When we think of counselling in Australia, the common image is someone sitting across from a therapist, being guided through their thoughts, behaviours, or beliefs. This traditional model—what we might call “head space” work—focuses on thinking patterns, how they influence our actions, and how reshaping them can lead to improved wellbeing.
But what about what we feel?
In recent years, there’s been a quiet but meaningful shift toward something more intuitive and deeply human: heart work. This emerging approach centres on emotional connection, body awareness, and creating space to explore what lies beneath the surface.
Let’s explore the difference between head space and heart work in counselling—and why striking a balance between the two matters.
Head Space: The Thinking Approach
For decades, Australian counselling has largely leaned on cognitive-based therapies like CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). These evidence-based techniques help people identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts, build healthier patterns of thinking, and develop practical coping skills.
These structured approaches are highly effective for treating issues such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Negative self-talk
For many individuals, learning to reframe thoughts or apply psychological strategies can be life-changing.
But sometimes, thought work alone isn’t enough—particularly when the roots of emotional pain run deep.
Heart Work: The Feeling Approach
Heart work in counselling focuses on emotion rather than analysis. It invites clients to slow down, tune into their bodies, and explore questions like:
What am I really feeling? Where is this emotion coming from? What needs attention or healing?
In a heart-centred counselling session, you may not receive a worksheet or action plan. Instead, the therapist may offer space to feel deeply, to cry, to grieve, or to reconnect with parts of yourself that have been silenced.
Heart work is especially powerful for individuals processing:
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief and loss
- Relationship struggles
- Life transitions or identity questions
Rather than trying to “fix” the problem, heart work validates the emotional experience and helps clients move through it—not just think around it.
Why Both Approaches Matter
The truth is, it’s not about choosing one over the other. Thought and feeling are interconnected. Often, unhelpful thoughts stem from unresolved emotional experiences. Likewise, unprocessed emotions can influence the way we think and act.
The most effective counsellors blend both approaches. For example:
- A session might begin by addressing a recurring negative thought, then gently explore its emotional origin.
- Or, it might begin with an emotional release and lead to an examination of the underlying beliefs.
Real therapeutic growth often happens in the space where head and heart meet.
Counselling in the Australian Context
In Australia, the conversation around counselling approaches is especially important due to our cultural diversity. Historically, many government-funded programs have prioritised short-term, measurable outcomes, favouring structured, clinical models.
This has created challenges for emotion-based counselling to be widely recognised or adequately funded.
However, change is happening. Many Australian therapists—particularly those in community health, trauma recovery, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health—are championing heart-centred therapies. In these settings, storytelling, emotional connection, and cultural sensitivity are not only valid—they are vital.
Choosing the Right Support: Heart or Head?
If you’re a counselling student, new professional, or someone seeking support, it can be helpful to ask yourself:
- Do I want tools and strategies to better manage my thoughts? → That’s head work.
- Do I want to feel, process, or release emotions I’ve been carrying? → That’s heart work.
- Do I want both? → That’s often the most holistic approach.
Counselling is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Knowing what kind of support you need can help you find a therapist who aligns with your goals and emotional needs.
In Closing
Good counselling doesn’t require a choice between the head and the heart. It recognises that we are whole people—with thoughts, emotions, experiences, and stories that all deserve attention.
As the counselling profession in Australia evolves, there’s increasing space for both head space and heart work to coexist. Together, they offer a compassionate, balanced, and human path to healing.
