Holistic Wellbeing at Work

Samantha Newton
Written by Samantha Newton

How Wellbeing Practitioners Can Lead the Workplace Wellbeing Revolution

If you’re a wellbeing practitioner, part of this passionate Foyht community, whether you coach, counsel, guide breath, stretch limbs, or shift energy, this is for you.

Let me say what many won’t: work is breaking people. Stress, burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism, pick your poison, it’s everywhere. And most businesses are papering over the cracks with fruit bowls and mindfulness apps that nobody uses.

Meanwhile, you, yes, you, are out here quietly transforming lives. But your skills are still treated like a “nice-to-have” rather than the essential service they are.

That stops now.

Why Holistic Workplace Support Is the Future of HR

I’ve worked in HR long enough to know the party line:

“We’ve got an EAP. That’ll do.”
“We’ll book a speaker for Mental Health Awareness Week.”
“Our intranet has a yoga video from 2017.”

Here’s the truth: wellbeing isn’t a perk. It’s a lifeline. People are burning out, and what they need isn’t another app or policy, they need you. They need trauma-informed support. Grounded healing. Compassion in action. That’s not a trend, it’s a survival strategy.

What HR Is Really Dealing With Behind Closed Doors

Inside HR departments, we’re firefighting.

Constantly.

Poor mental health. Team breakdowns. Managers panicking because someone’s crying in the toilet again. Nobody’s got time to plan a meaningful wellbeing strategy, and even when we do, we don’t know where to look for real help.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

That’s where you come in. And trust me, you are needed. But you’ve got to make yourself visible and valuable in our world.

How Practitioners Can Secure Corporate Contracts & Make a Real Impact

This is not about “selling out.” This is about showing up. Here’s how to cut through:

Translate your skills into business outcomes:

Don’t just say you reduce stress. Say: “I help reduce sick days, improve retention, and lift performance through targeted therapeutic intervention.”

Create packages, not one-offs:

A one-time desk massage won’t cut it. Think:

  • “Quarterly resilience programmes”
  • “Drop-in clinic days”
  • “Burnout recovery packages for HR teams” (Yes, us too.)

Be business-ready:

Clean website. Clear pricing. Testimonials. A contract template. A LinkedIn profile that speaks our language.

Proof This Works

One wellbeing practitioner I supported built a partnership with a local solicitor’s firm. She started with fortnightly 15-minute “reset” sessions for stressed-out fee earners. Within three months, the firm logged a 40% drop in stress-related absences and, get this, the HR manager got promoted for championing wellbeing.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev

According to Mind UK, poor workplace wellbeing costs UK employers £45 billion per year. That’s not a wellbeing issue, it’s a business one.

Why I Care, & Why You Should, Too

I’ve seen both worlds. The HR trenches and the therapy rooms. I’ve dealt with grievance cases that were really cries for help. I’ve watched brilliant practitioners undervalue themselves because they didn’t know how to speak the business lingo.

That’s why I’m here: to help you bridge that gap. Because wellbeing shouldn’t live in the shadows. And you shouldn’t have to barter your value.

Final Word: Be Brave. Be Bold. Be Billable.

You’re not too “woo” for the workplace. You’re exactly what it needs, grounded, healing, powerful.

The age of burnout is over. The era of holistic support is here. And you, dear practitioner, are the quiet revolution it’s been waiting for.

Want To Get Your Work Into Businesses That Get It?

Let’s connect. I help wellbeing professionals like you become essential partners in workplace wellbeing, not an afterthought.

Take one simple step:

Create a short wellbeing proposal to send to local businesses. Keep it jargon-free, outcome-led, and no longer than one page.


About the Author

Samantha Newton is the workplace whisperer you didn’t know you needed, until now. With over 20 years’ experience navigating the wild terrain of HR, she’s swapped the policy binders for practitioner partnerships, championing wellbeing professionals as essential players in the future of workplace health.

A first-time contributor to Foyht but a long-time ally of people-first professionals, Samantha now helps holistic and wellbeing practitioners bridge the gap between soulful healing and structured business. Equal parts traditionalist and trailblazer, she brings practical wisdom, quick wit, and just enough scepticism to keep it real.

When she’s not coaching businesses or calling out corporate nonsense (with love), she’s knee-deep in true crime books, two dogs at her feet, dreaming up ways to get more reiki into boardrooms.


Main – Photo by Arlington Research on Unsplash