The easy part to buy is counselling. Harder parts show up only when something goes wrong, so the questions below start there. Put them to every provider on your shortlist and ask for the answers in writing.
Who designs the programme, and who sees your staff?
The corporate wellness page says consultant psychiatrists and psychologists design its programmes. It names three corporate wellness specialists, and all three are psychiatrists. The employee assistance FAQ promises staff confidential access to licensed counsellors for stress, anxiety, grief and personal challenges. Ask any provider who designs the work and who will sit in the room with your employees.
At The Valens Clinic, every clinician holds a licence from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the Community Development Authority (CDA), and psychologists hold home-country qualifications alongside it. Ask every provider for the same detail.
What happens when a crisis reaches the workplace?
The clinic’s crisis FAQ describes rapid intervention for employees in acute distress, with on-site or remote support from licensed clinicians. The clinic coordinates its response with HR to protect confidentiality, and teams can receive a follow-up debrief after a critical incident.
No response time appears on the page. Ask for one. A separate patient FAQ says the clinic offers no dedicated out-of-hours hotline and advises attending the nearest Emergency Department for immediate medical attention. A corporate agreement may work differently, so ask how a request runs at night and on weekends, then write the answer into your crisis procedure.
What does HR see, and what stays private?
The employee assistance FAQ says employees can book sessions directly and HR receives only anonymised usage data. The corporate page adds anonymous wellbeing and engagement insights, so HR can track participation and spot trends.
Reports and sick notes go to the employee at their request, never to the employer without consent. Clinicians speak to no one but the patient unless the patient authorises contact. In an immediate emergency, a clinician may share only strictly necessary information with the relevant parties. Copy the limits into your internal policy so managers know what not to ask.
Does cover reach families and new arrivals?
The page says support can extend, where applicable, to eligible family members such as partners and children covered under the family insurance policy. It also lists onboarding support for expat employees: counselling to help new hires and their families adjust to cultural differences and homesickness. The expat FAQ says sessions can begin before or shortly after relocation. Check your family insurance policy against the wording before you promise staff anything.
Which limits will the agreement set?
The employee assistance FAQ says the clinic sets scope and session limits to fit each company’s needs and budget. The site publishes no session count, so the number comes from your agreement. Ask how many sessions each employee gets, what happens when they run out, and how the provider refers people who need specialist care.
The corporate page lists emergency mental health assistance, short-term support, crisis intervention, stress management workshops, mental health training and referrals for specialised care. A suggestion from me, not guidance from the clinic: put the session limit in the staff announcement, so nobody discovers it halfway through treatment.
Does the provider look beyond counselling?
The corporate page also lists organisational wellbeing assessments and policy reviews, which look for stressors and risk factors in the workplace itself. It offers guidance for leaders and people managers on building wellbeing into leadership practice, plus an Executive Wellness Concierge for senior leaders. Decide which option your organisation needs first.
Request a proposal
Email info@thevalensclinic.ae with a few details about your team and the six questions above. Read the Corporate Wellness Services page first for the full list of services. Every clinician at The Valens Clinic holds a licence from the DHA or the CDA.