You Don’t Have To Pretend You’re Fine
A cosy letter about mental health, breaking the stigma, and finding support in Australia
Taking a mindful moment — because mental health matters.
Take a moment.
Breathe.
Grab that hot cup of tea if you haven’t already… because this one is for you.
So many of us move through the world carrying invisible heaviness.
We show up to work.
We smile in the group chat.
We juggle the bills and the responsibilities and the expectations…
Meanwhile a quiet voice whispers:
“I don’t feel okay. But I don’t want to bother anyone.”
That’s the thing about mental health struggles — they’re often silent.
And silence is where stigma grows.
The stigma that keeps us quiet
For too long, mental health has been treated as something we whisper about only when things become unbearable.
We wait until we’re falling apart before we give ourselves permission to seek support.
But what if mental health care wasn’t a last resort?
What if it was an act of kindness, a way of honouring our humanity?
Breaking the mental health stigma starts with conversation.
With honesty.
With someone brave enough to say:
“I feel like I’m drowning, and I don’t want to do it alone anymore.”
What I wish more people knew
So many people tell me they’ve tried to get help — but they can’t find an appointment.
The waiting lists are endless.
The system feels confusing and overwhelming.
They think the only path to mental health support is seeing a psychologist with a referral from a GP… and then waiting months for a call back.
But here’s the part that’s rarely talked about:
Counsellors in Australia are trained mental health professionals too.
We support people through grief, trauma, stress, identity struggles, late-in-life ADHD/ASD diagnosis…
through those moments when life feels like too much.
And you don’t need a referral to see us.
You don’t have to wait until crisis hits.
You can simply say:
“I need support” — and book.
The mental health system is changing — slowly
With new national standards for counsellors being recognised, I’m hopeful.
Hopeful that the mental health system will finally expand.
Hopeful that people will realise there are more doors to walk through than they thought.
Hopeful that stigma will fade as awareness grows.
Because counselling should be accessible.
Mental health support should be something you don’t have to justify or apologise for.
You matter — your mental health matters too.
You deserve to feel seen
If you’ve ever felt like you’re too sensitive, too overwhelmed, too “different” — I see you.
If you’ve ever felt misunderstood or overlooked — I hear you.
If your heart feels like it’s breaking quietly in the background of your life — I get it.
You don’t have to hold it together alone.
Not anymore.
A soft invitation
If your mental health is asking for attention…
If you’re tired of pretending you’re fine…
If you’ve been waiting for a sign that it’s okay to ask for help…
✨ This is it. ✨
I’m Sam — a counsellor based in the Sunshine Coast, supporting adults across Australia (online)).
If you’re ready to feel understood, supported, and gently guided through whatever you’re facing — I’m here.
Click below to book a session with me.
No referral.
No long waitlist.
Just care.
For you.
For your mental health.
For your life.
Because you deserve a space where your heart can breathe again.
And I’d be honoured to hold that space with you.
