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Mental health challenges are far more common than many people realise, yet stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers to seeking help. Stigma doesn’t just exist “out there” in society; it often becomes internalised, shaping how people see themselves and whether they believe they deserve support. Navigating mental health stigma is not about being stronger or caring less about what others think. It’s about understanding where stigma comes from, recognising its impact, a

Self-esteem isn’t something that disappears overnight and it isn’t rebuilt overnight either. For many people, it slowly wears down through life experiences, relationships, trauma, or long periods of stress. Often, by the time it’s noticed, low self-esteem has already become the “normal” way of seeing oneself. Rebuilding self-esteem is not about becoming more confident on the surface. It’s about restoring a deeper sense of worth, safety, and self-respect from the inside out. U

Loneliness can creep in quietly. It might show up when you’re surrounded by people, or when the silence at the end of the day feels too heavy. It’s not just about being alone, it’s about feeling disconnected, unseen, or like you don’t belong anywhere. In a world that moves fast, where everyone seems to be doing fine on the outside, loneliness can make you feel like you’re the only one struggling. But you’re not. Loneliness is part of being human and learning how to understand

Have you ever caught yourself saying, “Why do I keep doing this?” You make progress and then pull yourself backwards. You get close to someone and push them away. You promise you’ll change and find yourself right back where you started. That’s self-sabotage. It’s frustrating, painful, and confusing — but it’s also deeply human. And the good news? Once you understand why you do it, you can learn how to step out of the cycle. 1. What Is Self-Sabotage? Self-sabotage happens when

Jealousy is one of those emotions that most people don’t want to admit to — yet it’s one of the most human experiences we have. It shows up quietly at first: a twist in your stomach when your partner talks to someone else, a fear of being left out, a thought that maybe you’re not enough. For many men, jealousy can be confusing and even confronting. It’s often tied to deeper fears about trust, control, rejection, or insecurity , and if left unchecked, it can grow into behaviou

Addiction can feel like being stuck on a spinning wheel you can’t step off.It starts with relief, builds into habit, turns into dependence, and often ends in shame and hopelessness.But here’s the truth: you can get off the wheel — and thousands of people do, one small step at a time. The Cycle of Addiction Addiction rarely happens overnight. It builds gradually through a predictable pattern of triggers, thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Let’s look at the cycle most people

We all have our ways of escaping pain.For some, it’s diving into work. For others, it’s hours at the gym, scrolling through social media, constantly helping others, or keeping busy until exhaustion finally forces us to stop. At first, these things can look healthy and sometimes they are. Work gives us purpose. Exercise supports our wellbeing. Helping others connects us to meaning.But when we use these things to outrun our feelings , they stop being tools of growth and start b

Let’s be honest, change hurts. Whether it’s a relationship ending, shifting, or just feeling “different,” it can shake everything we thought we knew about ourselves and the people we love. But here’s the thing: pain doesn’t always mean something’s gone wrong. Sometimes, it’s just the heart’s way of saying, “It’s time to grow.” Before the Shift, When You Feel It Coming We often know before we know.  Maybe it’s the distance in conversations, the shorter patience, or the sense t

When we look at harmful or controlling behaviours, it’s easy to label them simply as “wrong” or “abusive.” But to create real change,...

Shame is one of the most powerful — and often hidden — emotions men experience. Unlike guilt, which is about feeling bad for something...

The way we connect to others in our adult relationships is often influenced by our earliest bonds — the ones we formed in childhood....

Relationships don’t just stand on their own — they’re built, layer by layer, much like a pyramid. The Relationship Pyramid is a helpful...

Good communication is the heartbeat of healthy relationships. It’s not just what we say, but how we say it that shapes trust, intimacy,...

When we think of building strong, lasting relationships, we often picture grand gestures or deep, heart-to-heart conversations. But the...

Domestic and family violence (DFV) affects people from all walks of life, and in Queensland, the law clearly outlines what behaviours are...

In every healthy intimate relationship—whether romantic, familial, or long-term partnership—communication is the lifeline. It’s not just...

As a counsellor working with men who have used violence in their relationships, I often meet people at a crossroads. Many of them are...

Domestic violence (DV) doesn’t just hurt one person. It ripples through families, communities, workplaces, and generations. While the...

Relationships are one of the most meaningful parts of our lives—and often, one of the most complex. Whether it’s with a partner, spouse,...

A space for reflection, healing, and real change — wherever you are. Hi and welcome. I’m Brett Hayes, and I want to personally thank you...