Benjamin Watkins - Watkins Therapy Group

Relationships can get busy very quickly.

Work, kids, appointments, household jobs and everything else competing for attention can mean we spend plenty of time managing life together, but not always connecting with each other.

A simple relationship check-in can create space to notice what’s going well, what might need some attention, and whether there’s a conversation you’ve been putting off.

You don’t need to tick every box. The point is simply to check in.

MYTH:
“A good counsellor will tell me what I should do.”

FACT:
Good counselling usually isn’t about someone else making your decisions for you. It’s about helping you slow things down, see the situation more clearly, understand what’s driving you, and work out what fits for you.

A counsellor might challenge you, ask questions you haven’t considered, or help you notice patterns, but they’re not there to run your life.

And probably a good thing too. Imagine handing over that much responsibility to someone you see for 50 minutes a fortnight.

No perfect routines required. What is the ordinary thing that makes you think, “Yes, I actually had a weekend”? A walk, sport, music, a slow breakfast, seeing someone you like or doing absolutely nothing for a while all count.

Support is not only for the point where everything has fallen apart. A conversation, counselling appointment or honest check-in can be useful much earlier. Getting help sooner does not mean the problem was dramatic. It means you noticed that carrying it alone was no longer helping.

When someone raises a concern, you do not need a perfect speech. Start with: “Thank you for telling me.” Then listen, clarify what they need and explain what happens next. Defensiveness may protect the moment, but it can damage trust long after the conversation ends.

Keep the cupcakes. Just do not ask them to do the work of good leadership. Culture is built in the ordinary moments: how concerns are received, how mistakes are handled, whether poor behaviour is addressed and whether asking for support feels safe. The morning tea should match the everyday experience.

Sometimes the first sign that a team is under strain is a change in the room. People stop contributing ideas. Small misunderstandings grow. Humour disappears. Everyone looks busy, but little feels settled. These signs do not prove a mental health problem, but they are worth noticing. Ask what is making work harder and be prepared to hear the answer.

We have become very good at saying mental health matters. The next question is what happens after that sentence. Can people ask for help without being treated differently? Do managers know how to respond? Is support easy to find? Are workloads discussed honestly? Awareness is valuable, but awareness without a pathway can leave people knowing they should seek help while still unsure how. A useful mental health message should lead somewhere: a conversation, a practical change, a counselling option or a clear next step.

Mental health awareness matters, but people also need a pathway. Clear language, approachable leaders and visible support turn a good message into something people can actually use. Awareness opens the door. Action makes it worth walking through.

A quick but important note about this account.

I use social media to share general information, practical insights and conversations about mental health and wellbeing. However, social media is not a place where I can provide therapy, personalised clinical advice or crisis support.

This account is often supported and managed by members of my team. This means direct messages may be viewed by administrative or marketing staff, so please do not send confidential, sensitive or clinical information through Instagram.

If you would like counselling support, please contact Watkins Therapy Group directly:

Call (03) 8765 2477
Book online: watkinstherapygroup.com.au

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. For crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.