Your Counselling launches workplace mental health program for Alberta employers

Calgary-based Your Counselling Ltd. has launched Employee Support Solutions, a workplace mental health program aimed at giving Alberta employers a more direct alternative to traditional EFAPs. The new offering, built around an established clinical team and customized services, is now being promoted through myEFAP.ca.

Why it matters: - Your Counselling is trying to reshape how Alberta employers buy mental health support by pairing workplace programs with a direct clinical practice. - The launch targets businesses that want more flexibility than a standard Employee and Family Assistance Program can offer. - The program could give employers and employees access to more customized counselling, education, and crisis support.

What happened: - Calgary-based Your Counselling Ltd. launched Employee Support Solutions, or ESS, a workplace mental health program for Alberta employers. - The company introduced the service through a new website, myEFAP.ca. - ESS is positioned as an alternative to traditional EFAP models that rely mainly on external provider networks. - The offering is aimed at Calgary businesses, Alberta organizations, human resources teams, and benefits advisors.

The details: - ESS connects employers directly with Your Counselling’s clinical practice rather than acting primarily as a referral intermediary. - The program includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, and Registered Clinical Social Workers. - Services include ongoing Employee Assistance Programs tailored to organizational needs. - ESS On-Demand provides individual services without requiring a full ongoing program. - Top Up Your Current EFAP adds counselling, consultation, and specialized services to existing benefits. - Workplace Education includes mental health workshops, leadership training, and employee wellness programming. - Clinical & Organizational Advisory Services provide consultation on workplace mental health challenges. - Critical Incident Support offers clinical intervention and follow-up after difficult workplace events. - The model is designed for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large employers. - The company says employees can receive thoughtful therapist matching, confidential counselling, and care supported by an established clinical environment.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a push to move workplace mental health away from a commodity-style vendor model and toward a more relationship-based clinical partnership. - Sturgeon said there is a difference between buying access to a network of providers and working with a clinical team employers know directly. - The approach also suggests a business strategy that blends individual care with organizational consulting, not just employee referrals. - The program creates additional work opportunities for clinicians within Your Counselling.

What's next: - Your Counselling is seeking partnerships with Calgary businesses, Alberta employers, HR professionals, and benefits advisors. - Organizations do not have to replace an existing EFAP to explore ESS services. - The company is inviting employers to start with limited services or build toward more comprehensive programming. - More information is available at myEFAP.ca. - Your Counselling also directs readers to its main site at yourcounselling.ca.

The bottom line: - Your Counselling is betting Alberta employers want workplace mental health support that feels more local, more flexible, and more clinically integrated than traditional EFAPs.