info@bigchats.org


Practical skills for real-world wellbeing

 

Big Chats is a mental health education suite built for real-world settings, delivered by mental health professionals in our signature down-to-earth style.

We draw from the evidence base to create tools designed for real-life application, and tailor training to your context to ensure the learning lasts.

Whether you’re looking for skills for having big conversations, tools for staying well while caring for others, short sessions for whole teams, or bespoke programmes built specifically for you, we can help. Contact us for a free consultation, we’d love to chat.

How we can help

The Big Chats Workshop

A day-long, interactive, in-person workshop for rural professionals and everyday people who want to build their confidence in showing up for their people in times of mental health distress. How can we be there for others confidently, safely, and effectively when it matters the most? 

Caring Without Carrying Workshops

This workshop series explores the toll that helping and caring roles can take on the people in them, and aim to bring awareness to the often-overlooked human costs of this work. So how do we continue caring for others in a way that is sustainable, without carrying their burdens to our detriment? 

Custom Education & Resource Development

Every workplace and community has its unique people, pressures, and ways of doing things. Our bespoke training starts with understanding your setting, then draws on clinical expertise and the evidence base to build education that fits your context.

Short Wellbeing Workshops & Keynotes

These shorter sessions give teams a focused, practical look at wellbeing in a time slot that works for you. Whether that’s navigating stress, preventing burnout, de-escalation, or leadership training, they’re designed to fit in a working day, leaving people with tools they can use straight away.

Contact us to discuss how we can support your team

Let's chat

Previous clients include:

Testimonials

Caring Without Carrying workshop attendee

“The Big Chats workshops have had the biggest impact on my practice of any professional development in the last 5 years. Thank you!”

Eric, General Practitioner

"I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot from it. It covered a lot of important ground and promoted a lot of thinking about core professional issues for me. Thanks for putting together an excellent program."

Rural Support Trust volunteer, Whangarei

“Amazing presenter. Such a practical, no nonsense workshop - got value out of every minute! Thanks”

Whiri Hāpori Kaimanaaki, Waikato

“I really enjoyed the space that was created for this kaupapa. It was a safe environment to open up and share our whakaaro.”

Workshop attendee

"Excellent training - very relevant and practical. Time seemed to fly by as opposed to dragging on. Good structure, the workshop provided the clarity we needed.”

Workshop attendee

“The team had a wonderful endearing way of passing on knowledge, provoking thoughts and taking time to hear us all as we shared our musings. It was the most valuable course I have attended in some time.”

Dave Roughan, workshop attendee, Whangarei

"The leadership through the inspiring workshop day thrilled and amazed me. Thank you. I look forward to the next workshop."

Mark Eager, Mobile Health CEO

“Workshops have provided attendees with the tools to be an active listener to all patients and families, and also to confidently assess risk and identify safety plans – ‘absolutely brilliant series of workshops; amazing presenter who facilitated great discussion; would highly recommend to all clinicians.’”

New graduate allied health professional

“I have gained a lot of valuable experience from this course. I have found that I have developed a range of techniques that I can implement inside and outside of work to ensure that I can support myself in a rural setting. These techniques have helped the care that I am able to provide for my clients as well.”

George, Lads Without Labels, Ōtautahi Christchurch

"The team from Big Chats helped equip our team with the tools to deal with the big conversations we're trying to have. This is a necessity to have in our tool box when helping individuals at an informal community care level. They presented insightful information in a way the team was able to action. The follow up support that Big Chats provided after touching on some pretty heavy topics is a testament to their experience, professionalism, and a huge amount of caring."

The ripple effect

Workshops fund Big Chats Charitable Trust which provides free resources for supporters, so that nobody has to face the hard stuff alone.

Read more here
Elle Cradwick

General Manager
MSc (Psychology) | BA(Hons)

Tēnā koutou. Nō Ingarangi ahau, engari kei Ōtautahi tōku kāinga ināianei. He Tangata Tiriti ahau. Ko Elle Cradwick tōku ingoa.

I am passionate about all things mental health and wellbeing. Previous roles include national Helpline Manager at Youthline and Suicide Prevention & Postvention Co-ordinator, and Portfolio Co-ordinator, Aoake te Rā. As a mental health professional, I am particularly interested in supporting the professionals and community members of people going through tough times by providing education, resources and advice on relevant topics.