Welcome. I'm Anthony
A few years ago, if you'd told me my life's work would involve paints, canvas, a sewing needle, and a therapeutic space, I would have laughed. But looking around today, I know this is exactly where I belong.
I am a Master Practitioner in Holistic Counselling and Holistic Art Therapy, a digital designer, and a traditional maker. To me, these aren't separate paths, they are different expressions of the same essential thing: making sense of the world, processing our stories, and creating space for something new to grow.
Why the Carp?
My practice operates under the banner of The Holistic Carp, a name rooted in an ancient legend: The Story of the Dragon Gate.
A small golden carp named Ao lived in a muddy, turbulent river. While the other fish stayed in the shallows, Ao dreamed of the sky. He swam upstream against a brutal current until he reached a massive waterfall known as the Dragon Gate. Stronger fish tried to force their way up with raw power alone and were smashed back down. Ao did something different. He watched the water, learned its rhythm, and waited. Then, with one focused leap, he cleared the summit. As he landed, his scales transformed into shining armour, and he became a magnificent dragon, soaring into the sky.
My Journey Beyond the Gate
For a long time, I lived in that muddy river. From the outside, things looked fine. I spent over 20 years in customer service and retail, was well-respected, and kept it all together. But on the inside, I was exhausted, tired of simply getting by.
In 2024, my physical health took a serious hit when I discovered that 15% of my kidney had died. I managed to quit smoking, but the emotional current kept raging. I leaned heavily on medical cannabis and CBD oil daily just to stay calm enough to function.
When I began seeing a psychologist, the water became even more turbulent. The repressed anger of a lifetime came exploding out of me. The day after sessions, I would experience uncontrollable rage, feeling like a passenger in my own body. It was terrifying, and I had to pause therapy just to catch my breath.
When I returned to therapy and eventually walked away from retail, I felt completely lost. The thought of standing behind a register again or working for anyone else felt crippling. Simply trying to write a job application caused sleepless nights, and the anxiety was overwhelming.
Late December 2024, my best friend sent me a link with a simple message: "Use art to heal and learn to heal others."
After a long conversation, I found the courage to call. I remember standing in the rain beneath the giant fig trees in my driveway, explaining how much I needed help, and feeling a flicker of genuine excitement at the thought of learning to help others at the same time. When the voice on the other end said, "This will be perfect for you," I signed up that day.
That night, I stepped outside and noticed a glow-in-the-dark mushroom beneath the tree, something I hadn't even known grew on the Sunshine Coast. In that quiet moment, I knew things were about to change.
And they did. By the end of 2025, I was completely sober, finally living a genuinely happy life without the need to self-medicate. Like Ao, reaching the top of the falls meant shedding my old scales. I had to release the heavy defense mechanisms that had once protected me in the muddy river to make room for real strength.
The Turning Point
My approach is gentle, grounded, and deeply human. I don't see life's challenges as problems to be quickly fixed, I see them as landscapes to be explored.
Because I have walked through the mud, the rage, the anxiety, and the burnout, and navigated the unique currents of life as a gay man, I will never judge where you are right now. Talk therapy is incredibly valuable, but sometimes our deepest emotions don't speak in words. They speak in colours, symbols, textures, and shapes. By combining holistic counselling with art therapy, I offer a space where you can look past the noise and find your own rhythm.
You don't need to call yourself an artist to step through this door. You just need a willingness to look up. Together, we'll find the openings in the waterfall and begin to bridge the gap between mind and heart.
A Holistic Approach
Qualifications & Membership
My practice is guided by lived experience and intuition, grounded firmly in professional training and industry standards.
Master Practitioner of Holistic Counselling and Holistic Art Therapy (MPHAT)
Registered Member: International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT)
True wellness means looking at the whole picture, mind, body, and spirit, and finding the courage to shed the old armour so you can step into your own resilient strength.
An Invitation to Deepen Your Journey
True healing thrives in connection, and I am here to help you hold that space. If you are ready to gently explore what is happening beneath the surface , I invite you to take the next step with one of my tailored services