This free introductory course offers a gentle, experiential introduction to the Metavision approach to holistic counselling.
Begin with Lesson 1 below. You’ll find short videos and reflective exercises to guide you through each step. Take your time and move at your own pace.
Begin by reviewing the introductory materials below,
then move through each lesson at your own pace to explore further.
Although introductory in nature, this course offers deep insights and meaningful perspectives drawn from Metavision’s holistic philosophy.
We invite you to take your time with the material — to not only understand it intellectually, but to reflect on how it resonates within your own life journey.
To gain the most from this experience:
Set aside quiet, uninterrupted time for each topic.
Engage with one topic at a time, allowing space for reflection and integration between sessions.
You might like to allocate around an hour per topic across different days.
Begin by watching this short Introduction to Metavision video, which will orient you to the foundations and spirit of our approach.
Settle in with this short podcast, where we introduce the Metavision Model of Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy in Practice.
As you listen, notice what resonates for you — and how these ideas connect to your own life experience or professional path.
Reflection prompts (optional):
Which part of the model feels most familiar or affirming?
Where do you feel curious, challenged, or called to explore more deeply?
How might this perspective influence the way you understand healing and human development?
This introduction to process-oriented meditation offers a fresh perspective on the emerging field that bridges Western psychotherapy with Eastern meditative traditions — bringing them together into a single, holistic system of self-awareness and transformation.
Working on Yourself Alone: Inner Dreambody Work
by Arnold Mindell
In this lesson, you’ll explore the foundations of inner work —
and what it means to cultivate a truly holistic way of seeing and being.
You’ll be invited to reflect on your own inner landscape and begin to
understand how self-awareness forms the heart of holistic practice.
In this introductory video, Dee explores the principles of Process Work — a foundational approach within Metavision’s holistic framework.
You’ll gain an understanding of how Process Work supports personal growth, transformation, and awareness in both self and others.
This exercise offers a brief, guided taste of working on yourself alone (after Mindell) to gently unfold the message within a body symptom.
Core premise: your body is a wise, integrated system that sends signals to invite your awareness. As you listen and reflect, you may notice patterns and possibilities for change that help you move more in harmony with your life’s unfolding.
A gentle note: There are no right or wrong answers here. Some people may find it difficult to access this inner space — that’s okay. It can take practice, a sense of safety, and support. If strong feelings arise or you’d like guidance, you’re welcome to reach out and we can connect you with a Metavision graduate or student practitioner.
Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted.
Have a notebook nearby for reflections.
Consider setting a timer for 15–20 minutes to move slowly and without rushing.
Watch the short demonstration video to see how the exercise works.
Choose one body symptom (e.g., tension, ache, restlessness). Keep it mild and manageable.
Pause and notice
Where is it located?
What is the quality (tight, heavy, pulsing, hot/cold)?
What image, word, colour, or movement comes to mind?
Amplify gently
If it feels safe, slightly exaggerate the shape, posture, breath, or micro-movement that matches the symptom’s quality.
Stay curious: What is this part trying to express?
Dialogue with the experience
Ask: If you had a voice, what would you say? What do you want for me? What do you need from me?
Jot down a few phrases that stand out.
Harvest the message
Translate what you’ve discovered into a simple, kind action or stance you could bring into daily life (e.g., “Take pauses between tasks,” “Speak more directly,” “Soften shoulders before calls”).
Return and ground
Release the amplification, breathe, feel your feet, and orient to the room. Take a sip of water.
You can do this as inner work on your own or with a trusted friend who can read the steps aloud and pause the audio for you.
What surprised me about the symptom’s “voice” or image?
What quality or movement is this part asking me to include more of in my life?
What small, compassionate experiment can I try this week?
If you feel overwhelmed, stop, ground, and return to the present (look around the room, name five things you see).
This exercise is educational and not a substitute for therapy or medical care. If symptoms persist or you have concerns, please seek professional support.
To work with a Metavision graduate or student, get in touch and we’ll connect you.
This guided practice invites you to follow a body symptom and discover the message it may hold for your life right now. Move slowly, stay curious, and pause the audio whenever you need more time.
Before you begin:
Find a quiet space and a comfortable position.
Have a notebook handy for brief notes before and after.
Choose a mild, manageable symptom or sensation to work with.
Ask yourself: What’s happening in my life now? Is there a question, challenge, or decision I’m grappling with?
Jot a few words so you have a clear context for today’s practice.
Close your eyes and check in with your body.
Notice any pain, tension, pressure, restlessness, or other sensations.
Choose one symptom/sensation to follow. Write a note naming it.
Stay with the sensation and describe it as sensory experience, not diagnosis:
heat, cool, tight, heavy, pulsing, twisting, pinching; sharp/soft; still/moving.
Where is it located? Does it change as you notice it?
If it feels safe, amplify the quality just a little (through posture, breath, micro-movement, or a simple hand gesture).
Let sounds or spontaneous movements arise if they want to.
Notice any images, words, colours, symbols, or emotions that come.
Stay with the experience until it feels expressed enough.
Ask inwardly:
If you had a voice, what would you say?
Why are you here? What do you want for me? What do you need from me?
Trust what arises. It might be a phrase (e.g., “stop overreaching”), a picture, or a felt sense.
Revisit your notes from Part 1.
How does this message relate to your current question or challenge?
Where might this be inviting a shift in how you think, act, or relate?
Name one small, concrete action that would honour the message this week (e.g., “pull back on commitments,” “take pauses between tasks,” “speak more directly in meetings”).
Notice any edge (resistance or discomfort). Acknowledge it, stay close, and choose one gentle step you can realistically take.
Ground: feel your feet, open your eyes, orient to the room, take a sip of water.
Optional reflection prompts
What surprised me about the symptom’s voice or image?
What quality is this part asking me to include more of in daily life?
What’s one compassionate experiment I’ll try this week?
Practice notes
You can do this on your own or with a friend who reads the steps aloud and pauses the audio.
It’s normal if nothing “big” happens or if access feels patchy—there are no right or wrong answers.
Support & care
If strong feelings arise or you feel overwhelmed, pause the practice, orient to the present, and seek support.
This exercise is educational and not a substitute for medical or therapeutic care.
In this final lesson, we explore the Journey Principle —
a core concept in the Metavision model — and how it connects with your soul’s deeper calling.
In this lesson, we explore the concept of the Journey Principle — the idea that each of us is attuned to a unique rhythm, or soul’s calling, that shapes the path of our lives.
This calling, sometimes referred to as our life myth, represents the deeper pattern or theme that runs through our experiences. Learning to listen for this inner tune helps us recognise what brings meaning and direction to our personal and professional journey.
As you watch the introduction and listen to the accompanying podcast, take time to reflect on:
What are the recurring patterns or themes in your life story?
When have you felt most “in tune” with yourself and your purpose?
How might your soul’s calling be guiding the next step of your journey?
We invite you to use the self-reflective journaling questions provided to deepen your exploration.
If you feel inspired to discuss your insights or to learn more about Metavision’s courses, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’d love to hear from you.
In this podcast conversation, Rose Harvey and Indigo Melrose speak with Christina Nielson, the founder of Metavision Institute, about her own soul’s calling and the journey that led to the creation of Metavision.
Through this heartfelt dialogue, Christina shares how her background in Social Work, Chinese Medicine, Anthroposophy, and Process Oriented Psychology wove together to form the holistic model of counselling and psychotherapy that Metavision teaches today.
The conversation explores the deeper mysteries of life — and how each of us can learn to listen for the quiet guidance of our own calling.
After listening to the podcast, take some time to reflect and journal your responses to the self-reflective questions below, connecting Christina’s story to your own life journey and emerging sense of purpose.
After listening to the podcast, take some time to explore the questions below as an inner work exercise.
Find a quiet, comfortable space, and allow your reflections to unfold gently — writing from the heart rather than analysing from the mind.
Reflection prompts:
What are the recurring threads or themes that run through your life?
Do any of these feel connected to your soul’s calling?
How does the organising principle discussed in the podcast show up in your own life?
What are your thoughts on there being a “rightness” to things — and how does this understanding influence your perspective or the way you move through the world?
Looking back over the three lessons in this course, what have you learned that will support you as you continue on your path?
To deepen your reflection, you may wish to explore the following practices:
Unfolding a Flirt — Inner Work Exercise
A guided exploration for recognising and engaging with subtle signals or “flirts” that invite your awareness into new aspects of self.
The Prayer of Surrender — Rudolf Steiner
A meditative reflection offering a way to release control and align more deeply with life’s unfolding wisdom.
As you reach the end of this introductory course, we hope it has offered valuable insight into Metavision’s holistic approach and inspired reflection on your own path of growth and transformation.
This is just the beginning of the journey. If what you’ve explored here has resonated, we invite you to stay connected and continue deepening your learning:
Reach out — book a call with a member of our team to discuss your study pathway and understand your options.
Explore our website for more information about Metavision’s accredited courses and upcoming events.
Ask questions or share reflections — we’d love to hear how this introduction has supported or inspired you.
A long-time Metavision team member, Deanne brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep commitment to inner work.
She leads the Bridging Course and supports students to connect with themselves and their learning journey.
If you’re feeling called to deepen your journey into holistic counselling and psychotherapy, we’d love to support you.
Book a call with our team to explore your next steps or
discover our accredited courses and start your path toward professional training.
Metavision Institute is deeply grateful to the traditional custodians for their continuous custodianship and care of this unceded land and, specifically, Turrbal Country on which we live and work.
Our higher education courses are not offered to international students studying in Australia on a student visa.
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