When you run a business, looking after your team’s wellbeing is just as important as managing cash flow or hitting deadlines. Many employers turn to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to offer their staff confidential counselling and support. But if you’ve ever looked into EAP options, you’ll know it can feel confusing. Do you lock yourself into a subscription model? Pay for a bulk number of sessions up front? Or only pay when your staff actually use the service?
Each type of EAP provider has its place, but the right fit often depends on the size and needs of your business.
The Different Types of EAP Models
Subscription or Retainer-Based EAPs
This is where you pay a set amount per employee, per month, regardless of whether staff use the service. It’s predictable for budgeting, but the catch is that if your staff don’t access the program often, you’re paying for something they don’t use.
Pre-Paid or Bundle Models
Some providers ask you to purchase a block of sessions up front (say, 50 sessions per year). This can work for larger organisations that know their staff will use them, but it can leave smaller businesses paying for sessions that expire unused.
Pay-Per-Use EAPs
This flexible option means you only pay when a staff member books and attends a session. There are no wasted sessions, no lock-ins, and you have the freedom to scale support up or down depending on what your team actually needs.
Why Pay-Per-Use Works Well for Small to Medium Businesses
For many smaller companies, budgets are tight, and every dollar counts. A pay-per-use model makes sense because:
- Cost control – You’re not paying for unused sessions.
- Flexibility – Use it as much or as little as you need, without long contracts.
- Accessibility – Staff can still receive high-quality, professional support when they need it most.
- Scalability – As your business grows, you can adjust how much support you provide without overhauling your entire system.
- Ongoing support – Staff can continue with the psychologist privately if required after the initial EAP package is complete.
It’s a model that puts the business owner back in the driver’s seat while still providing staff with the care they deserve.
Sophie’s Design Studio
Sophie runs a boutique interior design studio with eight staff. Business is steady, but like any small team, they ride the highs and lows together. A few months ago, one of her designers started struggling with anxiety during a busy project period. Sophie wanted to help but didn’t know where to start.
When she first looked at EAP providers, the subscription model felt out of reach, why should she pay hundreds every month when most of her team may never use it? She then discovered Creating Change where she could pay for an EAP package. It meant she could make counselling sessions available to her staff without committing to a large ongoing expense. When her team member requested ongoing care they were able to continue on with the psychologist independently until they fully addressed their needs.
Her designer was able to book confidential support straight away. Sophie only paid for the initial EAP Package, and the staff member came back to work quickly, feeling calmer and more in control. For Sophie, it was reassuring to know that she could offer timely professional help, without stretching her business finances thin. Her staff designer returned operating at full capacity allowing them meet the deadlines essential to their growth.
Why Workplace Mental Health Matters
Research consistently shows that staff who feel supported in their mental health are more engaged, productive, and committed to their workplace. By investing in an EAP, you’re not just helping your team cope with challenges, you’re strengthening the overall health of your business.
At Creating Change Psychology, our mission is to create safe and accessible opportunities that support individuals to reach their full potential. By partnering with local businesses, we extend that vision into workplaces, helping leaders care for their teams in meaningful, sustainable ways.
Mental health support in the workplace is no longer a “nice to have.” For small to medium companies, choosing the right EAP model can be the difference between offering token support and providing something that genuinely helps.
Pay-per-use EAPs might not be the right fit for every organisation, but for many smaller businesses, they strike a healthy balance, staff get access to quality care when they need it, and employers don’t carry the weight of unnecessary costs.
How Creating Change Can Support You
If you’re a business owner in the Hills District or across Australia, and you’d like to provide your staff with accessible, flexible, and effective support, we’d love to start the conversation.
At Creating Change, we come from the heart. Our client treatment team is passionate, respectful, and committed to delivering exceptional care. With a pay-per-use EAP, you can surprise and delight your staff by offering genuine support when it matters most without carrying unnecessary costs.
Written by Clinical Psychologist Rebecca Deane – www.creatingchange.net.au
Psychology support in the Hills District, Western Sydney & Surrounds (including Rouse Hill, Bella Vista, Glenwood, Castle Hill, Kellyville, The Hawkesbury, Penrith Nepean, Blacktown, Epping, Ryde, Pennant Hills areas and surrounds)
