My Approach to Staff Support

As a therapist, I have worked with many managers who find themselves carrying far more than their job descriptions suggest. What often begins as a practical role slowly expands into something much more complex and emotionally demanding. Pastoral care has long been an unspoken expectation of management, yet most are never truly prepared for it. While some receive training, it often feels difficult to apply or falls short of what is actually needed in practice.

Holding space for others, listening to personal struggles and responding appropriately within a professional setting is extremely challenging. I have heard about the anger that surfaces when managers are expected to meet organisational demands while responding compassionately to their team. I’ve witnessed the sadness that comes from seeing team members suffer emotionally without feeling equipped to help. And I can see the burnout that develops when there is no clear boundary between managing work and managing people.

Managers are expected to be supportive but not overstep, to be understanding but still meet targets and to care but not carry too much. These expectations are heavy, especially when also navigating pressure from above. Time is limited, emotional capacity is stretched, and it is not always easy to relate to the experiences being shared. Traditional workshops, often focused on broad mental health topics, can feel disconnected from these day-to-day realities; hence it feels clear that something needs to change in how we prepare managers for these responsibilities.

Manager Mental Health is my new approach to staff support, designed to assist managers in a more meaningful and relevant way. Through monthly one-to-one sessions with a mental health consultant, managers are given a confidential space to offload, reflect and make sense of their own reactions to the emotional needs of their team. These sessions also provide a more tailored understanding of the specific dynamics within their team, moving away from generic training and towards something more applicable.

With mental health now playing such a significant role in working life, and with increasing rates of burnout, sickness absence and staff turnover, it feels important to reconsider how support is offered. By assisting managers more effectively, we create the conditions for healthier teams and more sustainable organisations.

If you are curious about bringing Manager Mental Health to your organisation, please reach out using the contact form and we can arrange a meeting to discuss the packages available.