Last updated on 28 September 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team
Understanding What is Holistic Counselling
Holistic Counselling is a reflective, presence-based approach to Counselling that focuses on how you experience the world – not just what’s going wrong. Rather than aiming to fix problems or apply techniques, this form of counselling offers space to feel, understand, and reconnect with yourself on your own terms.
It supports patients who are sensitive, spiritually aware, neurodivergent, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed. The process is collaborative and open, grounded in self-awareness and personal meaning.
What Makes Holistic Counselling Different
In traditional therapy, there is often a strong focus on goals, pathology and performance. Holistic Counselling takes a different path. It slows the pace and offers you room to explore your thoughts, emotions, nervous system patterns and life direction – without pressure.
What is Holistic Counselling - At a Glance
Counsellor: Nathan Gurry
What it is: A reflective, presence-based Holistic Counselling approach focusing on how you experience life, not just “what’s wrong.”
Who it helps: People wanting a calm, grounded space to explore meaning, identity and direction, including those who feel unseen in traditional counselling.
How it works: Conversations, mindfulness, breath-work, dream work and nervous system awareness. No pressure to “fix,” no pathologising.
Where offered: Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights) and online consultations.
Session length: 60 minutes.
Costs: $230 Initial Session, $200 Subsequent Session.
Key Features of Holistic Counselling
- Focuses on the whole person – emotional, physical, mental and spiritual
- Avoids pathologising, diagnosing or forcing fixed tools
- Emphasises presence, inner stillness and nervous system awareness
- Includes reflective conversation, mindfulness and sometimes dream work
- Encourages personal insight rather than expert advice
- Holistic Counselling Brisbane is provided by Nathan Gurry at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights)
- Learn more about Nathan Gurry – Holistic Counsellor Brisbane
Who Might Choose Holistic Counselling
Holistic Counselling may be suitable for people who:
- Feel misunderstood or alienated in other therapy settings
- Are emotionally sensitive, intuitive or spiritual
- Identify as neurodivergent, autistic or ADHD
- Are living with chronic fatigue, burnout or masking collapse
- Are questioning identity, meaning or direction
- Have struggled to feel safe or truly heard in past sessions
What is a Holistic Counsellor?
A Holistic Counsellor like Nathan Gurry focuses on the whole person, including their mindset, lifestyle, values, relationships and beliefs, not just a single problem or issue they are having.
Sessions with Holistic Counsellors use talk-based Counselling and add practical tools such as Mindfulness exercises, values clarification, habit change strategies, reflective questioning and simple at-home practices.
Holistic Counselling is not a medical service and Holistic Counsellors do not diagnose medical conditions. However, they can work alongside your GP, Psychologist or Psychiatrist if you choose.
What does a Holistic Counsellor do?
A Holistic Counsellor helps you clarify the things that matter to you, set workable goals and build routines that support day-to-day life. You can expect:
-
A plain-English conversation to name patterns and priorities
-
Collaborative goals that fit your energy, time and responsibilities
-
Simple practices you can apply between sessions (journalling prompts, breath pacing, boundaries scripts, values checks)
-
Referrals when needed (for example, to Psychology or your GP)
From Nathan Gurry
“Many people come to Holistic Counselling not because they want to talk about their problems, but because they long to feel whole again.” Nathan Gurry, Holistic Counsellor at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights)
Testimonial from Our Patient
“Living in Clayfield West, I felt stuck and worn out. I heard about Holistic Counselling with Nathan, and I made my first appointment. Nathan gave me a calm space to slow down and make sense of things without pressure. He listens really closely and asks clear, practical questions. After a few sessions I felt more settled, slept better, and handled work stress easier. I left each session with one or two simple practices that actually fit my life. If you’re near Chermside and want a grounded approach, I really recommend seeing Nathan.” Jacee M., Chermside West
Holistic Counselling Techniques
Every session is different. Depending on your needs, sessions may include:
- Nervous system regulation through presence
- Stillness and breathwork
- Meditation tailored to sensory-sensitive minds
- Exploring symbolic content like dreams
- Reflective coaching to support life transitions
- Quiet, grounded conversation that invites deeper clarity
Accessing Holistic Counselling with Nathan Gurry
Nathan is based at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights), offering in-person appointments and online video sessions. He works with patients from across Brisbane and Australia.
Book a consultation with Nathan Gurry today by clicking the button below or calling our helpful Reception team on (07) 3861 5881.
FAQs About The Meaning of Holistic Counselling
1. What does "holistic" mean in Counselling?
In Counselling, ‘holistic’ means viewing a person as a whole being - not as a diagnosis or collection of symptoms. It honours emotional, spiritual, physical and social layers of your life.
2. Is Holistic Counselling a regulated form of therapy?
Holistic Counselling is not regulated by AHPRA. It is an alternative therapy delivered by trained Counsellors outside the Psychology framework.
3. What kind of people choose to undergo Holistic Counselling?
People who have felt too sensitive, too intense or too outside the norm for standard therapy often find the Holistic Counselling approach more affirming and inclusive.
4. Does Holistic Counselling work for anxiety or burnout?
Holistic Counselling with Nathan Gurry supports emotional regulation, clarity and resilience for people dealing with anxiety or burnout, especially when those issues are tied to identity or masking.
5. Can Holistic Counselling help if I feel spiritually disconnected?
Holistic Counselling can be extremely beneficial for those who feel spiritually disconnected. Nathan Gurry welcomes exploration of spiritual longing, crisis, or disconnection without prescribing beliefs or practices.
6. Is dream therapy part of Holistic Counselling?
Dream Therapy may be a part of Holistic Counselling, and Nathan Gurry will discuss this with you at the start of your session. If you're drawn to dream work or symbolic processing, Nathan may include this as part of your session.
7. Is Holistic Counselling for neurodivergent adults?
Many neurodivergent patients work with Nathan for Holistic Counselling. His style is supportive of those who find traditional therapy overstimulating or invalidating.
8. Do I need to have a goal or problem?
You don’t need to have a fixed goal of problem to find benefit in Holistic Counselling. Being curious about your internal life is enough.
9. Is Holistic Counselling trauma-focused?
Holistic Counselling with Nathan Gurry is not trauma therapy, but many trauma-affected adults find the slow, safe pace to be extremely beneficial.
10. Is Holistic Counselling a religious practice?
Holistic Counselling is not a religious practice. While spiritually inclusive, it is not tied to any religion or doctrine.
11. What does a typical session involve?
Time is spent in reflective conversation, meditation, body awareness or symbolic inquiry - depending on your needs.
12. How often should I attend Holistic Counselling?
13. Can I access Holistic Counselling online?
Nathan offers online Holistic Counselling across Brisbane and beyond by videoconference.
14. How is Holistic Counselling different from life coaching?
Holistic Counselling is different from life coaching, because it is less focused on achieving external results (like Life Coaching) and more focused on deepening your awareness of your inner self.
