Counselling. Belonging. Growth.

Counsellor, Wilderness Rites of Passage Guide, Facilitator

Kia ora I’m Bear Heart, your guide to growth and change.
My hope is that together, we can face and move through your life’s challenges, so you can live your brightest, most fulfilling life.

Living and working in Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia
With roots in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand

Ready to grow with counselling?

Contact me and let’s talk to see if we’re a good fit bearheartnz@gmail.com
Or learn more here

The Vision: A thriving community of wild, free and beautiful people


Join us in re-visioning what it means to be a human in this modern world and take a meaningful step towards creating it together!

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it…
and embrace them”.

- Rumi, plus addition by Tara Brach

Men gathered around a campfire at a winter men's retreat in New Zealand
A group of men in front of a waterfall during a winter men's retreat in New Zealand
People sitting in a circle around a campfire inside a large tent at night during a Wilderness Rites of Passage event in New Zealand
A campfire with flames surrounded by rocks at night.
A large group of men intentionally meeting for men's work sitting in a circle. It's in a spacious, modern room with wooden walls and large windows.
Two men sit on a carpeted floor, engaged in an honest, open hearted conversation, while two others sit apart in the background, having a separate discussion.
Two men sit on a rug, holding hands and facing each other, in a room with wooden walls. One man has long hair, a beard, and wears a faux fur vest. The other man wears a hoodie pulled over his head. Three other men are sitting in the background, obser
People dancing and socializing in a large, warmly lit, wooden-walled room with high ceilings and large glass windows at dusk.
A group of people standing with their hands over their hearts, participating in a gentle moment of silent connection, in a room with wooden walls.
Four men sitting in a circle, smiling and engaging in conversation at an indoor gathering or event.
Three men sitting in a circle participate in an activity, with the man in the middle placing his hand on the shoulder of the man on the left, who has his eyes closed.

  • "One of the most meaningful weekends I've had in a long time. It was structured well and everything felt very grounded, opening and purposeful from start to finish."

    - Tom, The Man I Am Retreat

  • "It was so good to be with just men! We had so much fun and it was refreshing to have honest conversations for once"

    - Anonymous, HeartBeat community gathering

  • "I went to this men's retreat to challenge myself & to look deeper inside myself. I experienced all that and more. A perfect blend of nature, adventure, relating, depth and brotherhood, 10/10 would go again."

    - Nate, The Man I Am Retreat

  • It's a welcome reprieve. Feeling silly? Feel free. Letting that undercurrent of anger come up to the surface? Let it be. Wishing to reconnect with your childlike self? Sure, go ahead. There were no expectations, preconceptions, nor judgements on us

    - Jose, HeartBeat community gathering

  • "One of the deepest experiences of my life. The personal growth over the short space of one weekend was incredible. Building such supportive community and brotherhood was invaluable for me."

    - Elias, The Man I Am Retreat

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Auē! Yeow! 🔥🐺🐦‍⬛ Today we start a new men’s circle here in Mullumbimby, Bundjalung country! A beautiful group of men are gathering to feel our way into this work together around the fire The northern rivers is a powerful place with coun
🦅 Meeting country 🐦‍⬛ I’m landing here on Wurundjeri country, finding temporary perches with friends from my home land of Aotearoa. I’ve been looking for vantage points, trying to make sense of this new landscape of concrete, heat,
I’m heading to Naarm Melbourne, do you know men in Australia doing this important community building mahi? After 8 years of building up the community here in Ōtautahi Christchurch it’s time for a refresh and clear eyes My hope there is
Happy International Men’s Day everyone! On Sunday 53 of us gathered to tend the heart of this community of men in Ōtautahi Christchurch. There was plenty of laughs, many a honest share, delicious lunch from Scoundrel, and a top up of the stoke