How mental health coaching is supporting small business owners

Business name
Beyond Blue
Last updated date
8 Oct 2025

This World Mental Health Day let’s remember small business owners need support too!

Behind every business is a person juggling staff, rosters, finances, compliance and marketing – often solo. On top of that, trying to balance work and personal life often means your wellbeing takes second place.

The impact of stress on small business owners’ mental health means wellbeing services are more important than ever. That’s where Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) program plays a vital role.

A smiling female psychologist consoled a female patient during the appointment.

Chelsea’s story

When Chelsea’s husband forwarded her a link to the NASBO program and recommended that she take a look, she thought, ‘why not?’ As the founder of a creative agency and a mum to young children, she was feeling overwhelmed and experiencing prolonged periods of stress.

Chelsea felt fortunate to be living her dream and running her own business. But she also felt run down by how challenging small business ownership could be.

‘I threw myself into my business, often working all-nighters to build the business. Fortunately, my business is successful but along with success can come stress. I was in the throes of early motherhood and doing everything I could do – making myself accessible to everyone and having a lack of boundaries. But there is only so much stress a person can take and I reached my limit. I’m not invincible.’

The turning point for Chelsea came when her husband recommended, she explore the NASBO program.

‘He sent it to me and said it was worth taking a look. He knew how I had been feeling and wanted to support me. I knew that I needed a coach who could guide me on how to step away from work and instead focus on my mental health.’

Support is available

With Beyond Blue’s NASBO, you too can receive support from a mental health coach who understands small business.

NASBO is a free mental health coaching program helping small business owners and sole traders tackle burnout and overwhelm before they reach a crisis point.

In the 4 years since NASBO was launched, the service has supported more than 8,500 small business owners across Australia with practical mental health coaching. The service is designed to provide early support and guide small business owners back to good mental health.

NASBO is tailored to the realities of small business life, pairing each participant with a trained mental health coach who understands the pressures of entrepreneurship.

Whether it’s managing rising costs, navigating uncertainty or simply trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, this successful service helps people cope more effectively and feel more in control.

What happens during NASBO coaching?

The NASBO program uses low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – a form of therapy tailored for people experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression. It involves self-guided techniques and shorter, fewer sessions compared to traditional CBT.

The coaches delivering the program have all owned or worked in a small business, so they understand the unique pressures that come with the role. Having coaches who’d been in her shoes made all the difference for Chelsea.

‘The program was incredible for me, 'I entered it hesitantly and in fact nearly cancelled the first session as I was so fearful of having to confront my problems,’ she recalls.

'I will never forget the first session I had. I was sitting on my lounge room floor. I was supposed to be at work, but I just couldn't go.'

It was such a relief to talk to my coach about things that I felt I really needed to talk about. The things we discussed were things I hadn’t been able to say to anyone else close to me.

In her first session, Chelsea was asked to check her calendar for moments of joy. She described it as, ‘there is no joy – it’s only work’. Without even realising, Chelsea had fallen into a pit where all she did was work.

There was sudden recognition that she hadn’t prioritised her own wellbeing at all. Chelsea wasn’t eating lunch, sleeping well or doing anything she loved.

Chelsea continued with weekly coaching sessions. The first session helped her clarify her main challenges and set achievable goals, while the following sessions focused on practical strategies and reflection to support her progress.

‘Writing my problem statement was a big moment,’ says Chelsea. ‘It shook me to see how bad things had got. By the time I reached my final session with my coach, I could barely read my problem statement because it felt so foreign to me. I no longer felt that feeling of despair.’

Beyond the program – how has it helped?

For Chelsea, the coaching equipped her with practical tools, skills and strategies that have helped her approach both life and business in a new way.

‘After completing the program, I felt equipped to step back into managing my workload and my life. It's not a cure you're not instantly going to be like, Hooray, I'm great!, but I suddenly felt empowered to start prioritising myself.'

Thanks to the coaching, Chelsea now has the tools to face challenging scenarios in the future.

The coaching also helped Chelsea recognise how to manage her calendar better, set boundaries, say no when needed and improved communication with her husband, children, staff and clients.

‘NASBO helped me to improve my conversation skills and confront aspects of self-care that I was neglecting, like my sleep problems. In a way, the program helped me begin to find myself again. I had become so lost in the work – the work was me – that I had forgotten who I was.’

Advice for others who are struggling

When it comes to seeking help, the hardest part is often taking the first step. Chelsea has some valuable advice for small business owners who may be struggling. Start small by finding someone to talk to.

‘My advice would be to start talking about it. That doesn't necessarily even mean going through the NASBO program. Just talk to someone close to you. Start the conversation. So much happiness can come from simply connecting with someone who cares. Just start speaking.’

For me, the NASBO program was life changing. I'd do it again and again if I could! I truly found the program to be the breath of fresh air that I needed when I was really, really at my lowest. It's been an incredible stepping stone in helping me reassess and relearn how to run a business.

Lastly, Chelsea believes that it’s important to acknowledge that things don’t always go your way. Speaking about these issues more often can be the first step to improving your wellbeing.

‘I hope that sharing my experience might help other business owners out there who are struggling. The first step to getting yourself back is conversation.’

Support for small business owners

For small business owners ready to take that first step toward support, the NASBO program is here to help. It’s free, available outside of normal business hours and no GP referral is required.

For more information:

For more resources on wellbeing:

NASBO is funded by the Commonwealth Government.