2-Hour Workshop: CBT Skills for Managers & HR – Supporting Mental Health at Work

Workplace wellbeing is a leadership responsibility. This 2-hour practical workshop introduces Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-informed skills to help managers, HR professionals, and senior leaders recognise signs of poor mental health in the workplace and respond in a supportive, appropriate, and confident way.

The focus is not on diagnosing mental health conditions, but on improving everyday conversations, communication, and early supportive intervention.

Why This Workshop Matters

Managers are often the first point of contact when an employee is struggling. Without the right skills, conversations about mental health can feel difficult, unclear, or avoided altogether. This can lead to increased absence, reduced performance, disengagement, and escalation of issues.

This workshop provides practical tools to improve confidence, communication, and early support — helping organisations create psychologically safer workplaces.

What the Workshop Covers

Participants will explore:

• Common signs that an employee may be experiencing stress or poor mental wellbeing
• How thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact (CBT model in a workplace context)
• How workplace situations can influence stress responses
• How to have supportive, non-clinical conversations with staff
• The difference between performance issues and wellbeing concerns
• How language can either escalate or reduce distress
• When and how to signpost to appropriate support (e.g. HR, EAP, occupational health)

Workshop Style

This is a highly practical, interactive, and psychologically safe 2-hour session including:

• Real workplace scenarios and case examples
• CBT-informed simple models for understanding behaviour
• Guided communication practice
• Reflective exercises
• Active listening techniques
• Practical tools for immediate use in the workplace

No prior mental health training is required. All participation is optional and adaptable to comfort levels.

Outcomes for Organisations

Following this workshop, organisations can expect:

• Increased confidence in managing mental health conversations
• Earlier identification of employee wellbeing concerns
• Improved manager-staff communication
• Reduced escalation of workplace stress issues
• Stronger psychological safety and team trust
• Better use of support pathways (HR, EAP, occupational health)

Ideal For

• Senior leaders and executives
• HR and People teams
• Line managers and supervisors
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) leads
• NHS and corporate organisations