Anxiety Support Workshops Thanks to Rātā Foundation Funding

At Catapult Employment Services, we understand that anxiety can be one of the biggest barriers people face when trying to move towards employment, training, or even everyday social situations. For many people living with disabilities, neurodiversity, or health conditions, anxiety can impact confidence, communication, motivation, and the ability to take the next step forward.

Thanks to the generous support of the Rātā Foundation, Catapult is now able to offer a new 6-week anxiety-focused workshop programme facilitated by qualified health professional Mike Kempt.

This new programme has been developed to provide practical tools, emotional support, and a safe environment where participants can better understand anxiety and learn strategies to manage it in everyday life.

Why This Workshop Matters

At Catapult, we often see how anxiety can affect people’s employment journey. Some clients struggle with job interviews, others feel overwhelmed in busy workplaces, while some lose confidence after long periods away from work due to health challenges.

Over the two years, the therapeutic support made possible through Rātā Foundation funding has already had a significant impact for many of our clients. Feedback from participants has highlighted the value of having someone who listens without judgement, provides practical coping strategies, and helps rebuild confidence.

Clients have shared that these workshops have helped them:

Feel less isolated and more understood
Build confidence in social and workplace situations
Develop practical strategies to manage stress and anxiety
Improve communication and self-advocacy skills
Feel more prepared to take steps towards employment or volunteering
For some participants, simply having a safe space to talk openly has made a meaningful difference.

What the 6-Week Workshop Will Cover

The workshop programme will focus on understanding anxiety and building practical tools that participants can use in daily life. Topics may include:

Understanding anxiety and stress responses
Building confidence and self-compassion
Managing negative thinking patterns
Relaxation and grounding techniques
Communication and coping strategies
Goal setting and moving forward positively
The workshops are designed to be supportive, inclusive, and welcoming, with a focus on creating a safe environment where participants can learn at their own pace.

Meet Mike:

The workshops will be facilitated by Mike Kempt, a qualified health professional with more than 25 years of professional experience supporting people to develop more resourceful ways of being in the world.

Mike has worked extensively across the health and mental health sectors, including within primary care alongside General Practitioners, in specialist mental health services supporting people experiencing anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and depression, and as a Team Leader for social work at Christchurch Hospital.  Mike now works in private practice delivering counselling, professional supervision and group facilitation. 

His experience across both clinical and non-clinical settings has provided him with a strong understanding of the many factors that can impact mental wellbeing and the practical strategies that can support people to live well alongside ongoing challenges.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn in a supportive small-group environment guided by Mike’s calm, practical, and empathetic approach.

Removing Barriers Through Support

At Catapult, we know that employment support is not just about finding jobs  it is about supporting the whole person. Sometimes the biggest barriers to employment are not a lack of skills or motivation, but confidence, anxiety, isolation, or mental wellbeing.

The support from Rātā Foundation allows us to continue providing services that address these barriers in a meaningful and practical way.

We are incredibly grateful to Rātā Foundation for helping us expand the support available to our community and for recognising the importance of mental wellbeing alongside employment support.

Interested in Learning More?

If you would like to learn more about the anxiety workshop programme or other support services available through Catapult Employment Services, please get in touch with our team.

Together, we can help people build confidence, reduce barriers, and take positive steps towards a brighter future.

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