What is EAP?

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counselling service offered by an employer (or agency) to their employees (or contractors) to support their well-being in the workplace and in their personal lives - an EAP may also extend to immediate family members at the employer's discretion. EAP programs are designed to maintain and enhance employee well-being - and consequently performance - as well as fulfil an employer's or agency's duty of care under occupational health and safety obligations.

What EAP services does Michael offer?

Michael offers individual counselling (both face-to-face and via the internet) to employees and contractors subject to the terms of the employer/agency EAP agreement. This agreement may take one of two forms:

  1. the employer/agency pays for anemployee's/contractor's counselling in full for the arranged number of eligible sessions,
  2. the employer/agency directs their employees/contractors to utilise Michael's counselling services - this allow clients to use referrals from their GPs (Mental Health Plans) to access Medicare rebates for focussed psychological strategies under the Better Access to Mental Health scheme for specific mental health disorders* - thus reducing the cost of counselling to employees/contractors and employers when they are bearing the cost of counselling for their staff.

What qualifies Michael to provide EAP services?

Michael

  • is a Registered Psychologist with many years' counselling experience (including in trauma, grief and loss)
  • holds a Master of Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy
  • holds a Master of Work & Organisational Psychology
  • is a trained Mediator

How much does an employer/agency pay for the EAP service?

A single individual counselling session is $170.

What is remote counselling (telehealth)?

Please read the special conditions that apply currently until September 30, 2020 due tothe COVID-19 situation.

Remote (aka Telehealth) counselling is a counselling service provided via the internet (online) or over the phone (telecounselling). Remote counselling (i.e. not face-to-face in the same location) can be accessed by anyone, but certain restrictions apply (see below) if a client wishes to utilise the service under Medicare - although these have changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 situation in 2020.

In November 2017 the Australian Government approved telehealth services to be provided under Medicare.  These services are accessible through the Better Access initiative and available to people located in a rural or remote community and now all clients with a mental health plan (until September 30, 2020). Information about the previous and current telehealth services and who is/was eligible to receive these services is available in fact sheets that can be found on the website of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

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* The Better Access initiative covers people with mental disorders arising (among other things) from:

  • Alcohol use disorder
  • Adjustment disorder
  • Bereavement disorder
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Co-occurring anxiety and depression
  • Depression
  • Drug use disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Generalised anxiety disorder
  • Mental disorder, not otherwise specified
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Phobic disorder
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (which includes many of these other symptoms)
  • Sleep problems
  • Unexplained somatic complaints

Please feel free to call Michael to discuss your needs: 61 (0)414 400 508.