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WELCOME TO THRIVE POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Empowering Courses, Workshops and Support for Carers to Prevent and Recover from
Fatigue and Burnout

Welcome to Thrive Positive Psychology

At Thrive Positive Psychology we’re passionate about helping caregivers learn how to prevent and manage stress, fatigue and burnout through an approach that is founded on Radical Self-Care.

Our aim is to help you understand why you may be vulnerable to burnout and how you can prevent it or recover from it, so that you can continue to do the vital caring work you do in a healthy and sustainable way. Caregivers make a significant contribution to society and you are needed now more than ever.

"I believe this is a critical time in history – a time for women to be seen, heard and proud, boldly claiming and celebrating their different yet equally valuable way of being in the world"

Tess Howells

Psychologist & Training Consultant

PHILOSOPHY

Over 70%* of Carers Have Experienced Some Form of Burnout

The demand placed upon caregivers has continued to grow, particularly following the Covid pandemic, which has led to increased numbers of people who reported their struggles with chronic and mental health disorders.

It seems the more we do, the more is expected of us and because of our natures we are reluctant to set boundaries to the limits of our giving, or we feel guilty if we try.

The result is many find themselves as carers feeling overwhelmed, stressed, fatigued and burnt out.

* Source: Monash University, 2021

72%

Women and Caring

In Australia 72% of unpaid
carers are women.

200%

Personal Burden

Many women also have a “double burden”, raising children, whilst working in health and community services, or caring for an
elderly parent.

73 - 89%

Women in Community Roles

73 per cent of the health and 74 per cent of community service workforce are women, a whopping 89 per cent in family services.

* Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Health Workforce (2024)

Gain the Insight and Resources for Sustainable Health & Wellbeing

At Thrive Positive Psychology we provide resources, courses, workshops and training to help paid and unpaid caregivers develop the awareness, resilience and strategies they need to prevent fatigue and burnout, and embrace greater levels of sustainable health and wellbeing through Radical Self-Care.

Here's just some of the many benefits of our programs:

Learn how to recognise signs of stress and burnout
Understand the affects of prolonged stress on your body
Learn practical techniques to soothe the nervous system
Develop a holistic practice of Radical Self-Care
Find your way back to sustainable, healthy caregiving
Learn to value yourself, honour your emotions, embrace your caring nature
Feel seen, heard, understood and validated

Join the Thrive Community & Get Access to Our Latest Updates, Resources and Strategies for Carers

Subscribe to our community email list below and receive email updates on all of our upcoming courses, resources, workshop and self-care strategies for carers.

We value your privacy. Your information will never be shared or distributed and you can always unsubscribe at any time.

Discover the Carer Fatigue and Burnout Online Course

When Candles, Baths and Massages Just Won't Cut it!

I created this comprehensive whole person approach for service workers and carers, especially those in rural areas, who may struggle to find the resources, strategies and support they need at this time.

You'll discover proven techniques, strategies and insights for Radical Self-Care and Recovery gained from over 4 years of research and over 20+ years as a psychologist & training consultant.

Learn More About the Course

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SERVICES

Unpaid Community & Family Caregivers

Understand the impact of lack of choice, lack of visibility and support, the lack of respite care.

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Paid Health Care & Support Workers

Learn how factors in the workplace interact with personal factors to either protect you or put you at risk of fatigue and burnout, and what you can do to stay healthy

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Health & Carer Support Organisations

Understand your obligations under O H & S legislation to protect your staff from psychosocial health injury . Work with your employees to identify risk and protective factors

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Support Resources for All Carers

Evidence-based resources from the best in their field which are updated regularly.

View Resources

Latest News

How Self-Reflection Can Help Carers Reclaim their Vital Health

Here's five things you can do to begin exploring your Inner-World (Self-reflection) 1. Make a decision to prioritise your own self-knowledge and self-care It may sound obvious, but I have found that unless we actually set a clear intention and develop routines we are unlikely sustain behaviour change. As carers we tend to be “other” focussed rather than focussed on ourselves. For many of us, we learnt to pay attention to the needs of others early in our childhoods wh

Tess Howells

4 days ago3 min read

Why Self-Knowledge is Important for Carers

“Know thyself” is a statement most famously attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, who emphasised self-examination as the foundation of wisdom - “ the unexamined life is not worth living” he said. By examination Socrates wasn’t talking about being critical of ourselves or achieving perfection. He was encouraging us to focus on our “internal world” – our thoughts, our beliefs, our values, our emotions, our dreams. To know and understand ourselves. Lis

Tess Howells

4 days ago2 min read

Navigating Fatigue, Burnout and PTSD - My Story

Finding Your Way Through Carer Fatigue, Burnout and Stress How I Was Guided to Create the Carer Fatigue and Burnout Course "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style." Maya Angelou My work and my political activism have always given me an outlet for the pain that I feel for people experiencing injustice, discrimination, and any forms of harm or suffering. But as I looked back over m

Tess Howells

Dec 53 min read

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What Others Are Saying

"Tess is so easy to listen to and has so much personal knowledge."
"It felt like what I am feeling as a carer has been validated."

About Tess

Tess is a registered psychologist, training consultant and author, who has lived and worked much of her life in rural Australia and who has a strong commitment to assisting rural communities to receive the support and resources they need.

Her diverse experience includes owning a multi-disciplinary complementary medicine clinic, working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, working offshore and in remote areas for the International Health and Medical Service, delivering clinical service to several Aboriginal Health organisations and providing psycho-social health training to corporates, community and not-for-profit organisations.

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