Caroline Graham
Counsellor, BSc, PG Dip, MBACP
Trauma, Addiction & Spiritual Growth Support
Everyone experiences distress, wonders what life is about or feels a sense of unease they cannot quite put their finger on. It is entirely human and appropriate to reach out for support. I offer warm, non-judgmental counselling, committed to listening, understanding and helping you. Together we can gain further understanding of what has been troubling you, work at shifting something you have been trying to change, or help you in what you are finding difficult to bear.
As an integrative counsellor in Highgate, North London, my approach is relational, drawing on a range of therapeutic skills and tools while placing the quality of our therapeutic relationship at the heart of the work. I believe that through distress, greater wisdom and even joy can arise, and I invite you to work in partnership with me to uncover what will allow for deeper compassionate connection, meaning, and freedom in your relationship with yourself, others, and life.
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I support clients in developing a gentle stance of curiosity which allows us to look more closely at your relationships and beliefs about yourself, others and your life. This can help you discover what is in your control to change, expand your ability to make changes, and can give you greater freedom and connection to life.
My areas of focus
Mindfulness, Meditation & Self Compassion
“Life is available only in the present moment”
Thich Nhat Hanh
Mediation and mindfulness involves a conscious attempt to focus attention on our present moment experiences in a non-analytical and non-ruminating way. Rumination is often experienced as thoughts that go around and around in unhelpful ways.​
Increasing scientific evidence shows those with regular mindfulness and meditation practices experience an expansion in well-being. Such practices can be of benefit to all, from those experiencing depression and anxiety, to those who currently feel content.
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Through these simple practices we can gain deeper understandings of how our mind works. It can facilitate natural and helpful changes in our relationships and behaviour with our self and others.
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Self-compassion practices encourages the development of an inner ally, instead of an inner enemy, it has three components: Self-kindness, common humanity & mindfulness (Neff, 2003).
I am happy to explore such practices with those who are interested.
Walk & Talk Counselling Ecotherapy
Being outdoors in and of itself provides rich conditions for mental well-being.
Nature offers opportunities to connect to many things. For example, awe and wonder, decay and growth, control and powerlessness. It can be a chance to connect to something bigger than ourselves; or simply provide an invitation to slow down and breath deeply.
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Research suggests that time in nature reduces cortisol levels, lowers anxiety, and supports emotional regulation, making it a genuinely therapeutic context in its own right, not simply a backdrop. Moving through green space together can also ease the sometimes-daunting intensity of face-to-face conversation, allowing thoughts and feelings to surface more freely and naturally.
I am lucky enough to be located close to some great outdoor spaces: Parkland Walk, Highgate Woods, Queens Wood & Waterlow Park.
I offer ‘walk and talk’ therapy as an alternative or complement to indoor therapy for those who feel called to work this way.
If you are interested please let me know.
Trauma, Addiction, Spirituality, Psychosexual
My particular interests are trauma, psychosexual themes, drug and alcohol concerns, spiritual matters. These three things are often, though not always, connected.
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Trauma: I work with the latest research based methods which do not invite re-traumatisation and allows safe processing of difficult experiences.
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Addiction treatment: Help is essential to recovery. It can take time to uncover what may have caused it, to learn to manage emotions and to develop an inner ally.
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Spirituality: A broad term with room to include many interpretations. Often it connects to many universal human experiences, with or without religious faith. Whatever your questions and concerns I am here to support your explorations.
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I recognise that there are social factors that contribute to human distress, including: social injustice, oppression, discrimination, generational trauma.
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I do work with a full range of issues including, but not limited to: depression, anxiety, living with cancer / life changing illness, meaning making & spiritual concerns, bereavement, sex, gender and sexuality, self-harm.
Fees & Initial Consultation
Is Counselling For Me?
Did you know that therapists with the same training often offer a very different therapeutic
experience? The best way to figure out whether a therapist is right for you is to meet them face-to-face for an initial session.
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If you feel able to commit to regular therapy sessions, and wish to explore your life as openly as possible, then therapy is likely to be helpful for you.
If you are wondering whether I could be of service to you, do make an appointment for an initial consultation to see if we could be a good fit.
Please note that the therapy room is down a flight of stairs and is, unfortunately, not currently wheelchair accessible.​
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Initial Consultation
This allows you to discuss what brings you to therapy, your hopes and intentions.
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You will be able to get a sense of how I work, raise any questions or concerns, speak about what brings you to therapy at this time, and discuss how you would like us to work together.
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I offer face to face, online video, and telephone counselling. Sessions are usually weekly, lasting for 50 minutes.
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My services include long, medium, short term and
open-ended therapy.
Together we can decide what best suits your needs.
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Fees
I offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation, at the end of which you can decide whether you wish to book an initial session.
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Initial session is £50.
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I offer free/low cost (£0-£25) places to those on benefits or low income. Those places are currently filled.
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My job, as counsellor, is not to tell you what to do. However, I may make suggestions or offer new perspectives.
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