What Does Holistic Counselling Really Mean?

You’ve probably heard the term “holistic counselling” before – maybe in a wellness article or from a friend who has recently started therapy. But what does it actually mean? At Cedar & Sky Wellness, I often hear from people “I don’t even know where to start” or “I don’t feel like myself.” This is where a holistic approach can make all the difference.

Holistic counselling means looking at you as a whole person – not just your thoughts and emotions, but also your body, relationships, and how the environment is playing a role in your everyday life. Instead of only focusing on symptoms, we can explore how different parts of your life connect and influence one another.

I’ll use some examples (completely fictional to maintain confidentiality) to help drive my points home. Say a person with two kids is looking for therapy after recently going through a divorce, are no longer spending time with their friends, and have been struggling at work. They come to me and say, “I usually love my work, but I don’t know why I am not passionate about it anymore.” Or a person who was recently diagnosed with diabetes and is struggling to manage their symptoms and accept their diagnosis. These are some areas I would look at:

·      Mind: understanding the thoughts both of these individuals are experiencing and what emotions are brought forward because of these thoughts.

·      Body: recognizing the physical signs of burn out, stress, and/or trauma. These could be frequent headaches, fatigue, gastrointestinal concerns.

·      Emotions: helping them learn to name, feel, and express the emotions safely.

·      Relationships: exploring their patterns in connection and communication, while ensuring healthy boundaries are maintained.

·      Spirit: connecting their journey forward with their values, purpose, and a sense of meaning – whatever that looks like for them.

This approach invites curiosity instead of judgement. Healing isn’t about “fixing” what’s wrong – it’s about understanding what your mind and body are trying to tell you and creating space for you to act with compassion and awareness.

If you are curious about starting therapy, or are already connected with me and want to learn more about this, please reach out here: https://cedarandskywellness.janeapp.com

You don’t need to have all of the answers. Holistic counselling provides a space for you to explore yourself and experiences with support and care.

I’m Rooting For You,

Bailey :)