"I started with my EAP and then moved to a psychologist"

Work was crushing me. I was a team lead managing a restructure, and I started getting headaches, losing sleep, and snapping at my partner. I knew something had to change but I didn’t have time to wait weeks for an appointment.

Starting with EAP

A colleague mentioned our company’s Employee Assistance Program. I called the number from our intranet and had an appointment within three days, on the phone, during my lunch break. It was free and confidential.

The counsellor was great. She helped me see that what I was dealing with was burnout, not just “being busy.” I used my three sessions to get some immediate coping strategies.

Moving to a psychologist

The EAP counsellor suggested I might benefit from longer-term support and recommended I see my GP about a Mental Health Care Plan. My GP was supportive, created the plan, and referred me to a clinical psychologist.

The clinical psych charged $280 per session, but because she was a clinical psychologist, my Medicare rebate was about $149, so my gap was around $131 per session.

What helped

Having the EAP as a “bridge” was really valuable. I didn’t have to wait in silence. I got immediate support while the longer-term plan came together.

My advice: If your workplace has an EAP, use it. It’s not just for people in crisis, and it can be a great first step.