Wellbeing

Wellbeing & restoration.

Care for how you think, how your body holds stress, and what you specifically need. Restorative therapies and contemplative practice, clinically integrated with the psychiatric and psychological care you receive at Karuna. In practical terms: evidence-informed sessions for sleep, stress, movement and nutrition, planned and reviewed alongside your psychiatric and psychological care.

Our approach

Mental health cannot be separated from the practice of body, heart and mind.

Sleep, movement, breath, nutrition, mindset and nervous system state all shape how a person feels, and how well any treatment can take hold. At Karuna, these are part of the clinical picture rather than an afterthought.

Every practice on this page is chosen by our clinicians and offered alongside your care plan, to deepen your healing and broaden your horizons. What is right for one person is not right for another, so the combination is decided with you at assessment and reviewed as you progress.

Many practices can be held virtually. Others take place in person in Byron Bay: quiet rooms, green space, and time that is not rushed.

Restorative yoga and breathwork practice in a light-filled space at Karuna, Byron Bay
"Practices of restoration are not extras. They are the ground that makes the rest of the work possible."
What is available

Four strands, woven into your care.

Restorative therapies, contemplative practice, precision health and functional nutrition. Availability and suitability are confirmed with your clinician.

01

Restorative therapies.

Body-based therapies that help the nervous system settle. Each one is selected for a clinical reason and timed around the rest of your care, so rest becomes something structured rather than something you hope to find.

  • Vibroacoustic therapyLow frequency sound and vibration, received lying down
  • Infrared saunaGentle thermal therapy in a private room
  • HydrotherapyWarm and cool water immersion for recovery
  • VR relaxationImmersive calm environments for people who find stillness hard
  • Yoga & breathworkTrauma-informed movement and breath practice
02

Mind-body practices.

Our meditation and contemplative practices are taught as skills, not moods. They are trauma-sensitive and graded, and paused or adjusted when they are not helping. Led by experienced guides and woven into the clinical fabric of your care, they build the inner capacity that helps change hold.

  • Mindfulness meditationAttention training, taught step by step
  • Loving-kindnessPractices that soften self-criticism
  • BreathworkPaced breathing for regulation and sleep
  • Yoga nidraGuided deep rest, lying down
  • Open awarenessSpacious, choiceless attention practice
  • Group meditationRegular sitting practice, held together
  • Integration circlesFacilitated reflection on what is shifting
03

Precision health.

Good care starts with good information. Where it is clinically indicated, we look at the physical factors that influence mood, energy and cognition, and we explain the findings in plain language.

  • Comprehensive blood analysisReviewed and interpreted by a clinician
  • Genetic insightsWhere relevant to treatment planning
  • Nutritional medicineEvidence-informed, individually assessed
  • Health coachingPractical support for sleep, movement and routine
04

Functional nutrition.

Research continues to clarify how closely the gut and the brain are connected. Our nutrition work attends to the biological foundations of mental health, without overclaiming what food alone can do.

  • Microbiome healthGut focused dietary assessment and support
  • Anti-inflammatory approachesWhole food patterns, adapted to you
  • Targeted nutritional supportConsidered case by case, alongside your medical care
Compassion in Action networks of care

The Health Lodge, and trusted partners.

On site at The Health Lodge in Byron Bay: bath house, massage, sound immersions, sauna and hydrotherapy, offered where clinically and therapeutically appropriate for your needs. Availability varies, so we confirm what is open when we plan your care. Health Lodge practitioners are independent of Karuna.

With trusted partner providers: nutrition, deep ecology, surf, dive and nature-based immersions. Partners are named here once each one is confirmed.

The plunge pool at the Byron Bay Bathhouse, The Health Lodge
The Bathhouse at The Health Lodge, Byron Bay.
How it fits together

Held alongside your clinical care.

Wellbeing at Karuna is not a separate menu you choose from. It sits inside one care plan, with one team.

Assessed first

A clinician reviews your history and current health before any practice is recommended. Some options are not suitable for some people, and we will say so.

One team

Your psychiatrist, psychologist and wellbeing practitioners work from the same plan and communicate with each other, so nothing has to be repeated by you.

Reviewed as you go

What helps in the first month may not be what helps in the fourth. We check in, adjust, and stop what is not useful.

Wellbeing services complement, and do not replace, medical or psychological treatment. Availability varies, and suitability is determined by a qualified clinician following assessment. Individual responses differ, and no particular outcome can be promised.

Take the next step

Begin with a conversation about what you need.

Tell us what you are looking for. Our team will take time to understand your goals and your history, and guide you to the combination of practices best suited to you.

Take the next step → Karuna's services →