Workplace counselling

Counselling in the Workplace

Psychology Melbourne’s team of workplace psychologists deal every day with a large variety of issues that affect the psychological wellbeing and mental health of employees. 

In some cases, unmanaged workplace stress can contribute to more serious mental health conditions. If you're concerned about yourself or someone else, professional support can help.  

Factors like job uncertainty, high workloads, changes in management, role stress, bullying and low support at work can increase the risk of experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Employees regularly exposed to danger or crisis may also experience challenges such as high stress, difficulty sleeping, or emotional detachment.

We support individuals in addressing personal and workplace issues that may be affecting their wellbeing.

What we can help with

Psychology Melbourne's team of workplace experts work with individuals and their families on a broad range of work-related issues.

They can help with a variety of different issues, including:

• Anxiety, Depression and Burnout
• Conflict & Interpersonal Communication
• PTSD/ Trauma
• Cross Cultural Issues
• Building Emotional Resilience
• Bullying and Harassment
• Procrastination and Perfectionism
• Problem Solving and Prioritising
• Career Coaching
• Time Management
• Social Relationships and Boundaries

We also offer training in:  

• Leadership Skills
• Performance Coaching
• Manager Coaching 

Psychology Melbourne’s EAP Program

Psychology Melbourne offers its own Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to small, medium and larger organisations to foster the psychological wellbeing and mental health of their employees.

Our corporate psychologists provide additional organisational services, including coaching for managers, executives and CEOs; psychometric testing and other team building services. Read more about our EAP services.

Our Workplace Therapies

Psychology Melbourne’s workplace psychologists use a number of different therapeutic approaches, depending on their particular practice background, the presenting issues and the couple’s concerns.

All of the therapies used in our practice have a sound theoretical basis and are supported by the evidence of research comparing different treatments and systematic reviews.

• Brief Solution Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Relaxation Techniques
• Interpersonal Therapy Counselling
• Positive Psychology
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Schema Therapy
• Family Therapy

When should you seek help?

Many employees leave it too long to seek counselling. They feel ashamed or weak and try to manage alone. They may start taking days off or dread going to work every day. They may not confide in their fellow employees for fear of losing their jobs.

They may take their worries home and burden their partners and families with long lists of complaints about work or become silent and withdrawn.

Seeking support early may help prevent issues from becoming more severe and can assist in improving outcomes. Listen when a good friend suggests you see a therapist – and take action - and the faster you can get back to enjoying life.

If you think that you or someone at work may be experiencing mental health issues, Psychology Melbourne’s Mental Health Checks can help. They are a cost-effective, confidential way to give you more insight into your current state of mental health. It includes a mental health test plus a 15-minute telephone consultation with one of our registered psychologists.

Here are some signs for when your mental health is in trouble.

Signs that you may need counselling

If you’ve been noticing that your mental health has started to deteriorate, or your partner, family of friends are concerned about you, it may be time to seek professional help.

It’s never too early to start therapy, in fact seeing a psychologist before things get more difficult can be more beneficial and effective in prevention and management of more serious issues in the long run.

There are a range of issues that people seek help for, some of the common ones include:

Depression

Feeling sad every once in a while is normal, but if those feelings persist daily over more than two weeks, and you can’t seem to snap out of it, it could be a sign of depression.

If you have lost interest in your normal social activities, feel miserable, tired all the time and have thoughts of being a failure, you may be experiencing depression.

Anxiety & Stress

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in Australia. Beyond Blue reports that on average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – will experience anxiety at some stage in their life.

Feeling stressed or anxious once in a while is normal, but if those feelings persist daily over more than two weeks, and you feel restless and can’t sleep, it could be a sign of anxiety.

There are different types of anxiety including –generalised anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety and specific phobias.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

If you are feeling worried and anxious most of the time, not just in particular difficult situations, and these feelings are intense and persistent, you may be suffering from GAD.

If a person’s work, health, family and/or financial issues are being negatively affected and appear out of control, it may be time for them to get help.

Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are often mistaken for a heart attack. They are usually intense and uncontrollable feelings with physical symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and sweating. Panic disorder is when panic attacks occur regularly for a month.

This can be very debilitating at work and cause absences and time off work.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Feeling nervous sometimes in social situations when you don’t know many people is normal, but if those feelings are intense and a person is afraid of being judged, criticised, laughed at or humiliated in front of others, they may be experiencing social anxiety.

A person may also have an intense fear presenting to work colleagues, speaking publicly, having meals with fellow employees or making small talk, which can impact negatively on their career.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

When a person experiences anxious and disturbing thoughts, they may start using certain behaviours or rituals (or compulsions) repeatedly to calm themselves.

They may feel compelled to repeatedly wash their hands to alleviate their obsessive fear of contamination and also to keep their loved ones safe by not contaminating them. They may also suffer from procrastination and repeatedly delay or postpone tasks and be unable to follow through on what they are expected to do.

People with OCD may also have recurrent, persistent, intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause anxiety or distress, which they unable to control for more than a short period of time.

For example, they suffer from perfectionism – the need for their work to feel perfect - and may stay at work after hours continually checking for errors and never being able to meet deadlines.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Feeling anxious and concerned following a traumatic event, such as an accident, an assault or another disaster, is normal but if those feelings persist and a person starts having flash backs of the event or losing time, they may be experiencing symptoms of post traumatic stress.

If the person has been having upsetting dreams and not able to relax for at least a month, it may be time to get professional help.

Suicide Prevention

In some cases, unmanaged workplace stress can contribute to more serious mental health conditions such as self-harm, social isolation and feelings of ‘worthlessness’. If you're concerned about yourself or someone else, professional support can help.  

If someone talks to you about harming themselves or having suicidal thoughts, it’s important to take them seriously. If you think that you or someone you know at work may be experiencing such thoughts, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. 

The majority of our psychologists work in the Melbourne CBD Clinic and the rest in different locations across Melbourne. You can call our reception on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au.

Grief and Loss

Feeling sad and grieving for a significant loss is a natural response, but it can lead to feelings of prolonged, intense sadness, insomnia, poor appetite and weight loss. This can affect a person’s ability to work, their relationships at work and their day-to-day living. The experience of grief can come from the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a pregnancy, a job, a way of life or even a pet.

Loss can also come from life transitions such as when children leave home, separation from friends and family and infertility.

Drugs and Alcohol

Some individuals may turn to alcohol or other substances as a way to manage difficult emotions. While this may provide short-term relief, it can lead to increased reliance and, over time, create further challenges.

Excessive or problematic use of substances can affect mood, increase symptoms of anxiety or depression, and make it harder to manage daily responsibilities. It may also impact relationships, performance at work, and personal safety.

Self Harm and Self Injury

Some people may engage in self-harming behaviours as a way to manage emotional distress or overwhelming thoughts. Often done in private, these actions may provide temporary relief, but they do not address the underlying issues. 

If you or someone you know is engaging in self-harming behaviour, reaching out for professional support is an important step toward recovery.

Mental Health Checks

If you or someone in your workplace is experiencing emotional difficulties or any of the concerns outlined above, Psychology Melbourne’s Mental Health Checks can help. They are a cost-effective, confidential way to give you more insight into your current state of mental health. It includes a mental health test plus a 15-minute telephone consultation with one of our registered psychologists.

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