What is the difference between holistic counselling and traditional counselling?

So what is the difference between holistic counselling and traditional counselling?

Author: Tara J Clarke

Masters in Counselling at Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)

Diploma of Holistic Counselling at Natural Energies College

Professional member of ACA and clinical member of AHHCA

If you are thinking about counselling, you might have heard the term holistic counselling and wondered how it differs from traditional counselling. Is holistic counselling a completely different kind of therapy? What is the difference between holistic counselling and traditional counselling? Does holistic counselling replace conventional counselling? And how do you know which one suits you best?

The simple answer is that holistic counselling is a form of counselling. The main difference lies in how the counsellor understands you as a person and the challenges you face.

What is Holistic Counselling?

Holistic counselling takes a whole-person approach. Instead of focusing only on one issue, it considers how your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, relationships, life circumstances, values, and even spirituality might be connected and influence your overall wellbeing.

This idea fits with wider developments in health and therapy. For instance, George Engel’s biopsychosocial model (1977) showed that health and illness are influenced not just by biological factors but also by psychological and social factors. Similarly, holistic counselling recognises that your emotional struggles are often linked to the bigger picture of your life. You can learn more about what holistic counselling is here

What is Traditional Counselling?

The term traditional counselling covers a wide range of professional approaches. Counsellors may use person-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, psychodynamic approaches, Gestalt therapy, and more. At Signs of Abundance, Tara J Clarke offers all of these approaches and you can visit the site to find out more about the counselling with Tara and the counselling approaches here.

One of the most important influences on modern counselling is Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach (1951). Rogers emphasised the therapeutic relationship—qualities like empathy, acceptance, and genuineness—and trusted the client’s ability to grow and change. He saw the client as a whole person, not just as a set of symptoms.

So, traditional counselling can already be quite individualised and holistic in a sense. It’s not just about fixing a problem but about understanding the person.

How Is Holistic Counselling Different?

Holistic counselling builds on these ideas by intentionally exploring many parts of a person’s life and how they relate to each other. This includes:

• Thoughts and beliefs

• Emotions and patterns of feeling

• Physical sensations and stress responses

• Relationships and social connections

• Past and current life experiences

• Work, family, and environmental situations

• Personal values and beliefs

• Identity and self-esteem

• Life changes and transitions

• Sense of meaning and purpose

• Spirituality (if important to the client)

Not every session will cover all these areas. Instead, the counsellor keeps the whole person in mind to better understand what might be contributing to the challenges you face.

Is One Approach Better Than the Other?

It’s not about one being “better.” The difference is mainly about the framework the counsellor uses to understand your situation.

For example, a counsellor might help with anxiety, grief, or relationship problems. A holistic counsellor will work with the same concerns but also ask broader questions like:

• What else is going on in your life that might affect how you feel?

• How do your experiences affect you emotionally, mentally, physically, and in your relationships?

• Are past experiences influencing your present?

• What matters most to you? What are your values?

• What strengths do you already have?

This doesn’t make counselling more complicated—it helps understand you in context.

What About Spirituality?

Holistic counselling can include spirituality, but it doesn’t have to. Some people find exploring spirituality, meaning, or personal beliefs important for their wellbeing, while others don’t.

A professional holistic counsellor respects your worldview and won’t push spiritual beliefs on you. If spirituality matters to you, it can be part of the counselling. If not, you can focus on your emotions, thoughts, relationships, and life circumstances.

Is Holistic Counselling Evidence-Based?

There isn’t one single standardised form of holistic counselling with a fixed treatment protocol. Instead, holistic counselling is a framework that blends different evidence-based approaches.

Research supports many counselling methods used in holistic counselling, like person-centred therapy, CBT, and psychodynamic approaches. Studies also show the therapeutic relationship—built on trust and empathy—is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes (Flückiger et al., 2018; Wampold & Imel, 2015).

So, holistic counselling doesn’t mean abandoning proven methods. It means using them together thoughtfully, centred around you as a whole person.

Who Might Choose Holistic Counselling?

Holistic counselling may suit you if you feel your difficulties are connected to many parts of your life. You might be:

• Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally tired

• Working through grief or loss

• Facing a big life change

• Struggling with confidence or self-worth

• Feeling stuck or unsure about your direction

• Having relationship challenges

• Wanting to understand emotional patterns

• Seeking greater self-awareness or connection with your values

• Curious about the link between your emotions and physical feelings

• Looking for counselling that sees you as a whole person

You don’t need a diagnosis to seek counselling. Sometimes, you just want a safe, confidential space to understand what’s happening and decide what to do next.

When Might Traditional Counselling Be Better?

If spirituality or exploring broader aspects of life feels uncomfortable or irrelevant to you, traditional counselling focusing on thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and relationships might be a better fit. Many clients find approaches like CBT or person-centred therapy highly effective without needing a spiritual or whole-person focus.

Final Thoughts

Holistic counselling and traditional counselling share much common ground. The key difference is that holistic counselling explicitly considers the whole person and their life context, including spirituality if relevant.

Choosing the right counselling depends on your preferences, needs, and what feels most comfortable for you. The most important thing is finding a counsellor who listens, respects you, and helps you move towards greater wellbeing.

Author: Tara J Clarke

Masters in Counselling at Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)

Diploma of Holistic Counselling at Natural Energies College

Professional member of ACA and clinical member of AHHCA

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References

Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460

Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., & Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000172

Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications, and theory. Houghton Mifflin.

Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate: The evidence for what makes psychotherapy work. Routledge.

Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2019). The role of common factors in psychotherapy outcomes. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 15, 207–231. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050718-095424