Employee Assistance Programs

Personalised Employee Assistance Programs that encompass:

counselling, psychotherapy,
coaching, and
training ..

... to help individuals facing difficult situations or circumstances that may be interferring with the normal running of their lives and both personally and in the workplace.

Sometimes a personal situation or issue will impinge on the employee's working effectiveness and that in turn can affect the workers around him/her and consequently have a marked negative effect on the business.

Employee Assistance Program (Details)

A personalised employee assistance program that encompasses counselling and psychotherapy that addresses the immediate problem alongside longer term issues. This enables the client to better cope with the "here-and-now ... taking into account the personality and behavioural attitudes and effectiveness (or not) that bring him or her to this point in his or her life.

In a small business this can be a major disruption to the flow of work/income. The health and wellbeing of the employee can have a direct effect on the employer/business.

Intervention and assistance offered by the employer for the employee works best:

where there is voluntary participation;
where the employee and the employer are both happy to find a better way of doing things;
there is confidentiality and independence present for the employee... the person having counselling is confident that what is said will not be passed on to anyone [NB-Confidentiality];
the assistance is offered early... prevention is better than cure;
the employer is able to have feedback as to the effectiveness of the counselling for the employee... results can sometimes be seen early in the work place, or, the employee can be encouraged to discuss the process and progress with the employer... voluntarily of course.

Reduce stress & distress...

This kind of assistance for the employee, facilitated by the employer, is designed to help reduce stress and psychological distress and is found to reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. We all know that a happy work force is a productive one.

Quantifiable by the results...

The kind of counselling offered in this Employee Assistance Program is quantifiable simply by the result the employee and the employer sees ... the voluntary nature of the program allows a free discussion between employee, employer and counsellor.

The Program

The service I offer is personalised and covers any issue you need, pursuant to the particular issues concerning the individual. The term "mental health" is sometimes seen as stigma and consequently, the programs offered are presented as training and education rather than dealing with pathological states.

Fees are as follows:
All sessions are for one hour.
Missed sessions charged unless a 48-hour notice to cancel is given.
First session is $145.00 including GST.
Further nine sessions are each $110, including GST.
Ongoing session fees, if required, will be negotiated after the tenth session.
Payment is required 2 weeks in advance by Bank Deposit.

Counselling for Trauma
Injuries and incidents in the workplace are covered with intensive counselling, with follow-up session as determined by the counselor, employee and employer. A collaborative process is employed that all parties are comfortable with the expectations and outcomes.

Attaining a Standard of Performance
Public speaking, shyness, motivation are themes commonly addressed in staff training. Many people need extra attention in some of these areas and our program covers the individual's requirements.

The goal of these programs is to collaboratively enter into a undertaking that helps the individuals or groups attain a higher degree of self-awareness and understanding of group, corporate and world views, that they might better enjoy a more fulfilling life... work and play.

Anxiety and Stress
These are seen as part and parcel of all our working and out of work experience. Without stress and anxiety we would not be standing up. Excessive stress or anxiety can play havoc with the well being and working life of the individual or group.

The program covers ways for individuals to reduce stress and anxiety and also explores the individual's particular circumstances that may be causing behavioral practices that cause disruption at work and at home.

Employee Management
It is the employer's duty of care is to provide a workplace free of discrimination, aggression, abuse and violence and the consequence emotional trauma that these behaviors cause other staff.

Alcohol abuse a company functions can often bring to light behaviors that employees would normally not show. These behaviors may be rooted in individual, family or workplace conditions.

The counseling programs endeavour to unearth the origins of these behaviors and provide alternative views and behaviors that the employee and the employer are comfortable to work with.

Alcohol and drug abuse are often signs of an unhappiness the individual is not aware of or does not want to tackle. The mind is clever at avoiding issues. The sessions undertaken at choosingchange are designed to carefully unpack these issues and must be undertaken gently.

Employer's Willingness/Consent
Session can only be given where the employer is willing to undergo the process of psychological exploration. This is not an easy to undertake. The first session will attempt to assess if the individual is willing.

Employer's Report
The program, counselling and psychotherapy reports are constrained by the CAPA and PACFA Association Codes of Conduct that require complete confidentiality. Reporting to the employer is limited to attendance and counsellor’s assessment of progress of the stated goals placed by the employee. The employer must agree to those goals. Any other information required by the employer will need the written consent of the employee.

[Confidentiality clauses apply... personal information is not disclosed at any time. Where serious criminal activity is divulged or where threat to safety and health of the client or others is discerned, counsellors are required by the NSW Crimes Act 1900 to report such knowledge.]

Embarking on an Employee Assistance Program requires employee, employer and counsellor to have an agreed process which is open and equitable.

Contact Philip Johnson if you want to offer one of the counselling, coaching, psychotherapy or training services to your staff.