What Kokoda Taught Me About Counselling
20 Jul 2026 9:32 AMAfter many years working with people from all walks of life—first responders, veterans, athletes, leaders, teenagers and families—I've learned that most people don't need someone to "fix" them.
What Kokoda Taught Me About Counselling
After more than 30 years walking the Kokoda Track, I've realised that the Track has taught me as much about counselling and psychology as any textbook ever could, its become a classroon.
One lesson stands above the rest.
You can't walk someone else's journey for them.
I've seen people arrive on Kokoda full of doubt. "I'm not sure I can do this."
Every instinct as a guide is to want to take away their struggle. To make the climb easier.
To carry their pack. To solve the problem.
But if I did that, I'd also take away something really important.
The opportunity for them to discover their own strength.
Counselling is much the same. People sometimes think a counsellor's job is to fix problems or provide all the answers. I don't see it that way. My role isn't to walk the journey for someone. It's to walk beside them. To listen. To encourage. To ask the right questions.
To help them notice strengths they've forgotten they possess. On Kokoda, I can point to the mountain. I can explain the path. I can tell the history in depth.
I can remind someone to keep going. But they have to take each step.
And when they reach the top, something powerful happens. They don't say,
"You got me here." They say, "I did it." That's the moment confidence is born.
Not because someone rescued them. But because they discovered they were capable all along. I think that's one of the greatest gifts of counselling and the Kokoda track as a classroom. Not creating dependence. Creating belief.
Helping people move from:
"I can't..." to "Maybe I can..." to "I did."
Whether it's on the Kokoda Track or in a counselling room, transformation rarely comes from someone carrying you. It comes from having someone walk beside you until you realise you can keep walking on your own. And to me, that's what good counselling, history and the Kokoda track classroom is all about.
— Aidan
#Counselling #Kokoda #MentalHealth #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #WalkingBesidePeople #PhoenixProgram #Hope #OneStepAtATime