5 May 2026

Loneliness Awareness Week 2026 — Giving Loneliness a Voice

Practical, clinically grounded sessions that help your employees build real connections, strengthen relationships and find their way out of isolation.

Loneliness at work is more common than most organisations realise — and more damaging than many are willing to name. It affects concentration, motivation and the ability to collaborate. Left unaddressed, it quietly erodes the engagement and trust that teams depend on.

This year’s Loneliness Awareness Week, with its theme of Giving Loneliness a Voice, is both a prompt and an opportunity. Not simply to acknowledge that loneliness exists in our workplaces, but to do something meaningful about it — equipping employees with the understanding, the skills and the genuine human connection that makes a lasting difference.

61% of UK adults who have experienced loneliness say they have never spoken to anyone about it — most often because of the stigma they fear it carries. That silence has a cost — to individuals, to teams and to organisations. These sessions are designed to break it.

Sessions and workshops

All sessions are delivered live, online or in person, and can be booked individually or together. Each session accommodates up to 100 participants

Community, Connection and Belonging – 60 minutes

Humans have evolved to connect — and we are far more likely to thrive when we feel a genuine sense of belonging. Yet for many employees, that sense of community has eroded quietly, without anyone quite naming it. This interactive session looks honestly at the growing impact of loneliness and isolation on our mental health, and gives participants the practical tools to do something about it — rebuilding connections, finding new communities and managing the emotional weight that disconnection brings.

Session content includes

The importance of community for mental health
How to find community and build a sense of belonging
Rebuilding and bolstering existing connections
Making new connections and joining community projects
Emotional support for loneliness and lack of connection
Strategies to reduce ruminative thinking
Confidence and self-esteem boosting techniques

Talking Mental Health – 90 minutes

Most of us will, at some point, find ourselves working alongside someone who is struggling — and many of us will struggle ourselves. Yet mental health remains a subject that most people feel underprepared to talk about, whether with a colleague who needs support or in relation to their own wellbeing. This 90-minute session gives employees the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to engage with mental health in a meaningful way — covering both how to recognise and support a colleague who may be struggling, and how to actively understand and look after your own mental health.

Session content includes

The mental health continuum and the recovery model
Risk factors for mental health issues
Signs and symptoms to look out for in colleagues
How to initiate and navigate a supportive conversation — what to say and what not to say
How to signpost colleagues towards professional support
How to check in with your own mental health
The role of connection, sleep, exercise and nutrition in mental wellbeing
Practical self-care techniques to improve and maintain your mental health

Delivered by a qualified workplace mental health clinician

Kindness and Self-Compassion – 60 minutes

Kindness is widely underestimated — dismissed as something soft, when in fact it is one of the most robust psychological tools available to us. Loneliness is rarely experienced in silence; it arrives with an inner critic that isolates us further, making it harder to reach out or believe that connection is possible. This session helps participants understand and manage that voice, developing the self-compassion, resilience and emotional intelligence that make genuine connection — with others and with themselves — a real possibility.

Session content includes

Why we undermine kindness, compassion and self-esteem — and how to stop
Recognising difficult emotions and training ourselves to respond more kindly
Managing the inner critic
Self-compassion versus self-esteem
Developing resilience and emotional intelligence
Exploring common humanity — the understanding that we are not alone
Extending kindness and compassion to others
Practical kindness techniques for daily life

Counselling

For some employees, loneliness runs deeper than a workshop can reach — and that is where one-to-one support makes the most difference. Wellbeing Partners’ clinical specialists are available to work confidentially with individuals managing loneliness and its effects on their mental health and wellbeing. All of our practitioners are fully qualified professionals with at least ten years of post-qualification experience, bringing genuine clinical depth and human warmth to every session.

If you would like more information on any of these sessions, or would like to talk through what might work best for your organisation, we would be very glad to hear from you.

If you would like more information please complete the form below

9 December 2025

employee counselling • employee mental health • employee wellbeing • mental health • mental health at work •

In-House Employee Counselling Service UK – Wellbeing Partners

Accessible Workplace Mental Health Support for Employees

Across the UK, employees are increasingly unwilling or unable to access mental health support through traditional Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), private insurers, or the NHS. EAPs often fail because they are impersonal, difficult to access, or tied to subscription models that don’t reflect actual employee use. Waiting lists in private mental health services can exceed three months, and NHS mental health services have millions of adults on 18-month-plus waiting lists.

Wellbeing Partners’ in-house employee counselling service bridges this gap.

Why Choose Wellbeing Partners’ In-House Counselling?

Not a Traditional EAP
Unlike subscription-based EAPs, our service is pay-as-you-use, providing cost-effective, flexible mental health support that employees can access when they need it most.

Dedicated Workplace Mental Health Professionals
Each organisation is assigned a small, dedicated team of BACP-registered counsellors with over 10 years’ experience in workplace mental health. Employees can access counselling in-person or online via a secure platform, ensuring flexible and confidential support.

Tailored, Inclusive Support
No mental health concern is too small or too complex. EAPs often turn staff away if issues don’t meet their thresholds. Wellbeing Partners’ in-house counselling supports all employees, providing practical solutions for stress, burnout, and other workplace challenges.

Preventive and Performance-Focused
Early access to counselling prevents minor issues from becoming major crises. Employees gain tools, confidence, and resilience that support ongoing wellbeing, improving engagement and reducing absence across your organisation.

Our Specialisms Include:

Anxiety, depression, OCD
Bereavement and loss
Burnout and chronic stress
Sickness absence due to mental health issues
Neurodivergent mental health
Insomnia and persistent sleep difficulties
Trauma and PTSD
Workplace relationship difficulties
Menopause-related mental health

Wellbeing Partners offers a proven, flexible, and human-centred solution for workplace mental health support. Ensure your employees can access counselling that actually works.

To learn more about Wellbeing Partners’ Employee Counselling Services, please complete the form below

5 November 2025

employee counselling • employee mental health • employee wellbeing • mental health • sickleave • workplace counselling •

Boost Workplace Wellbeing with Recovery Counselling for Employees on Sick Leave

With workplace health now firmly on the national agenda, the message from government and business leaders is clear: employers must take a more proactive role in supporting the wellbeing of their teams.

The new Keep Britain Working review, led by former John Lewis chair Charlie Mayfield, has revealed that poor health and worklessness are costing the UK economy as much as £85 billion a year — and that fixing the problem will require stronger workplace health support led by employers themselves. The report calls for a “fundamental reset” in how health is managed at work, recognising that lasting solutions will come from genuine partnership between employers, employees, and the NHS.

At Wellbeing Partners, we wholeheartedly agree. For years, we’ve worked with organisations that understand the impact of mental health on attendance, performance, and culture. And with the latest findings highlighting the urgency of early intervention, now is the time for every employer to strengthen their support for employees who are struggling with their health.

Supporting Recovery — and Reducing Long-Term Absence

Workplace absenteeism due to mental health concerns such as anxiety, stress, burnout, depression, and trauma continues to rise. In the UK, the average number of sick days taken by employees has surged by 55% since 2019. For employees who are off work for extended periods, the lack of a tailored recovery plan can lead to avoidable prolonged absence, increased anxiety about returning to work, and diminished productivity upon their return.

That’s where Wellbeing Partners’ Recovery Counselling Service makes a measurable difference.

Introducing Wellbeing Partners’ Recovery Counselling Service

Our Recovery Counselling service is designed to help employees on sick leave recover more effectively — both physically and mentally — while preparing for a smooth, confident return to work.

Employees receive a series of tailored, 50-minute online sessions with our highly experienced workplace mental health professionals. Each employee is supported to manage anxiety, burnout, stress, insomnia, depression, bereavement and grief, trauma, and interpersonal difficulties — issues that can significantly affect both wellbeing and work readiness.

How We Help

Our Recovery Counselling service equips employees with practical tools to:

Recover and maintain their wellbeing
Build resilience and coping skills
Navigate the sometimes anxiety-filled process of returning to work
Restore their overall wellbeing and capacity to flourish in the workplace

Why Choose Wellbeing Partners?

Expert Support: Our team consists of fully qualified and experienced workplace mental health professionals, each with a minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience and professional association membership.

Tailored Approach: Each employee receives confidential sessions and a wellbeing recovery plan based on their individual needs.

Convenient Access: Sessions take place online, making it easy for employees to access support wherever they are.

Cost-Effective: Our service provides a budget-friendly way to help employees recover and return to work with confidence — aligning with the government’s call for accessible, practical workplace health solutions.

Investing in Health, Productivity, and the Future of Work

As the Keep Britain Working review makes clear, the future of workforce resilience depends on shared responsibility for health at work. By offering Recovery Counselling, your organisation can take a proactive step that supports both your people and your performance — helping employees return to work with confidence, and reducing the risk of longer-term absence.

Now more than ever, investing in your employees’ recovery isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a strategic business decision that builds a healthier, more engaged, and sustainable workforce.

Contact us below to learn more about how Wellbeing Partners can support your employees through their recovery journey.

4 July 2025

employee counselling • employee mental health • employee wellbeing • mental health • SAD • seasonalaffectivedisorder • Summer SAD • workplace counselling •

Summertime Sadness: When the Sun Doesn’t Lift Your Mood

Summer is often seen as a welcome break from the grey skies of winter. Brighter mornings, lighter evenings, and the chance to take time off are all reasons to look forward to this time of year. But for some employees, the summer months can bring an unexpected drop in mood, energy or motivation—a phenomenon often referred to as summertime sadness.

At Wellbeing Partners, the UK’s leading provider of workplace mental health and wellbeing support, we understand that emotional wellbeing doesn’t follow the seasons. Just as winter can trigger low mood for some, summer can present its own mental health challenges—particularly in fast-paced or high-pressure work environments.

How Summer Can Affect Workplace Wellbeing

It may seem counterintuitive, but summer can be emotionally difficult for many employees. Some of the reasons include:

Disrupted Routines: Annual leave, school holidays, and shifting workloads can lead to a lack of structure. While flexibility is often welcomed, it can also cause stress for those who rely on routine to stay grounded and productive.
Increased Workload: Covering for colleagues on leave or managing end-of-quarter deadlines can result in increased pressure, fatigue or burnout.
Social Expectations: The assumption that summer should be “carefree and happy” can make it harder for employees to speak up if they’re struggling. There may also be added pressure to attend social events that feel emotionally or physically draining.
Sleep Disruption and Heat Stress: Warmer nights and longer daylight hours can interfere with sleep, which has a direct impact on concentration, mood and overall resilience at work.
Body Image and Self-Esteem: Hotter weather can exacerbate personal insecurities, particularly when dressing for comfort in professional settings or navigating the constant exposure to “summer body” culture.

Supporting Yourself and Your Team

If summer feels more draining than energising, it’s important to acknowledge that experience and take steps to protect your mental wellbeing. Some simple but effective strategies include:

Maintain a Regular Schedule: As much as possible, stick to consistent working hours, breaks and sleep times. Routine can restore a sense of control and focus.
Take Meaningful Breaks: Use your annual leave to fully disconnect—not just from work emails, but from the mental pressure of constant productivity. A real break helps restore both wellbeing and performance.
Watch for Signs of Struggle: Irritability, withdrawal, poor sleep, and low motivation can all be signs someone is not coping. If you’re noticing changes in yourself or a colleague, start a supportive conversation or point them to available resources.
Make Space for Openness: Teams that normalise conversations about mental health—year-round—create safer, more sustainable working environments. As a manager or colleague, it’s okay to ask how someone’s really doing.

What Employers Can Do

Workplaces have a vital role to play in supporting employee mental health—especially during seasonal transitions. Through their expert-led training, consultancy and support services, Wellbeing Partners help organisations across the UK build mentally healthy, high-performing teams.

From one-to-one employee wellbeing sessions and leadership training to proactive mental health strategy, Wellbeing Partners provide tools that meet the real-world needs of today’s workforce.

Final Thought

Just because it’s sunny outside doesn’t mean everyone feels bright on the inside. Whether you’re managing a team or trying to stay on top of your own workload, remember that struggling in summer is more common than you might think—and support is available.

For more information please contact [email protected] or complete the form below:

14 May 2025

employee counselling • employee mental health • interpersonal counselling • mental health • mental health at work • mental health awareness • workplace counselling •

In-house Employee Counselling Service from Wellbeing Partners

Wellbeing Partners’ in-house employee counselling service provides the fastest and most effective solution for supporting the individual mental health needs of your employees, in your workplace or online.

Companies and organisations across the UK are finding their EAP services unable to cope with demand, many private medical insurers with waiting lists of more than 3 months for accessing mental health services, and an NHS completely overwhelmed with millions of adults on waiting lists of 18 months or longer, even for acute mental health issues.

This perfect storm of growing mental health issues and burnout across society combined with a lack of provision from the usual mental health support services is leaving employees without the support they need.

Wellbeing Partners’ In-House Counselling services is an efficient, effective and compassionate response to these issues and the mental health requirements of your employees. Here are the main reasons why:

We are not an EAP: Wellbeing Partners In-House Employee Counselling Service is pay-as-you-use service (not a subscription model) that allows great flexibility for organisations and fast access to mental health support for employees.

Your Own Team of Mental Health Professionals: Your organisation will be assigned a small and dedicated team of fully qualified and highly experienced counsellors who get to know your staff and are accessible at any time they are needed. Sessions can be offered in-person in your workplace, or online via secure video platform.

New Trend, New Approach: Responding to the mental health crisis requires a dynamic approach. In house-counselling is the emergent trend in workplace mental health, one that we have been offering for many years with a large and growing list of workplace clients. Our in-house counselling service is refined, effective and offers dedicated one-to-one appointments with staff in-person or online to fit with their busy schedules.

Training and Experience: Wellbeing Partners are experts at providing mental health and wellbeing support in professional settings. This is because we source and employ experts in their fields. All our counsellors are BACP registered and with at least 10 years’ post-qualification experience. They also all have extensive experience of providing counselling and wellbeing coaching in professional settings and combine unrivalled training and experience that meets your needs.

Accessibility: Our In-House Counselling offers a broad service that sees no mental health issue as too big or too small. EAPs are increasingly turning employees away if their issues are deemed too small to meet the threshold for mental health support, or conversely, they are too complex for the support they can offer. At Wellbeing Partners we support all your employees no matter what their issue, offering a forum and safe environment for people to work through their challenges.

Prevention, Performance and Confidence: Our broad approach to challenges in In-House Counselling means that smaller issues can be prevented from developing into crises and more complex issues receive the timely support they deserve. Our counselling services focus on creating the framework and confidence that people need to maintain their mental health once the sessions are concluded, reducing likelihood of later relapses. In-House Employee Counselling is not a luxury, but an intelligent, supportive and economical response to mental health issues. It offers both short and long-term gains for individuals and organisations.

Our specialisms include but are not limited to:

Neurodivergent mental health
Burnout and chronic stress
Sickness absence due to mental health issues
Anxiety, depression, OCD
Bereavement and loss
Insomnia and persistent sleep difficulties
Trauma and PTSD
Workplace relationship difficulties
Menopause-related mental health

Learn more about our Employee Counselling services

Getting Started

9 May 2025

anxiety • employee counselling • employee mental health • employee wellbeing • mental health • mental health at work • mental health awareness • stress • workplace counselling •

A New Approach to Employee Mental Health

Wellbeing Partners offer an unique and expansive counselling service with sessions that can be ad hoc, flexible or ongoing and regular and that can be held online or in-person.

Our team offers expert support in areas including:

Neurodivergent mental health
Menopause-related mental health
Burnout and chronic stress
Sickness absence due to mental health issues
Anxiety, depression, OCD
Bereavement
Trauma
Insomnia
Workplace relationship difficulties

In today’s fast-paced work environment, the need for timely, expert mental health support has never been more critical. At Wellbeing Partners, we go beyond traditional EAPs to deliver specialist workplace counselling that’s flexible, proactive, and clinically robust.

With many years of experience and a clear focus on early intervention, our service empowers employees to navigate a wide range of challenges — from common wellbeing concerns to more complex or specialist issues — in a confidential, supportive environment.

Sessions are typically held online for ease of access, but we also offer on-site counselling by arrangement. Whether you need ad hoc support, flexible access, or regular sessions, we tailor our service to your organisation’s needs.

If you’re ready to move beyond reactive support and create a workplace culture where mental wellbeing is proactively protected, we’d be happy to help. For more information please fill in the form below.

14 February 2025

community • connection • connection and belonging • employee counselling • Employee engagement • employee mental health • mental health • mental health awareness week •

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 theme is Community

Book our “Community, Connection and Belonging” Wellbeing Workshop for your employees

What does “community” mean for your mental health and why is that such an important question? Well this year, Mental Health Awareness Week (12^th – 18^th May) explores this significant topic.

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is “Community” and emphasises how feeling connected to others and feeling safe and supported is vital to our mental health. Humans evolved to make connections, and we thrive when we have a sense of belonging. Community and its shared values and experiences reminds us that we are not alone, especially when we are struggling or feeling isolated.

Our one hour wellbeing workshop for employees is called “Community, Connection and Belonging” and aims to bring awareness and support for those who may be feeling isolated, disconnected and lonely, both personally and professionally. Digital platforms have allowed more flexible, hybrid working, and whilst this has many positives, it has also meant reduced interaction for many. Furthermore, at a time of political instability and polarisation, there is scope for increasing separation and fracturing of communities. These realities have seen the sense of community, connection and belonging diminish and this has boosted levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression.

The workshop takes a dual approach that offers encouragement and support. We help people recognise community and to develop bonds and connections whilst also providing practical and effective techniques to help people manage the emotional and cognitive pressures they can experience when feeling disconnected.

The Community, Connection and Belonging workshop looks at:

The importance of Community for mental health
How to find community and build a sense of belonging
Rebuilding/bolstering existing connections
Making new Connections and joining community projects
Emotional Support for loneliness and lack of connection
Strategies to reduce ruminative thinking
Confidence and elf-Esteem boosting techniques

For more information about this flagship workshop for Mental Health Awareness Week and our selection of further mental health workshops, please complete the form below:

4 February 2025

anxiety • doomscrolling • employee counselling • employee mental health • employee wellbeing • mental health • news • stress • uncertainty • workplace counselling •

Employee Counselling for Uncertain Times

In the past few months, a theme that has emerged in employee counselling as a major driver of stress and burnout amongst employees is that of “uncertainty”. This feelings of not quite knowing what is going to happen and the sense of trouble on the horizon are great drivers of human unease. The brain evolved to crave certainty and when uncertainty arises, it can lead to greater levels of stress, anxiety, depression and a spiral of negative thoughts and emotions.

It is not without reason that scrolling through the news and social media has been dubbed “doomscrolling”. All around us and at our fingertips is news of threat, where daily updates about global insecurity, political instability, war, financial crises and escalating environmental damage are just part of fabric of daily life.

Our team of workplace counsellors have noted a rise in concern about this widespread uncertainty amongst employees at all levels of organisations, affecting not only the mental health of the employees, but also their ability to focus and meet their professional responsibilities. We cannot change the external uncertainties, but our highly skilled and experienced employee counsellors can help your employees find coping strategies to manage the perception of threat and stress levels, helping employees be happier, resilient and more productive.

The employee counsellors at Wellbeing Partners are all BACP certified and, crucially, have extensive experience in helping people manage uncertainties, both professional and personal, meaning these problems get the timely support required to help people overcome them.

Employee Counselling is not a luxury, but an intelligent, supportive and economical response to mental health issues caused by the pressures of an uncertain world. It offers both short and long-term gains for individuals and organisations. You may find it useful to introduce regular employee counselling sessions for employees, each led by a multi-qualified specialist. Alternatively urgent employee mental health sessions can be booked on a case-by-case basis, providing a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to the more familiar EAP approach.

For more information on our employee counsellign and how we can support your employees at times of uncertainty, please complete the form below.

6 December 2024

employee counselling • employee wellbeing • government menopause • makeworkpaymenopause • menopause • menopause at work • menopause counselling • menopause legislation • menopause support • menopause training • menopause workplace • menopauseatwork • menopauselegislation • peri-menopause • Plan to make work pay • workplace counselling •

Empowering Menopausal Women in the Workforce

A key aspect of the new UK government’s Plan to Make Work Pay legislation is its focus on improving support for women navigating peri-menopause and menopause within the workplace environment.

While mental and physical health support has improved in many workplaces, menopausal women are still often met with challenges such as misunderstanding, stigma, and even discrimination at work. This leaves many women feeling forced to leave the workforce at a time when their invaluable experience, knowledge, and skills are needed most.

Mature women bring a wealth of benefits to workplaces, including intelligence, wisdom, resilience, collaborative skills, multitasking abilities, and essential mentorship for younger generations of employees. By supporting menopausal women, you can retain these valuable assets while fostering a more inclusive, productive workplace.

Wellbeing Partners can help you create a comprehensive support program that not only aids menopausal employees but also ensures your organisation complies with the Make Work Pay legislation. We offer a range of tailored services designed to support the unique needs of your workforce:

Specialist Menopause Counselling
Our menopause counselling services offer a safe space for peri-menopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal women to address their mental health and wellbeing needs. This can be offered on an ad-hoc or regular basis, depending on your organisation’s requirements.
Menopause Training for Line Managers
A two-hour, live and interactive training session for your line managers and leaders, aimed at increasing awareness of menopause and its impact on women at work. The training includes key skills for having supportive conversations that foster a collaborative approach to accommodations and flexibility between managers and menopausal workers.
Surviving and Thriving in Menopause
This one-hour awareness and self-care workshop raises awareness of menopause in the workplace. It focuses on the strengths and contributions that menopausal women bring to society and the workplace, offers insights into menopause symptoms that can impact work, provides a thorough understanding of HRT and other self care tips and techniques for reducing symptoms, as well as advice for creating a more inclusive work environment for menopausal women.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your organisation support and retain menopausal workers, please get in touch by completing the form below, or email [email protected]

Tag: employee counselling

Loneliness Awareness Week 2026 — Giving Loneliness a Voice

Sessions and workshops

In-House Employee Counselling Service UK – Wellbeing Partners