Return to Work Support
Return to Work Support leads to better outcomes for both individuals and organizations.
or email our office: info@lotuscounsellingservices.ca
Returning to work after a mental health episode or period of extended absence due to mental health concerns can be a challenging transition. Both employees and employers have roles to play in ensuring this transition is smooth and supportive. Return to work support for mental health refers to the strategies, accommodations, and resources put in place to assist individuals in resuming their professional roles, including:
Individualized Return to Work Plan
- Phased return: Starting with part-time hours or reduced responsibilities and gradually increasing them.
- Flexible scheduling: To accommodate therapy or counseling sessions.
- Adjustments to workload: Breaking down tasks or extended deadlines.
Workplace Accommodations
- Providing a quiet workspace or noise-cancelling headphones.
- Offering more frequent breaks.
- Providing clear written instructions or checklists.
Vocational Counseling
- Helping individuals identify their professional strengths and challenges, develop workplace skills, and navigate the return-to-work process.
Mental Health Training for Teams
- Training on mental health awareness.
- Communication skills for supporting colleagues with mental health challenges.
- Building a culture of empathy and support.
Open Communication Channels
- Maintaining an open dialogue between the returning employee, HR, managers, and, if appropriate, healthcare providers ensures everyone is on the same page regarding the employee's needs and progress. Our mental health services are evidence based and we utilize psychometric measures to monitor clinical progress and to assist us in communicating and estimating the treatment plan.
Privacy and Confidentiality
- Ensuring the confidentiality of the employee's health information is crucial. Discussions about mental health should be treated with the utmost discretion.
Frequently asked questions
Return to work support, answered
What are the benefits of return to work support?
For the employee: it provides a structured and supportive way to re-engage with work, regain confidence, and reduce the risk of relapse. For the employer: it helps retain valuable employees, reduces turnover costs, and promotes a healthy, understanding, and productive workplace culture. Properly managed, return to work support is a collaborative approach that leads to better outcomes for both the individual and the organization.
What support do you offer?
Our team has developed a comprehensive, holistic approach. We focus on personalized treatment plans that address the root causes of distress, be it depression, anxiety, trauma, or another concern. We use evidence-based clinical measurement tools to monitor progress, and we provide vocational counseling to aid the transition back to the workplace, including skills assessments, mock interviews, and liaising with employers. We also incorporate mindfulness and holistic wellness into the healing process.
Do you work with employers or insurance?
Reintegration into the workplace is a collective effort. With your consent, our team collaborates with employers and insurance case managers to set you up for success, educating them about mental health, discussing potential adjustments or accommodations, and promoting mental health awareness in the workplace. Your privacy is our priority: information is shared only with your consent.
Serving Waterdown and the surrounding area
Lotus Counselling Services provides return to work mental health support from our Waterdown clinic at 299 Dundas Street East, with appointments available to clients across Hamilton, Burlington, Flamborough, Dundas, and the wider Golden Horseshoe. We offer both in-person sessions and secure virtual appointments throughout Ontario, so you can meet with a therapist from wherever feels most comfortable.
Our team who support your return to work
A supported return to work
Book a free 15-minute consultation and we will help you build a plan to ease your transition back to employment.
Book Your AppointmentOr contact us to learn more.