace bereavement or traumatic event — we aim to put a first session in place at short notice. Contact us directly on and we will work with you as quickly as we are able.

Yes. We work with organisations of all sizes — from small businesses with a handful of staff to larger organisations needing support across multiple sites. Our services are flexible and built around what your business actually needs, rather than a fixed per-head annual contract. Contact us to discuss what would work best for your organisation.

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 away from the workplace. Face-to-face sessions are also available in locations across England for employees who prefer in-person support.

No. Employee counselling is confidential in line with professional ethical standards. Employers do not receive information about the content of sessions or anything the 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 will actually use the service. An employee who is unsure whether their manager will find out what they have said is far less likely to seek help in the first place.

Counselling can help with a wide range of personal and work-related difficulties, including stress and anxiety, depression and low mood, burnout and exhaustion, bereavement and loss, relationship and family difficulties, workplace conflict or bullying, trauma, and concerns about self-esteem or confidence.

Employees do not need to be in crisis to benefit. Counselling can be useful at any stage — including when difficulties are beginning rather than at a point of breakdown. Early intervention typically leads to better and faster outcomes.

The number of sessions depends on the individual’s situation and what they are working through. We discuss this during the initial matching process and review it as sessions progress. Some employees benefit from a short block of 4–6 sessions. Others benefit from longer-term support.

We work with you to find an arrangement that fits your organisation’s needs and budget. We will never recommend more sessions than the employee genuinely needs.

If your organisation experiences a critical incident — such as a bereavement, serious accident, or traumatic event affecting the workplace — we can put support in place at short notice. Contact us directly on and we will work with you to arrange appropriate support for affected staff as quickly as we are able.

Please note: our service is not an emergency crisis line. If an employee is in immediate danger, they should call 999. For out-of-hours emotional support, the Samaritans are available on (free, 24 hours) or by texting SHOUT to 85258.

Yes. We do not set out to replace existing provision. In many cases we work alongside an organisation’s HR team, occupational health function, or other welfare services — supplementing what is already in place rather than duplicating it. We are happy to discuss how our service can complement what you already offer.

Pricing for employer-arranged counselling and coaching is discussed and agreed before any sessions begin. We will confirm all fees clearly in advance, so there are no unexpected costs. We do not publish a fixed per-head rate because our service is flexible — the right arrangement for a 10-person business differs from the right arrangement for a 500-person organisation.

Contact us to discuss pricing for your specific requirements. There is no obligation to commit during that conversation.

We do not require organisations to commit to long-term contracts before they can start. Many businesses prefer to begin with a specific referral and build from there. Contact us to discuss the arrangement that would suit your organisation best.

Contact us by phone on , email , or book a free 15-minute consultation. We will talk through what you are looking for, explain how the service works, and agree next steps — with no obligation to commit.