Cairnmillar Institute Launches New Podcast Supporting Mental Health Professionals
The Cairnmillar Institute has launched a vital new resource for Australia’s mental health workforce: How’s That Working For You? (HTWFY), a podcast dedicated to supporting the wellbeing and resilience of psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and peer workers.
Hosted by Dr Zoë Krupka, psychotherapist, counsellor, and academic at the Cairnmillar Institute, the podcast creates space for open, honest conversations about the challenges faced by mental health practitioners. It explores the ethical complexities, emotional demands, and professional anxieties that often go unspoken in practice. HTWFY offers a candid, compassionate space for practitioners to explore the challenges they face in day-to-day practice. Dr Zoë Krupka said, “Therapists face an ongoing paradox. We’ are expected to be highly skilled professionals, but also human. This podcast is about demystifying what happens behind the scenes and creating a space for vulnerability and reflection about our work while we explore new directions in therapy practice. It’s for anyone working in the mental health field who wonders if they are doing a good job.”
This initiative is part of Cairnmillar’s ongoing commitment to advancing practitioner wellbeing and promoting sustainable mental health care. With burnout affecting up to 84% of healthcare workers in Australia (Mental Health Australia), HTWFY responds to a growing need for peer connection, lived experience, and practical support.
Prof Kathryn von Treuer, CEO & Provost of The Cairmillar Institute shared, “We are excited to launch this podcast as part of our ongoing advocacy to provide valuable resources for both mental health professionals and the wider community. It’s about giving practitioners the tools to care for themselves, so they can continue to care for others. How’s That Working For You? is bridging that gap so no one needs to be alone in navigating the complexities of mental health care. We are proud to provide a platform for such important conversations, and we look forward to the monthly episodes that will follow.”
Real Conversations, Real Impact
HTWFY goes beyond theory, diving into the lived realities of mental health practice and new research in action. Each episode features candid conversations with experienced professionals, offering cautionary tales, clinical insights, and personal reflections.
Featured Episodes:
- Episode 1: Dr Zoë Krupka and producer Dr Christine Brown (psychologist and Course Coordinator of the Diploma of Counselling at the Cairnmillar Institute) explore boundaries in therapy, asking, “How much of yourself do you bring into the room?”
- Episode 2: Adjunct Professor George Habib (Council member at the Cairnmillar Institute and the Director – Wellbeing Services at the University of Melbourne) joins Dr Krupka to unpack the therapeutic relationship and discuss “How does psychotherapy really work?”
While How’s That Working For You? (HTWFY) podcast is tailored for professionals, it is also accessible to the wider public and curious listeners outside the field, a rare glimpse into the world of therapy-illuminating the motivations, struggles, and humanity of those who provide care.
A new episode will be released monthly, continuing to explore the evolving landscape of mental health care with honesty, humour, and heart.
For more information or to access the podcast, visit: Podcast: How’s that Working for You?