A growing number of wellness professionals are combining holistic practices with a traditional approach. Clinical mental health counsellor Chris McDonald explains how strategies like mindfulness, breathing and yoga enhance talk therapy by calming the nervous system and strengthening the body connection. She highlights the benefits of addressing clients’ emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs, finding sustainable self-care practices, and managing the stigma sometimes attached to holistic techniques.

If you are new to podcasts, simply click on the arrow to listen to Chris and Mariette, or on the download button to download the conversation onto your device.

In ep. 97 of the weekly podcast series Calm, Clear and Helpful, Chris clarifies

• her journey into holistic counselling

• what “holistic” means 

• the principles of grounding and mindfulness

• the difference between traditional and holistic counselling

• examples of holistic techniques and strategies

• the use of visual fields, e.g. EMDR or Brainspotting

• the benefits of holistic techniques  

• managing the stigma sometimes attached to the use of holistic techniques

• how a holistic practice serves clients and therapists

• the importance of self-care for wellness professionals

• helpful techniques Chris uses to calm down her own anxiety

• how to stay motivated to maintain self-care practices

• Chris’ best self-care tips.

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About Chris 

Chris McDonald is a licensed clinical mental health counsellor and holistic provider with a group online practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a registered yoga teacher, she offers gentle yoga to clients in sessions, workshops and private yoga sessions. Chris specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and grief in young adults in transition. She teaches clients relaxation skills, mindfulness, meditation and Brainspotting. Chris also offers therapy for therapists and wrote the book Self-Care for the Counselor.

Chris hosts The Holistic Counseling Podcast to help mental health therapists integrate holistic strategies into treatment and build a holistic counselling practice.

Websites: https://holisticcounselingpodcast.com/ and www.pathtohopecounseling.com

Email address: chris@holisticcounselingpodcast.com 

Facebook: The Holistic Counseling Podcast

In this interview, podcast host Chris asks Mariette questions about what happens behind the scenes at her wellness podcast, Calm, Clear & Helpful: https://holisticcounselingpodcast.com/podcasts/95-podcasting/

Also listen to caregiver advocate Meriam Boldewijn explaining how a simple self-care system can help caregivers regain their balance.

The free podcast series Calm, Clear & Helpful is available on iTunes, Spotify, Player FM, Pocket Casts and Iono.fm.

Music by Mart-Marie Snyman

Thumbnail image: Unsplash.

Photographs of Chris McDonald: supplied