#24 - The “Be-with” Industry
#24 - The “Being-with” Industry
This article discusses:
Being in the helping industry
What is my purpose? Why am I doing this?
Good morning, beautiful souls.
I hope that you are travelling well, that you feel content with your own life adventures. I especially hope for you that you feel connected to yourself, loved ones and the Earth.
I just came from a profound and nourishing ecotherapy retreat near Bamarang, NSW. for six days, we gathered on country, with other counsellors, ecotherapists, art therapists, psychologists and somatic psychologists, and we practised ecotherapy together. We deepened our professional attitude and skills. After 11 days of driving there, sleeping in my van and being at the retreat with like-hearted people, the coming back “home” has been challenging. My phone was off for the whole week. I deeply connected with myself, the wonderful land we were on and the amazing eco-tribe I was with.
Anyway, it was so beautiful. And I woke up a bit frustrated and confused today.
To give you a bit of context, on top of being an ecotherapist and holistic counsellor, I’m also an NDIS practitioner. I’ve been working as a support worker in Australia since 2021. In the world, since 2012.
More broadly, I’ve been working in the “helping” industry (social work, humanitarian aid, support worker, aged-care, disability, emergency services, psychotherapy) full-time since 2015.
Today, I’ve been feeling frustrated and reflecting on how much we need to “do” in the NDIS field. As a mental health and disability support worker, sometimes it feels like we need to go from one task to another. We literally need to tick boxes. Honestly, I am tired of that. One of the reasons I decided to dedicate my work to be with people is also not to fit with some of our society’s requirements. Being in this industry feels unconventional sometimes. However, working with NDIS or certain NDIS providers sometimes feels like I am only a number, a box to fit in, a do-er. Like a robot who wakes up, works, eats, and sleeps (and starts all over again every single day).
I don’t want to have a permanent full-time position, being paid five weeks a year and go on holidays like everyone else. That’s fine if you do so. I just wanted to express my willingness not to fit. Not belonging to what society thinks we belong to.
We, humans, are meant to move, change mind, run, walk, sit, danse. A constant dance and movement in flow with the Earth. We, humans, dream, we create, we think, we express, we explore. We are not meant to stay in one place for the rest of our lives. We are not ticking boxes. We, humans, are unconventional, different, weird, strange, odd, atypical, beautifully unhinged.
So this morning, I was “fuck it! I am done being just a number on my payslips.”
I decided to sit down. Meditate on it. Let the Earth hold me. Feeling the wet grass on my back.
Silence is gold.
I then remember why I first started to listen to this calling of being with people. Why am I here? What is my purpose?
I have been in this industry mainly because I want to be with people and I want to learn from them. I also love advocating for my clients.
So today I’ve decided to spend quality time with my client. I didn’t tick the boxes of cleaning, house duties and other domestic stuff that will bring me further away from them. We watched television together. We laughed, we sang and clapped our hands while watching a stupid tv show. We looked at each other in the eyes, and we laughed for no reason. It feels so good! It feels humane! It feels sane!
Today, this is what “proper work” and providing care “for” them looks like. Today, this is what being together truly means. It doesn’t mean that I will not be doing what I have to do later on shift. It simply means that being together is my number one priority at this moment. It is also the best way to know more about them. It is indeed providing the best care. Being with and taking the time to be with is the most powerful tool in creating, maintaining and improving a caring and therapeutic relationship.
And this is also what the Earth teaches me. In ecotherapy, I do not want you to run around and rush around like a chicken without a head. Mama Earth wants me to slow down and fully listen to my feelings and honour them in peaceful and healing ways. This is what I offer in my forest bathing experiences, outdoor counselling sessions and nature retreats, in Australia, in the Adelaide Hills and in France. My offerings are designed for you to genuinely slow down, deeply rest, thanks to nature’s healing properties and outdoor meditation.
This story is an invitation for you to listen, to deeply listen to what feels right to you. Yes, even at work.
You do not fit in any box. You can be.
You can fully be. With yourself. With your client.
Tell me about you.
What is your purpose?
It doesn’t have to be a paid job.
I’m sending you pure and genuine love, filled with light and warmth.
Take soft care of yourself, each other, and your community.
Be mindful of the natural world around you and within you.
Sarah from sarahfrustietherapy
Published 26/02/2026
