What is an EAP?
A simple guide to Employee Assistance Programs and how staff can access support.
Read moreResources
Helpful guides and local support resources.
A growing library for wellbeing, therapy, EAP, NDIS, assessments and telehealth support.
What is a Functional Capacity Assessment?
How FCA reports help describe functioning, needs and next steps.
Read moreHow to prepare for an NDIS plan review
Practical preparation ideas for participants, families and support coordinators.
Read moreTelehealth Psychological Therapies
What to expect from secure video or phone therapy across Australia.
Read moreHow to prepare for your first therapy appointment
What to bring, what to expect and how to settle in.
Read moreGrounding exercises for anxiety
Simple techniques that can help during moments of overwhelm.
Read moreResource details
Helpful next steps and practical context.
What is an EAP?
An Employee Assistance Program gives staff access to short-term, confidential support for personal, family, wellbeing and workplace concerns.
- EAP sessions can support stress, anxiety, grief, conflict, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, burnout and difficult workplace experiences.
- EAP can also include critical incident support, psychological safety consultation, manager support and Accidental Counsellor support for leaders or staff who are holding difficult conversations.
- Employers receive only agreed service or billing information, not private therapy content.
Next step: We welcome organisations and businesses interested in exploring EAP partnerships with Emerald Tree.
What is a Functional Capacity Assessment?
A Functional Capacity Assessment helps describe how a person manages day-to-day tasks, participation, routines and support needs.
- Reports may explore strengths, barriers, independence, psychosocial impacts, home routines, community access and practical support needs.
- Emerald Tree positions FCA work as a specialist service for participants with psychosocial disability, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, trauma and related functional impacts.
- They can help with NDIS planning, support coordination conversations, plan reviews and clearer next steps.
- Assessment format depends on the person, goals, available information and what is clinically suitable.
Next step: Bring relevant reports, plans, goals and examples of daily challenges so the assessment can be practical and specific.
How to prepare for an NDIS plan review
Preparation helps make the review conversation clearer and less stressful for participants, families and support coordinators.
- Gather current goals, previous plans, therapy reports, support worker notes and examples of what has changed.
- Write down what is working, what is not working and what support is needed over the next plan period.
- Consider functional impacts, safety issues, informal support limits and participation goals.
Next step: If a therapy report is needed, contact Emerald Tree early so there is time to prepare meaningful information.
Telehealth Psychological Therapies
Telehealth can make psychological therapies accessible across Australia when attending the Geelong West practice is not practical.
- Sessions are usually held by secure video or phone, depending on clinical suitability and client preference.
- Choose a private space, stable internet connection and enough time before and after the session.
- Some assessments, reports or higher-risk concerns may still need extra planning or in-person support.
Next step: Ask the team whether telehealth is suitable for your needs when booking.
How to prepare for your first therapy appointment
Your first session is a chance to talk through what has been happening and what kind of support may help.
- You do not need to know exactly what to say. It is okay to start with what feels most important or most difficult.
- A first appointment is a clinical conversation and the beginning of a goal-focused therapeutic process.
- Bring referral letters, relevant reports, medication information or notes if they are useful.
- Before the appointment, consider noting key thoughts, questions or changes you would like to understand better.
Next step: You do not need to have everything organised. A few notes about what matters most can help the conversation begin.
Grounding exercises for anxiety
Grounding skills can help bring attention back to the present moment during anxiety, overwhelm or stress.
- Try naming five things you can see, four you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell and one you can taste.
- For belly breathing, place one hand on your chest and one on your belly, breathe in slowly through your nose so the lower hand rises, pause gently, then breathe out slowly through your mouth.
- Grounding is a support skill, not a test. It is okay if one strategy works better than another.
Next step: If anxiety is persistent, distressing or affecting daily life, consider booking support with a therapist.