The Farley
Employee Counselling That’s Human, Consistent, and Built on Trust
Private therapy within your organisation, delivered by a dedicated Person-Centred Counsellor. Based in Southampton, available across the South East including London, or online.
Not just a policy. Not a rotating face. This is consistent support, grounded in trust.
You may already offer something like an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). But take-up is often low. Many EAPs are underused because they feel impersonal, inconsistent, or hard to access. Employees are unlikely to engage when the support is faceless, time-limited, or routed through a complex system.
This is a different model.
Employee counselling at The Farley offers something more grounded: a named therapist who becomes part of your business rhythm, without becoming part of the hierarchy. A trusted, consistent presence. A space that feels steady.
Why Businesses Are Turning Towards Dedicated Counsellors
When emotional support is present, known, and safe, people use it.
In-house workplace counselling has been shown to deliver clear clinical outcomes. A major UK study (McLeod, 2021) found over 70% of employees accessing regular workplace counselling experienced meaningful improvement in mental health.
Meanwhile, data from Spill (2023) reports that under 5% of employees typically access EAPs. But when support feels personal, uptake can increase by 7x.
This isn’t about replacing all wellbeing provisions. It’s about deepening them.
You can also read more about how this model differs from traditional routes in Employee Counselling That Feels Human, where I explore the emotional reality behind low engagement and what truly builds trust.
How Therapy Looks Within Your Business
I’m Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, a qualified Person-Centred Counsellor and Psychotherapist (MBACP). That means I don’t analyse or advise from a distance. I work relationally, but always from a person-centred foundation, attuned to how each individual experiences the world.
What’s offered:
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A regular presence within your organisation (half-day, full-day, or as agreed)
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Sessions in-house, online, or hybrid
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Confidential 1:1 therapy with a consistent therapist
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Long- or short-term support, depending on employee needs
While I liaise with HR or leadership to implement the service, sessions themselves are confidential. I don’t report on content. I don’t track individuals. Employees are free to bring whatever is on their minds, knowing it stays between us.
My role is to offer space, not surveillance.
If you’re curious about how a workplace counsellor integrates into a team without becoming part of the hierarchy, you can explore more in this post, which unpacks what the role actually looks and feels like.
What You Might Notice Over Time
What tends to emerge is more than just fewer absences. You begin to see:
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Clearer communication across teams
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More grounded decision-making under stress
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Less reactivity and unresolved conflict
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Greater steadiness through change, uncertainty, or growth
This isn’t about boosting output. But emotional safety often creates the conditions for clearer thinking, steadier communication, and greater presence - in work, and beyond.
Why This Model Stands Out
Most large-scale services offer coverage - a phone line, a set of sessions, a name you don’t see again. What I offer is continuity.
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Your employees meet the same therapist each time. Trust can build gradually.
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Sessions are confidential, 50 minutes long, and emotionally attuned.
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The offer is grounded in therapeutic presence, not productivity tools.
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What’s shared stays private. But the effect of consistent support often becomes visible: steadier communication, more grounded decision-making, greater emotional resilience.
This approach is a good fit for businesses where wellbeing isn’t just a line item. It’s for workplaces that want to offer something real - even if it’s quiet.
Locations Covered
I offer employee counselling:
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In-person at your workplace across Southampton, the South East, and London
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Securely online for remote teams or those who prefer digital access
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From my private practice in Shirley, Southampton, when needed
You can also combine delivery methods to suit your team.
Practical Overview
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50-minute confidential therapy sessions
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Weekly presence within your business (or as agreed)
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Flexible delivery (in-house, online, or hybrid)
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A trusted therapist your employees come to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an alternative to an EAP?
Yes. Some businesses use it in place of an EAP, others alongside one. The difference is in the delivery. This model offers consistent, person-to-person therapeutic support - not a helpline, app, or rotating list of providers.
How do we know if this will be used?
When the support is visible, trusted, and easy to access, people are far more likely to engage. UK research shows that when counselling is part of the working rhythm - not a separate referral system - uptake increases significantly.
How do you maintain confidentiality?
Sessions are private and ethically bound by BACP guidelines. I do not report to leadership about what’s discussed. Employees can speak freely, knowing their sessions stay between us - unless there’s a safeguarding concern.
Do you offer anything beyond individual sessions?
Yes, where appropriate. I’m available to consult with leadership or people teams on wider emotional wellbeing initiatives - without breaching individual confidentiality. My focus remains on creating a culture of psychological safety.
Where do sessions happen?
Wherever is most useful for your team. That could be at your workplace (Southampton, South East, London), online, or from my private practice in Shirley, Southampton. A hybrid model is often ideal.
Ready to Offer Your Team Something Real?
If you’re considering how to support your team in a more human, sustainable way, I’d be happy to talk it through with you. No expectations - just a starting point.