Mental health, emotional and physical well-being, grief counselling, dysfunctional relationships intervention, fragile human support: this is just some of the services provided by a range of qualified and experienced wellness practitioners in the wider Te Anau basin.

That the local community has such a wide range of support services is not only indicative of the need within the region but also a huge credit to the caring nature of the providers who choose to call this place home.

But who looks after the experts?

Advertisement: Pro Moving and Storage

Advertise on the Southland App

A group of co-operating wellness experts recently met with the aim of establishing regular get-togethers to ensure the coal-face workers in the wellness industry are also supported.

Their venue was the sun-drenched, peaceful surroundings of the Ivan Wilson Park.

The gathering started with a stretching session led by Kerri-Anne Edge, a yoga therapist and teacher, followed a karakia performed by Dale Wairau, a community and family advocate, before the group settled to share their lunch and experiences with each other.

According to counsellor Kathryn Wright there are about 20 members in the “informal collective”.

Generally, the group members offer their services on an individual basis and they can often feel isolated, given the confidential nature of their jobs.

Mrs Wright said while members could not discuss clients with each other, regular meetings gave them the chance to only catch-up and socialise at a professional level.

The group also filled a much bigger role of keeping members in touch with latest developments and the ability to share resources through shared knowledge and experience, and to cross-refer clients who might otherwise miss out on vital additional support or resources.

Every second case was, in some way, related to grief and the grief process, which in some cases had been by disrupted by Covid19 response restrictions, Mrs Wright said.

The grief process could become complicated and ambiguous because the natural process had been altered or disrupted in some way, she said.

Advertisement: Factory2hair+home

Advertise on the Southland App

Tammy Magness specialises in counselling yoga and mindfulness. She said said mental health was the common thread connecting the group members.

Being part of a collective gave them a sense of camaraderie and allowed individual members to deliver a holistic supply of services and care to all ages and all social groups, she said.

Forming the support group was also a move towards operating in cooperation rather than in isolation, Ms Magness said.

The group would like to attract more like-minded practitioners to widen their scope and strengthen its member base.

Mrs Wright said anyone interested in joining should watch out for the next gathering, which will be advertised on the Te Anau Community Facebook page.