The EAP Counsellor
The EAP Counsellor
Where workplace wellbeing gets real.
Hosted by Lou Lugsdin — Workplace Wellbeing Architect, counsellor, coach, and lover of all things “let’s-not-burn-out-today” — this podcast dives into the messy, human, wildly important world of mentally healthy workplaces.
Lou brings her signature 4-Pillar approach to life with straight-talking insights, practical strategies, and honest conversations that help leaders and employees lift their wellbeing game without the fluff.
If you’re a business owner, manager, or workmate who wants less chaos, more clarity, and a workplace culture that doesn’t accidentally fry people… you’re in the right place.
With 50+ bite-sized episodes already waiting for you, you’ll learn how to build healthier workplaces, healthier habits, and healthier humans — one episode at a time.
Hit play and let’s create workplaces people actually want to show up to.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Guest Spotlight - Sally Phelan, founder of Lightworks Coaching
Episode 53 - Preventing Burnout Before It Begins
In today's podcast I’m joined by someone who truly understands what it takes to thrive at work — not just perform, but feel well while doing it.
My guest is Sally Phelan, founder of Lightworks Coaching.
Sally brings more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive in global fashion retail, where she led high-performing teams in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
Today, she combines that real-world leadership expertise with coaching, neurodiversity support, and evidence-based mindset practices to help individuals and organisations create meaningful, lasting change.
In this conversation, we’re exploring what a proactive, preventative approach to workplace wellbeing looks like in practice — and how initiatives like the Team Approach EAP Program can support people to stay well, connected, and performing at their best.
To find out more about Sally, and her coaching, courses and programs, and/or to connect with her, you can find her on the following platforms -
Instagram : @lightworks_coaching
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-phelan-5814b615/
Web : Https://lightworkscoaching.com.au
Email: sally@lightworkscoaching.com.au
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
Welcome to Episode number 51 of The EAP Counsellor Podcast. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by Lynsey Byrom, a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience supporting people and workplaces to build healthier lives and cultures.
Lynsey has worked across defense, law, finance, health, and corporate sectors, and offers everything from one-on-one therapy to large scale psychoeducational workshops and seminars.
She's deeply passionate about helping people live rich, full, and meaningful lives while navigating stress, pain, and pressure - and she has a beautiful way of making mental health practical, human, and workplace-relevant.
Lynsey is based in Geelong, Victoria, and can be contacted via her website - www.lynseybyrom.com.au
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Today on the podcast I'm joined by Katrina Shaw - grief educator, counsellor, and the founder of Grief Talks. Katrina is passionate about making conversations around grief more compassionate, accessible, and real, whether that's in workplaces, schools, or communities.
Katrina Shaw is determined to showcase that talking about the ‘hard stuff’ doesn’t have to be a scary or sombre experience. Her passion and advocacy as a grief specialist in particular, is shaped by much of her own life with the death of her mum as a teen and more recently navigating infertility, recurrent miscarriage and motherhood. With a diploma of counselling, she gently blends storytelling and evidence-informed strategies to ensure audiences leave with tangible and effective tools for their own belt.
Starting as the first appointed ambassador for Child Bereavement UK back in 2015, Katrina naturally progressed to become founder of Grief Talks Education and is regularly termed the ‘grief-girl’ for her community contributions and awareness efforts. From working with primary school aged children to sharing knowledge with business leaders and their teams, her ability to break down barriers and adapt to a variety of audiences allows her to create spaces of vulnerability, connection and most of all, hope.
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Welcome to Episode number 51 of The EAP Counsellor Podcast. Today I'm thrilled to be joined by Lynsey Byrom, a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience supporting people and workplaces to build healthier lives and cultures.
Lynsey has worked across defense, law, finance, health, and corporate sectors, and offers everything from one-on-one therapy to large scale psychoeducational workshops and seminars.
She's deeply passionate about helping people live rich, full, and meaningful lives while navigating stress, pain, and pressure - and she has a beautiful way of making mental health practical, human, and workplace-relevant.
Lynsey is based in Geelong, Victoria, and can be contacted via her website - www.lynseybyrom.com.au
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Welcome back to another episode of theeapcounsellor – the podcast that explores real conversations around workplace wellbeing, leadership, and support that works.
Today’s episode is a special one – we're joining the celebration of 25 years of Mental Health First Aid by exploring the “Why” behind it all. Why people choose to become Mental Health First Aiders, why it’s more than just a course, and why it’s essential in Australian workplaces right now.
I’m joined by the brilliant Leah Veenhuizen, a Registered Nurse and qualified Mental Health First Aid facilitator who brings over 15 years of healthcare experience and a deep commitment to breaking down stigma. Leah also hosts the community radio show Just a Thought, where she continues to create safe spaces for mental health conversations.
In this episode, Leah shares her own "why", what makes MHFA different, and how workplaces can step up to support their people in meaningful ways.
To find out more and get in touch with Leah Veenhuizen - Go to her website - https://www.leahv.com.au/
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tom is the founder of Ctrl Your Scroll, a company and movement dedicated to helping people build healthier digital habits, improve their wellbeing, and feel good about logging off.
This is a MUST-LISTEN podcast episode. Listen to Tom's personal realisation that his digital habits were impacting his wellbeing and how he turned his own experience into something powerful that now supports others in workplaces, schools and clubs.
Tom is open, honest, full of research and information, and loves to give practical tips to learn how to CTRL YOUR SCROLL.
To find out more and get in contact with Tom - go to his website - www.ctrlyourscroll.com.au
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Dr Mick Rowe is a Chiropractor and Founder of Grove Chiropractic in Ocean Grove, Victoria. Mick has a passion for holistic, natural healthcare, that acknowledges the body's inbuilt cleverness.
Dr Mick's own introduction to Chiropractic Care was a sore back. Mick injured himself playing tennis as a teenager and couldn't play the sport he loved. Coincidentally his tennis coach was also a Chiropractor, who he saw following his injury, and who helped him get back on the court!
A few memorable things stood out to Dr Mick from his first visit as a client of Chiropractic Care. His chiropractor assessed his body holistically. He wasn't solely concerned with treating his symptoms, but addressing the underlying cause of his back pain to prevent it! He was introduced to the very obvious, but previously unquestioned truth, that his body was clever and could heal itself!
It is with pleasure that I introduce Dr Mick to The EAP Counsellor podcast. He is inspiring to listen too, a fabulous Chiropractor, and a genuinely great person!
To get in touch with Dr Mick go to his website - www.grovechiro.com.au
Monday Feb 24, 2025
Monday Feb 24, 2025
Did you know that 40% of Australian's struggle to get the recommended amount of 7-9 hours of sleep per night?
That's almost half of us!
Recent studies have named SLEEP the first pillar of health, and that makes so much sense. Without adequate sleep, coupled with poor sleep quality, people are struggling through their days, and suffering the consequences.
In today's podcast, Lou chats to Amy Huebner of AH Sleep Specialists about the very important topic of sleep, the importance of sleep, the impact of poor sleep on our everyday lives, including our work day, and how AH Sleep Specialists are helping the sleep hygiene of Australian employees.
To find out more about Amy and AH Sleep Specialists, go to her website www.ahsleepspecialists.com.au
Saturday Dec 07, 2024
Saturday Dec 07, 2024
Getting to Know Karen Bishop-Hubert:
As a valued member of The Team Approach, Karen Bishop-Hubert brings extensive experience and a compassionate, supportive approach to her work. Lou sat down with Karen to delve deeper into her journey, her philosophy, her niched area of counselling, and her approach to leadership and team wellbeing.
Tuesday Oct 29, 2024
Tuesday Oct 29, 2024
In this special episode we are kicking off a heartwarming mission to help as many people as we can between now and Christmas! (And don't worry, we're in this for the long game - we won't stop come New Year's!)
Every day we get to help people navigate life's ups and downs, and we just LOVE IT! Whether you know someone going through a tough divorce, a child dealing with school anxiety, a family struggling to make ends meet, a carer juggling multiple roles, or an employee whose performance is affected by personal issues - our aim is to support and uplift!
Ready to make an impact? Press play and let's get started.


