How counselling in nature can support you this holiday season
Outdoor counselling and coaching for deep-feeling and creative humans in North Brisbane and Scarborough
As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to find yourself reflecting on the year that’s been. For many of us, this season can stir up a mixed bag of emotions. Perhaps there’s gratitude for what’s been or what’s to come, there might be stress from lingering to-do lists, and perhaps even feelings of longing, loss, or overwhelm. If you’re looking for support and counselling in North Brisbane during this time, nature-based counselling sessions are a supportive space to explore what’s on your mind and in your heart. In particular, outdoor counselling (or nature-based counselling) is a grounding approach that allows you to reconnect with nature while working through what’s most important to you.
Let’s explore why this approach is becoming increasingly popular and how it might benefit you.
Why nature counselling?
Modern life has a habit of pulling us away from nature. We spend a lot of our time indoors, connected to screens, sitting under air conditioning and bright lights, and it can be rare to take a moment to pause and quite literally breathe in the fresh air.
Outdoor counselling in North Brisbane offers something different - a way to step outside the walls of a traditional therapy room and into the natural world, where processing and clarity can unfold; and where the stresses and pressures can melt away.
Nature has long been recognised as a powerful source of healing. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can reduce stress, improve mood, and even lower blood pressure. Combining these benefits with counselling creates a meaningful space for connection - not just with your therapist, but with yourself and the world around you.
Traditional talk therapy isn’t for everyone. Sitting across from a therapist can feel very intense, or even confrontational. Taking therapy outdoors has been shown to have strong outcomes for improved wellbeing and reduction of symptoms.
Time to pause and time to rest. Our modern times are relentless and our nervous systems aren’t built for this relentless strain. Finding time and space to pause and to rest can be immensely challenging when we’re in the pattern of busy-ness. These sessions offer space away from the to-do’s and permission to pause. Through this we can reconnect to what it feels like to slow down (even just a little) and find simple ways to bring this into everyday life.
Sessions are held in beautiful, semi-private nature spaces in North Brisbane and Moreton region - so you have a choice of green parklands, or ocean-side spaces.
The benefits of outdoor counselling in Brisbane’s beautiful natural spaces
Some of the benefits folks experience from nature-based sessions include:
Grounding and regulation
The sights, sounds, and smells of nature have a calming effect on the nervous system. Whether it’s the gentle rustle of leaves, the warmth of sunlight on your skin, the sound of the ocean waves, or the grounding sensation of walking barefoot on grass, these sensory experiences can help you feel more present and regulated. This is particularly helpful if you’re experiencing anxiety, stress, or emotional overwhelm.Perspective and clarity
Nature has a way of putting things into perspective. Sitting under a vast sky or walking among towering trees can create a sense of spaciousness that mirrors the process of self-discovery and creating internal space that we work on in counselling. It’s a reminder that, even in the thick of life, there are spaces where we can go to breathe, to slow, to unpack, to release…Movement and flow
Many people find it easier to express themselves while walking. Movement can help release tension and emotions that might feel stuck, allowing thoughts and feelings to flow more naturally. Outdoor counselling often incorporates gentle walking or mindful movement, tailored to your needs and comfort level.Connection and playfulness
Nature encourages connection - both with yourself and the environment around you. For some, this might look like quiet reflection; for others, it could involve playful exploration, like noticing the textures of leaves or watching birds. This sense of curiosity and connection can be deeply restorative.
Who Is nature-based counselling for?
Brisbane nature-based counselling is for anyone who feels drawn to the outdoors as a space for healing and reflection. It can be particularly helpful if you:
Feel stuck or disconnected and want to reconnect with yourself.
Struggle with anxiety, depression, or stress and are seeking calm and balance.
Want to explore relationship challenges or deepen your emotional awareness.
Are navigating life transitions or grief and need a grounding, supportive space.
Whether you’re new to counselling or have tried traditional therapy before, outdoor counselling in North Brisbane offers a refreshing, non-clinical alternative.
You do not need to feel ‘broken’ or ‘unwell’ to access this support. Many of the individuals I work with aren’t looking for or needing ‘therapy’ in the traditional sense.
Instead, they are craving a space to understand themselves better. They often have enjoyable outside lives, yet inside, feel there’s some inner experiences or processes that feel unseen, confusing, or misaligned to them. They may wish to explore a side of themselves or ways of being that are new or have not been expressed externally for a while.
They may wish to deepen their awareness of and understanding of their inner signals, and how tuning in to the body, heart and mind through nature, creative expression, and self expression, supports them to find paths back to a felt sense of safety.
Some people connect with me at a point where they feel okay, yet there’s a persistent yearning for a deeper, more fulfilling connection to self, others and purpose.
Some speak of feeling isolated because they don’t fit into a box; or they feel stuck with how to move toward their vision for a more congruent and passionate future.
Some have tried traditional talk therapies and are looking for something different - a space that holds their creativity, diversity, and nervous system needs, that is focused around building their own inner ecosystem of resourcing and self leadership - a holistic and whole-person approach deeply based in relational safety that meets them where they are.
They describe longing for supportive spaces from which to reconnect to self, deepen self-expression, and set forth on their new path towards more meaning, passion, connection, safety, aliveness and creativity in their day-to-day life.
What to expect from nature-based counselling
I think differently about mental health and I don’t think it always fits into the medical model (though I am very supportive of some of the wonderful evidence-based approaches which continue to make a big difference for people).
While I am therapeutically trained, and have a background in clinical social work, this way of working is different to maybe the way you've worked before.
This is a more fluid process, led by you, and supported by my mental health qualifications and experience, as well as our human experiences, intuition and innovative, creative minds - because you have the answers within your body, heart and mind.
It’s a blending of social work principles (seeing the whole person within the context of their experiences, environments, and history), counselling and coaching approaches - where you’re supported holistically and flexibly towards finding your own truth, answers, and resourcing - while still being grounded in ethics and evidence-based best practice.
This is your time to step back from external narratives, to listen to those subtle signals and cues that are yearning to be heard - the inner communications that are such powerful clarity bringers when given the space to share their wisdom with us.
Hey, I’m Jasmin Courtney (she/her). As a counsellor based in North Brisbane, I’m here to support you in a way that feels collaborative, creative, and tailored to your needs. Whether we meet over video sessions, or step outdoors into one of Brisbane’s beautiful natural spaces, our sessions will be guided by your goals, preferences, and pace.
If you’re curious about outdoor counselling, we can explore local parks and walking paths that offer privacy and serenity - places where you can feel at ease to share, reflect, and connect. Some clients prefer to walk and talk, while others enjoy sitting quietly in nature to soak in the environment’s calming energy. There’s no right or wrong way; the experience is yours to shape.
Finding the right support for you
If you’re searching for a North Brisbane counsellor or curious about nature-based counselling in Brisbane, I’d love to connect with you. Together, we can explore what feels most supportive for your individual needs and goals.
Sometimes, the hardest part of starting therapy is reaching out. Whether you’re ready to dive into deep exploration or want a space to be heard and understood in what it means to you to be human, nature may just be the place that feels just right for you to start this process.
Your invitation to reconnect
If this approach resonates with you, please feel welcome to reach out and we can chat about how these nature-based sessions could look for you.
My approach is to offer longer sessions of 75 minutes each, across a block of 6 or 9 sessions - allowing us to work in depth, across a shorter period of time - with a strong focus on resourcing your mind, body and heart with the tools that will continue to support you long after our work together has finished.
Sessions are held in-person, in a range of beautiful and semi-private outdoor spaces around the Brisbane region.
Current locations: Clayfield (Brisbane) & Scarborough (Moreton Bay).
Not in Brisbane? We can also bring these layers of creativity and nature through into video sessions.
Book your first session in today.
Jasmin Courtney
