Act Right Now Counselling Services

24/12/2025

Kindness to others, yes; but also kindness to yourself ✨
This time of year can bring joy, pressure, reflection, or a whole mix of emotions… and all of that is okay.
You don’t need to be cheerful all the time ✨ productive all the time ✨ or available to everyone.
From the whole team and me at Act Right Now Counselling, we wish you a peaceful holiday season: one that leaves space for rest, deep breaths, and reconnecting in whatever way feels right for you 🌿❄️
Warm seasonal wishes,
Gabe
Act Right Now Counselling
Take good care of yourselves 💙

16/12/2025

Depression reshapes the body long before we notice it

Depression is often described as a problem of mood or thinking, but research shows it affects the entire body. What happens in the brain does not stay there.

When depression takes hold, stress systems stay switched on for too long. Cortisol rises. Sleep becomes lighter and less restorative. The immune system shifts toward chronic inflammation. The nervous system struggles to regulate itself, which can even affect heart rhythm, digestion, and pain sensitivity.

This is why depression often shows up as fatigue, aches, appetite changes, brain fog, frequent illness, or a constant sense of heaviness. It is not weakness. It is biology under prolonged strain. The brain and body are deeply connected, and when one is overloaded, the other carries the cost.

Here is the part that matters most. Recovery also works through the whole system. Gentle movement, consistent sleep, meaningful connection, psychological support, and medical care can calm inflammation, rebalance stress circuits, and slowly restore regulation. Progress is often subtle at first. Better sleep. A little more energy. Fewer physical symptoms. These are signs the system is repairing itself.

If you are living with depression, nothing about this means you are broken. It means your body has been working too hard for too long. Healing is not about pushing harder. It is about giving the system what it needs to recover.

Depression is not a character flaw. It is a whole body condition, and it deserves care at every level.

15/12/2025

Taking care of yourself in the aftermath of a terror attack

In the days following a violent attack, it is normal to feel shaken, angry, sad, or on edge, even if you were not directly involved. Events like the attack in Bondi affect our sense of safety and can stir up fear, grief, and helplessness, especially for communities that feel directly targeted.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, a few gentle reminders may help.

Limit your exposure to news and social media. Constant updates, images, and commentary can keep your nervous system in a state of threat. Choose one or two trusted sources, check them briefly, and then step away.

Stay connected. Talking with friends, family, or trusted people can help regulate emotions and reduce isolation. You do not need to analyse the event, sometimes just being together is enough.

Ground your body. Trauma lives in the nervous system, not just the mind. Simple actions like slow breathing, walking, stretching, spending time outside, or holding something warm can help your body settle.

Keep basic routines where possible. Regular meals, sleep, and gentle movement provide stability when the world feels unpredictable.

If you have children, offer reassurance rather than detail. Let them know they are safe, answer questions honestly but simply, and keep routines steady.

And if distress feels persistent, overwhelming, or starts interfering with daily life, reaching out for professional support is not a weakness; it is a protective step.

Support is available:

NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
Lifeline 13 11 14
Griefline 1300 845 745
SANE Forums saneforums.org
Phoenix Australia trauma resources online

Taking care of yourself is not avoidance. It is how we stay human in the face of violence. By supporting one another, we reduce the harm that fear is meant to create.

10/12/2025

Sometimes people reach a point where the pain feels too heavy, and they can’t see a way out. In those moments, a simple conversation can keep someone alive.
This reel walks through the four steps anyone can take to help a person in crisis: ask, listen, get help, and follow up.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out. Support is available, and things can shift with the right help.
I work with people experiencing suicidality and emotional crisis, offering a safe space to talk openly and begin stabilising what feels overwhelming.

You’re not alone. And there is a way forward.

Australia

03/12/2025

This is deep and true

01/11/2025

Your scars don’t make you broken.
They remind you that you overcame something challenging and kept moving forward.
And the fact that you repaired yourself, piece by piece, even if nobody was there to notice.

Healing doesn’t mean weakness; it means strength in motion. So if you are ready to move that next step towards peace, then I'm right there alongside you.
Your scars don't make you broken. means strength in motion. So if you are ready to move that next step towards peace, then I'm right there alongside you.

28/10/2025

"You don’t need to silence your thoughts
Just stop mistaking them for truth"

08/10/2025

So many of us learn to hide our pain, to say “I’m fine” when we’re anything but.
You don’t have to apologise for being human.
If you’re ready to begin, I’m here to walk with you.

🧠 Act Right Now Counselling
💬 Free 30-minute consultation available

07/10/2025

Sometimes healing isn’t about erasing pain, but seeing it differently. When we stop believing our pain defines who we are, something inside us expands — like light finding its way through the clouds. This reel is a reminder that growth doesn’t mean forgetting; it means reclaiming yourself beyond what hurt you.

06/10/2025

Sometimes kindness is the most radical thing you can choose 🌿

💚

04/10/2025

🌱 New Blog Post: Helping Someone with Trauma – An IFS-Informed Guide 🌱

Supporting a loved one through trauma can feel overwhelming. You might wonder what to say, how to help, or if you’re doing the “right” thing.

In my latest blog, I share practical ways to support someone living with trauma, including:
✨ What trauma really is (beyond the event itself)
✨ How it shows up in daily life
✨ What to do—and what not to say
✨ Why caring for yourself matters too
✨ How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can guide deep healing

If you’ve ever wanted to stand beside someone you love without feeling helpless, this guide is for you.

👉 Read the full article here: https://actrightnow.com.au/blogpost/helping-someone-with-trauma/

Learn how to support someone with trauma by listening, respecting boundaries, and providing empathy during healing.

02/10/2025

Therapy isn’t about being broken.
It’s about finding your way back to yourself.
I’m here to help you do that