I Want to Learn Meditation That Feels Safe and Grounded

Last updated on 28 August 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

Many people try meditation and give up because it feels inaccessible, confusing or emotionally overwhelming. Some find they can’t sit still. Others feel pressure to ’empty the mind’ or ‘transcend the body,’ which only increases inner stress.

Nathan Gurry’s approach to meditation is different. As part of holistic counselling, he works with adults who want to explore stillness, presence and awareness in a way that suits their individual nervous system and lived experience.

Why Conventional Meditation Doesn’t Work for Everyone

Meditation apps and guided practices often assume a one-size-fits-all model. But for people who are highly sensitive, anxious, neurodivergent or spiritually aware, conventional practices can sometimes feel dysregulating or dissociative.

You might relate to one or more of these:

You’ve tried meditation but felt like a failure
You can’t stop your thoughts and feel worse afterwards
You’ve experienced panic, disconnection or emotional distress when meditating
You’ve used meditation to suppress emotions or disconnect from your body
You long for a sense of inner stillness but don’t know how to reach it safely

Nathan’s counselling sessions are designed to help you understand what type of awareness is right for you – and when.

How Nathan Supports Meditation Through Counselling

Rather than prescribing techniques, Nathan helps you explore what happens when you try to be still. From there, he works with the patterns, beliefs and nervous system responses that shape your experience of presence.

Sessions may include:

Unpacking your past experiences with meditation
Exploring internal resistance to stillness
Identifying dissociation or emotional overwhelm
Introducing grounding or body-based practices
Supporting trauma-aware presence without spiritual bypassing
Helping you access states of awareness that feel gentle and honest

This is not a performance-based approach. It’s an inquiry-based process that meets you where you are.

Online and In-Person Sessions

Nathan sees patients both in-person at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights) and online across Australia. If you’ve struggled with formal spiritual spaces, being able to meditate and reflect from your own environment can be a more effective place to begin.

Quote from Nathan Gurry

“People think meditation is about being calm. But for many of us, trying to meditate brings up more chaos. I work with patients to explore what stillness really means for them – without trying to reach some imagined state of peace.”

How to Book

Call (07) 3861 5881 or book online to schedule a session with Nathan. Appointments are available throughout the week.

FAQs

1. Why does meditation make me feel worse sometimes?

Meditation can trigger emotional or nervous system responses, especially in people with trauma or high sensitivity. Nathan’s approach is grounded in understanding and supporting those responses, not ignoring them.

2. What’s different about meditation in holistic counselling?

You’re not given a technique to master. Instead, Nathan helps you explore your relationship with stillness, and supports you in finding awareness practices that feel supportive and not overwhelming.

3. I can’t stop thinking. Can this still help me?

Yes. Thinking doesn’t mean you’re failing. Meditation isn’t about stopping thought – it’s about meeting yourself with awareness. This is something Nathan guides with care.

4. Is this trauma-informed meditation?

Yes. The approach honours your emotional landscape and nervous system. Nothing is forced, and everything is explored at your pace.

5. Can meditation help with anxiety or burnout?

When done gently and appropriately, meditation can support the nervous system and reduce emotional reactivity. It’s most effective when personalised to your system.

6. I dissociate easily. Is meditation safe for me?

It can be – but only when approached with awareness and pacing. Nathan works with you to explore stillness safely, using grounding and presence instead of detachment.

7. I’ve never meditated before. Is that OK?

Absolutely. Many of Nathan’s patients are new to meditation or have had negative experiences in the past. You’ll begin wherever you are.

8. I want to meditate but also feel spiritual disconnection. Can you help with that?

Yes. Counselling can explore your spiritual life and how meditation might reconnect you to meaning, not through dogma but through direct awareness.

9. Is this like mindfulness training?

Some elements are similar, but Nathan’s approach goes deeper. It’s less about technique and more about relationship with self.

10. Do I have to sit in silence for long periods?

No. Stillness can take many forms. Nathan helps you find the form that fits you best, whether that’s quiet walking, breath awareness or body-based grounding.

11. Is this offered online?

Yes. Nathan offers online appointments across Australia, which can be ideal for beginning meditation in a safe and known environment.

12. How is this different from meditation apps?

Apps offer scripted content. Holistic counselling offers personalised presence. You’re not guided by a recording – you’re guided by a therapeutic relationship.

13. Can I combine meditation with other goals in counselling?

Yes. Meditation often works best when it supports deeper work such as nervous system regulation, identity exploration or spiritual reconnection.

14. How do I get started?

Book a session online or call (07) 3861 5881 to speak with Reception. Nathan sees patients online and at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights).

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I Want to Learn Meditation That Feels Safe and Grounded | Holistic Counselling