Counselling Wellbeing and Connection

05/12/2025

Making choices and having supports for how you choose to have alcohol in your day-to-day life.

imgood.org.au
Alcohol To***co and other Drugs Council (Tas)

How fun is this? New from Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education - FARE, 'I'm Good' is a campaign for those who want to drink less. Whether planning to stop drinking, cut back, or just thinking about making a change, I'm Good offers clear and easy action steps to make that change a reality--everything from simple scripts to help you say 'no thanks', to new rituals, to techniques for dealing with triggers, and plenty more.

Explore some ideas here: https://imgood.org.au/

30/11/2025

ALCOHOL: HOW TO SAY “NO THANKS” WITH CONFIDENCE (AND KINDNESS)

Ahh, end-of-year celebrations — that time when the music gets louder, the nights get longer, and suddenly everyone becomes VERY invested in what’s in your glass.

But here’s the truth: you’re allowed to choose what feels good for you. Whether you’re cutting down, taking a night off, or steering clear altogether, your “no” is more than enough — and it deserves respect.

Choosing not to drink can come from a place of deep self-care:
✨ Protecting your health
✨ An early start tomorrow
✨ Being the designated driver
✨ Wanting to feel grounded, clear, and well
✨ Or simply… not wanting a drink

Self-compassion plays a huge part here. Giving yourself permission to honour your body and your boundaries is one of the biggest gifts you can offer yourself — especially if anxiety or social pressure tends to follow you into these events.

Here are a few gentle, confident lines you can use (straight from the image):
• “No thanks, I’m not drinking.”
• “I’m still finishing this one, but thanks.”
• “I’m driving.”
• “I’m not feeling it right now, maybe later.”
• “I’m looking after my health and cutting down at the moment.”
• “I’ve got a big day tomorrow and want to feel my best.”

Your wellbeing matters — and you’re absolutely allowed to choose what supports it.

If you need someone to help you explore boundaries, confidence, or reducing anxiety around social situations, I’m here. 💛 Caroline

Counselling Wellbeing and Connection

28/11/2025

WHEN “I DON’T CARE” ISN’T WHAT IT SEEMS

Sometimes “I don’t care” is really code for I’m exhausted, I’m overwhelmed, or I’ve cared so much for so long that I’ve run out of steam. It’s a protective shield we use when our hearts feel too tender or too worn out to stay open.

If this phrase has been slipping out of your mouth a little more lately, it might be your nervous system waving a tiny white flag — asking for rest, kindness, and a bit more support than you’ve been getting. None of us are meant to carry everything alone.

You deserve softness, connection, and a safe place to land. Support is here when you’re ready. 🌿



https://www.counsellingwellbeingandconnection.com.au/

26/11/2025

😱CATASTROPHISING — OUR MIND TRYING TO PROTECT US🧠

Sometimes our brain leaps straight to the worst-case scenario, not because we’re “dramatic,” but because it’s trying to keep us safe. Catastrophising can be a defence mechanism—a way of bracing for disappointment, shielding ourselves from uncertainty, or avoiding those deep fears of being hurt, rejected, or overwhelmed.

Instead of facing vulnerability, the mind creates a story it feels it can control… even if the story is extreme. It can look like assuming minor problems will turn into major crises, expecting doom in positive moments, or using fear to keep distance from others.

The intention is protection, but the cost is high. It can keep us on edge, shut down joy, and stop us from seeing what’s actually happening.
Gently noticing the pattern, grounding your body, and asking, “What else might be true?” can help loosen its grip. Kindness towards yourself is always the antidote.

Reflection:
When catastrophising shows up, what might your mind be trying to shield you from?

22/11/2025

“FREEING DECISIONS — like setting a boundary or letting go of an old story — are often hard to make but they are acts of self-care and healing that your future self will thank you for”. ~ Lawney

💁🏻‍♀️AN ACT OF SELF CARE:
Sometimes the most powerful shifts in our lives begin with one small, brave choice.
Even when it feels uncomfortable — or when others don’t understand — choosing what supports your wellbeing is an act of deep self-respect.

These moments of “this stops with me” or “I deserve better than this” are the turning points your future self will look back on with gratitude.
Give yourself permission to grow, to outgrow, and to honour what your heart knows is needed. 🌿💙


#
Counselling Wellbeing and Connection

❤️‍🩹Healing Hearts
Live Love Laugh 💖

21/11/2025

TALKING ABOUT SUICIDAL THOUGHTS 💭

Talking about ***de doesn’t make things worse — it can actually save a life.
When we speak openly and compassionately, we help reduce shame, ease isolation, and encourage people to reach out for the support they deserve. 💛

If you’re worried about someone, please don’t wait.
You can take action immediately with these four simple but powerful steps shown below ⬇️

Every conversation, every check-in, every moment of care matters.
You don’t have to be an expert — just someone willing to listen, stay close, and help them connect with the right support.

This resource comes from the incredible work of . Save this photo to your device for a reference.
Learn more here 👉 https://bit.ly/3ANCgqF

Black Dog Institute
Counselling Wellbeing and Connection

20/11/2025

💞KINDNESS OVER PERFECTION DURING ANXIETY💕

When anxiety shows up, do you notice how quickly you start expecting yourself to have it all together? 😣
“I ‘should’ be calm”
“I ‘should’ be able to get over this by now”
“I ‘should’ know what to do - everyone else does….”
“I ‘should’ smile and not let others see my weakness &/or mistakes “
“I ‘should’ be in control.”

But as reminds us, what we really need in those moments isn’t perfection — it’s gentleness. 🌿
Space to ride the wave. Permission to not know. A bit of softness instead of self-criticism ❤️‍🩹….

And truly — offering yourself self-compassion can be one of the greatest leaps forward anyone living with can make. When kindness becomes your starting point, EVERYTHING begins to shift. 💖

What’s one kind thing you can offer yourself next time anxiety visits?
💛🧡❤️🩷💚🩵💙💜🤍💝

20/11/2025

🌿WHEN LOSS PILES UP🎭

Cumulative grief is what happens when life doesn’t give you a chance to catch your breath.⏱️

One loss lands… and before you’ve had time to steady yourself, another arrives.

It’s not that you’re “not coping.” It’s that your heart has had no space to heal between blows. This kind of grief is heavy, exhausting, and deeply human — and you deserve compassion, not pressure to “bounce back.”

If you’re carrying grief upon grief, please know: you are not alone, and you don’t need to shoulder it in silence. One small step, one gentle moment at a time.

Counselling Wellbeing and Connection
you die

18/11/2025

💗💓WHEN HEALING FEELS MESSY💗💓

It’s completely okay to have days, weeks, or tiny moments where things slide backwards and feel “not so great” again. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it just means you’re human, and life is… well, life.

Recovery has never been a straight line (if it were, it’d be the world’s most boring roller-coaster). What matters most is having a little toolkit of support — the practices, people, and gentle reminders that help you find your footing again.

Be kind to yourself. Healing isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, taking a breath, and trying again with softness and courage. You’re doing better than you think. 🌿💛
Counselling Wellbeing and Connection

14/11/2025

🥰🤩A LITTLE UPDATE FROM MY HEART TO OUR COMMUNITY💖💓

I’m not sure how I missed this in my feed, but for anyone who doesn’t know about the support groups I facilitated in the Huon Valley throughout 2025—and the deep motivation behind making them happen—here’s a recent interview that shares a little of the journey.

Community Bank Huon Valley recently held a fabulous celebration to mark an incredible milestone: 5 MILLION dollars invested back into our community. Being in a room full of people who care so deeply about the Huon Valley filled me with hope, joy, and so much excitement for what lies ahead. There are so many inspiring humans doing extraordinary things, all with hearts of gold and a genuine desire to uplift this region we call home.

And of course, the incredible team from Geeveston Community Centre Inc absolutely deserved the spotlight. Their dedication to creating safe, welcoming, and inspiring spaces—where people can learn, connect, heal, create, and simply belong—is nothing short of remarkable. I feel genuinely blessed to live in a community where this kind of support exists. Every staff member and board member deserves recognition for the compassion, consistency, and commitment they bring to improving the lives of everyone across our remote communities.

Counselling Wellbeing and Connection

14/11/2025

💙 CHILDREN’S GRIEF AWARENESS MONTH - November 💙
Talking with children about death isn’t easy — but it is deeply important. When we gently create space for honest conversations, we give kids the language, safety, and connection they need to navigate some of life’s hardest moments.

We’re sharing this powerful message from TalkDeath, featuring insights by Rachel Osolen, because every family deserves support when grief touches their world. You can find their full resource on their page — it’s compassionate, practical, and beautifully written. 💛

Let’s keep making these conversations softer, kinder, and more open for the little ones who need us most.