Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Counselling Services Provider

Accreditations

Confidential support when it's needed most

In an era of hybrid working and tough economic conditions, supporting mental health with practical tools and measurable outcomes is essential.

24/7 access, on demand

Patients can access confidential EAP counselling services on demand, by phone, live chat, email and video, 24/7, 365 days a year.

Flexible, customisable services

Assist EAP services can be layered up to match your organisations' needs. Enjoy the flexibility and cost savings of a more tailored healthcare solution.

Seamless integration

Services slot into your existing channels with ease. Choose how they are delivered; whether it's through branded web apps or API integrations.

The HealthHero Difference

Trusted provider

Formerly known as Validium, we have over 25 years' experience delivering mental health support, including EAP, CBT, counselling and psychological services across a broad range of sectors. With a national network of mental health specialists across UK & Ireland, we have the capability and expertise to provide healthcare at scale.

Gold-standard care

We're a registered EAP provider with a robust quality and governance framework. Our clinicians are registered members of BACP, BPS, UKCP, HCPC and COSCA and meet standards over and above industry expectations.

True flexibility

Patients enjoy a better standard of healthcare that can be accessed when and where they need it. Organisations enjoy customisable services delivered through our web app or through API integration.

Counselling, triage and support

We provide confidential support and counselling services 24/7, 365 days a year. Patients can access services on-demand via phone, video, live chat, messaging.

What’s available?

For service users

24/7/365 days counselling appointments via phone, video, live chat, messaging

Access to Wellbeing Hub for self-help guides, articles, videos and easy online appointment booking

Practical advice from expert partners specialising in money, legal, health and wellbeing matters

Free and unlimited access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) online

Emerging trend webinars delivered by subject matter experts; men’s health, burnout, diversity and inclusion

For organisations

Get a clear overview of your organisation's wellbeing and mood with measurement and reporting tools

Get helpful mental health content – including clinician-led articles and short videos for employees – in our monthly newsletter

Choose between needs-based referrals for structured counselling (typically 6 or 8 sessions per employee per year) or extended counselling (20 sessions)

Watch emerging trends webinars delivered by subject matter experts on everything from men’s health and burnout to diversity and inclusion

Psychological services

Our ‘stepped care model’ gives individuals with more serious mental health problems longer term support. We help employers to understand individual conditions better so they can offer meaningful support.

What’s available?

For service users

Support services for depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, complex grief and work-related stress.

Access to evidence-based therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Assessment, diagnosis and treatment recommendations, in line with NICE guidelines, plus a dedicated case manager

Flexibility – patients can speak to therapists by phone, video or in person.

For organisations

Complete support from our UK-wide network of 260 affiliates, all HCPC and/or BABCP accredited and working within NICE clinical guidelines.

Thorough assessment of cases using pre- and post-intervention psychological indicator scores, such as GAD7, PHQ9, IES-R, BDI, BAI

Robust complaints procedure 

Critical incident management services

We offer support to individuals or groups suffering from traumatic or critical events. We facilitate the recovery process, improve resilience and morale, and reduce the risk of long-term, stress-related illness.

What’s available

For service users

Our dedicated Critical Incident (CI) Team can assess individuals and groups and recommend specific support, including:

Guidance on appropriate interventions

Psychological first aid

Remote group sessions

On-site trauma support

One-to-one counsellor clinics

Manager support

Group debrief Sessions

For organisations

Access over 150 Critical Incident responders; all qualified and experienced counsellors or psychotherapists.

Work with experts trained in the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Framework and equivalent trauma training

All therapeutic approaches are approved by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and used in compliance with ICISF best practice guidelines.

Training services

We give managers and teams a framework to help manage mental health at work. We also give employees the confidence to help their colleagues using supportive conversation practices.

Learn more

What’s available

For service users

Training for both managers and employees led by a team of experienced mental health practitioners.

Onsite and remote training using a combination of virtual live training (e-learning and pre-training) and post-training exercises 

Practical training designed to develop confidence and skills when it comes to supportive conversations 

For organisations

Build emotional resilience and support within your organisation

Give employees practical skills that can boost workforce-wide morale.

Educate employees with invaluable training, including our 'Managing Mental Health' workshop and 'Wellbeing Supporter' sessions.

Choose from single training sessions, workshops and four-week programmes. A flexible, bespoke programme can be adapted to suit your needs.

The psychological expertise is outstanding, enabling us to reduce insurance payouts, our HR clients to get their people back to work and individual employees to get their lives back on track.

My counsellor was excellent. They have given me back my life, given me tools to cope with situations and taught me to like myself again.

HealthHero helped me manage my stress and anxiety better. I was able to return to work quicker.

My therapy was truly incredible and life changing. Thank you for the service and the support throughout - I am so, so grateful!

Trusted by

What is an EAP?

EAP stands for Employee Assistance Programme. It’s a scheme designed to help employees resolve personal and work-related issues that may be affecting their health and wellbeing. EAP services can include counselling, managers support, critical incident and trauma support, legal and financial advice, and referrals to specialist psychological services such as CBT and EMDR.

How can EAPs benefit employers?

A more engaged, productive workforce: EAP counselling services help employees to thrive by reducing their stress, increasing their resilience, engagement and productivity.

Reduced absenteeism: EAP counselling provides early intervention to address stress, anxiety, grief and self-serve resources help workers to reduce stress and maintain mental and physical health. This reduces sick days and presenteeism.

Cost savings: Companies with better wellbeing offerings boost job satisfaction and loyalty, resulting in less sick days, higher retention rates, faster return to work rates and enhanced productivity.

Why choose HealthHero?

HealthHero’s EAP and mental health services were previously recognised as Validium, a leading EAP provider formed in August 1998 which is now part of HealthHero. We have over 25 years’ experience in the EAP and mental health industry, a reputation for quality and clinical excellence and we are one of Europe’s largest digital healthcare providers.

What is included as part of HealthHero’s EAP service?

As part of HealthHero’s EAP, service users will have access to:

In-the-moment counselling support via a 24/7 EAP helpline
Six- or eight-session model options available for structured counselling (Solution Focused Brief Therapy) following a clinical assessment. Our expert clinicians will determine the appropriate onward support within our Stepped Care Model, delivered via telephone, video, or face-to-face
Referral to guided online CBT programmes via SilverCloud where clinically appropriate.
Support on a wide range of personal and work-related issues, e.g. stress, anxiety, relationships, work issues, or depression. We can provide general support regarding bereavement and will signpost to suitable specialist resources if required. In addition to in the moment support on any issue, our counsellors will always provide suitable signposting to specialist resources if required
Access to self-guided online CBT programmes "Living Life to the Full’
Couples counselling
Legal and financial support helplines
Debt and money helpline support provided via our specialist partner, PayPlan
Critical incident and trauma support
Manager support

We also offer extended counselling of up to 20 sessions for complex cases, charged on a fee-for-service basis where required.

Organisations will also get access to:

Management information report detailing service performance, user adoption, usage trends and user insights.
Dedicated account management from our team who will work with you to ensure that you receive full value from your EAP service.
Marketing support for service promotion and PR support to launch your EAP service.

What are your minimum counsellor qualifications?

The employment requirements for our in-house counsellors are:

A minimum Level 4 qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy.
At least 300 hours of post-qualification clinical practice.
Registration with an appropriate professional body (such as BACP, UKCP, or IACP) and adherence to their Code of Ethics.
Regular supervision in line with the requirements of the registered professional body.

Requirements for joining our affiliate network for structured counselling:

A minimum Level 4 qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy.
At least 450 hours of post-qualification clinical practice.
Registration with an appropriate professional body (such as BACP, UKCP, IACP, BPS, HCPC, or BABCP) and adherence to their Code of Ethics.
Regular supervision in line with the requirements of the registered professional body.

Is the service confidential? Is my data secure?

How long does it take to speak to a counsellor?

Can employees choose to have their sessions with a specific counsellor?

Yes, employees are able to request a counsellor with a specific background, language etc from a poll of HealthHero’s in-house and affiliate counsellors.

Our counsellors have a wide range of experiences and specialisms, including counsellors with multi-language skills (including sign language), counsellors with experience working with people of all ages, genders and diverse backgrounds (such as disabilities, ethnicities, cultures, ADHD, LGBTQ etc.)

Meet Symbio

Whole-health support for happier, more resilient teams

With Symbio, all your employees have access to virtual consultations with GPs, Mental Health Counsellors and Physiotherapists along with preventative, personalised self-care resources

Symbio