WHATThe Coolum Institute
Facilitating deep, embodied change through action, nature, and systemic transformation.
HOWThe Coolum Institute
Welcome to The Coolum Institute. Officially launching on 1 Sep 2026, the Institute represents a culmination of 25 years of leadership, clinical expertise, and specialised therapeutic practice. We move beyond traditional talk therapy to offer dynamic, action-based programs designed for high-functioning professionals and individuals seeking profound personal breakthroughs. Please follow the links to see our specialised programs.
Change Through Action
We believe that lasting transformation requires more than just conversation; it requires movement, rehearsal, and embodiment. By integrating psychodrama and experiential methods, we move beyond traditional talk therapy. We help you safely step out of ingrained behavioural patterns and actively practice new, empowering ways of living and leading.
Systemic Integration
We bridge the gap between deep psychological healing and high-level professional performance. Recognising that individuals and organisations are complex systems, our approach honours your whole self. We provide clinical depth that respects your personal history while delivering strategic, actionable clarity for your executive reality.
Grounded Agency
Growth flourishes when we are deeply connected to our environment and our inner resources. Whether regulating the nervous system on a beach walk or coastal trail, mastering emotional awareness in a retreat, or navigating workplace culture, our goal is to build your capacity for self-leadership. We equip you with the tools to take active, confident control of your personal and professional trajectory.
SERVICESCore Programs & Services
1. The Retreats (Psychodrama & Action Methods) Immersive, monthly weekend workshops held on Saturdays and Sundays. These retreats utilise the power of psychodrama and experiential action methods to help participants explore group dynamics, overcome ingrained behavioural patterns, and rehearse new, empowering ways of living in a safe, dynamic environment.
2. Executive Coaching, Counselling & Ecotherapy Ongoing, customised 1:1 sessions designed for leaders, executives, and professionals. This pillar offers flexible delivery tailored to your needs: secure telehealth sessions to maintain momentum regardless of your schedule, or in-person “walk and talk” ecotherapy exploring the restorative paths around Coolum Beach to regulate the nervous system and encourage open-minded processing.
3. The 3Ms Training A signature framework designed for comprehensive personal and organisational transformation. The 3Ms training provides concrete, actionable strategies for shifting workplace cultures, enhancing leadership capability, and fostering environments where both individuals and teams can thrive.
Weekend Retreats
Executive Telehealth
Coastal Ecotherapy
The 3Ms Training
Action-Based Therapy
Personal and Organisational Change
FREQUENTLY ASKEDConcerns & Questions
What is the Coolum Institute?
Founded in 2026 by Founder and Clinical Director, Dr Patrick Pheasant, the Coolum Institute is a specialised centre focused on action-oriented psychotherapy and executive coaching. Integrating decades of leadership experience with clinical practice, we utilise experiential methods to help individuals and organisations achieve lasting, embodied change. Our dedicated website and expanded programs will officially launch on August 14, 2026.
What is the 3Ms Training?
The 3Ms Training™️ is our signature framework designed for systemic organisational change and personal leadership development. Standing for Metacognition (awareness of our thought patterns), Meta-emotion (understanding and regulating how we process feelings), and Metaxis (the ability to hold multiple perspectives and safely rehearse new ways of acting), this tailored program provides actionable strategies to shift workplace cultures. It moves beyond standard professional development by utilising experiential methods to build cohesive, high-functioning teams and enhance individual leadership capability from the inside out.
How does Ecotherapy (Walk and Talk) work?
Instead of sitting face-to-face in a traditional consultation room, we walk side-by-side through the natural environments of Mt Coolum and Coolum Beach. The combination of physical movement, bilateral stimulation from walking, and the calming presence of nature helps reduce anxiety and allows clients to process complex emotions more freely.
How does Executive Telehealth Coaching & Counselling work?
Our telehealth sessions offer the deep work of clinical counselling combined with strategic executive coaching, accessible from anywhere. Delivered via secure video link, this flexible approach is designed specifically for leaders and high-performing professionals whose schedules or locations make regular in-person sessions difficult. It allows you to maintain momentum in addressing stress, burnout, and performance without interrupting your professional commitments.
Who are the monthly weekend retreats for?
“The Retreats” are designed for individuals looking to go deeper than traditional 1:1 sessions. Utilising psychodrama and action methods, these Saturday and Sunday workshops are held monthly and are ideal for those wanting to safely explore interpersonal dynamics, resolve past trauma, or break through creative and professional blocks in a supportive group setting.
SERVICES
LOCATIONS
Sunshine Coast
Level 2, 1794 David Low Way, Coolum Beach QLD 4573