Stress Management
Chronic stress feels like everything is urgent and you're running on empty. It comes from load, and we help you work out where the load comes from and how to manage it.
Why "just relax" doesn't work
Stress is your nervous system's response to too much demand with too few resources. It also depends on what the demands mean to you, what you fear losing and whether you feel in control.
Chronic stress, the kind that doesn't switch off, affects sleep, physical health, decision-making, relationships, and how you feel about yourself. The longer it goes unaddressed, the more it starts to look like burnout, depression, or anxiety.
We work on the root causes of your stress so the changes last.
Session info
- 50-60 minute sessions
- In person, at home, or online
- Qualified, experienced counsellors
- NDIS and fee-for-service
What stress management covers
Sessions often cover these areas.
Identifying your stress drivers
We map what's causing your stress, the situations, the beliefs, the relationships, the demands.
In practice: Listing every demand on your time and energy, then sorting them into "can change," "can delegate," and "need to accept," so you know where to focus.
Nervous system regulation
Practical techniques to bring your stress response down, ones you can use in the moment, while the stress is happening.
In practice: Trying a breathing technique, a progressive muscle relaxation, and a cold-water reset in session, then choosing which to use for different stress levels.
Boundaries & capacity
For many stressed people, the core issue is taking on too much. We work on how to identify your capacity and communicate your limits without guilt.
In practice: Mapping your current commitments against your realistic capacity, then identifying one boundary to set this week and rehearsing how to communicate it.
Burnout recovery
If you've pushed past stress into burnout, we work on recovery, slowly rebuilding your energy and a workload you can sustain.
In practice: Building a "minimum viable week" that covers essentials without extras, then gradually adding back activities as energy returns.
Stress & NDIS / disability load
Managing disability, systems, appointments, and advocacy on top of life is a heavy stress load that often goes unrecognised. We work with it directly.
In practice: Identifying which NDIS-related tasks are draining the most energy and problem-solving ways to reduce the administrative burden.
Thinking patterns under stress
Stress warps thinking into catastrophising, mind-reading and all-or-nothing patterns. We work on recognising and interrupting them before they spiral.
In practice: Catching a catastrophising thought mid-spiral, writing down the worst case, best case, and most likely case, then making a plan for the most likely one.
Who this is for
- People who haven't switched off in months or years
- Carers under enormous pressure and load
- Anyone heading toward or recovering from burnout
- NDIS participants managing high system demands
- People with ADHD or autism for whom demand is amplified
- Anyone who needs practical tools that stick
Get support with the load.
Book a free chat and we'll work out what you need.
Book a free chatCost, eligibility & getting started
What it costs
Sessions for stress management follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, with the cost depending on the type of session and whether it's a weekday, evening, or weekend appointment. You can also access this support privately, without NDIS funding, or through other schemes. Whatever the funding path, cost is always confirmed in writing before anything starts.
Am I eligible?
Support for stress and burnout usually sits under Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living. If your NDIS plan includes that funding, you can use it for this work. A support coordinator or plan manager can help confirm what's in your plan. No relevant NDIS funding? Private, self-funded sessions are available too, and you don't need a diagnosis to reach out.
Where we work
We're based in Thomastown and work across Greater Melbourne, including the northern, western, and eastern suburbs. Online telehealth sessions are available too, and some of our support extends into regional Victoria. We'll figure out what's practical for you.
How to start
Get in touch by phone, our contact form, or email. The first conversation is about what's going on for you, and you share as much as you want to. From there, we match you with a counsellor who suits you and aim to have a first session booked within a few business days.