Brave journeys

24/02/2026

Grief is a strange thing.

It hits you in the moment like a wave you did not see coming. Shock, tears, numbness, anger, guilt, disbelief… sometimes all in the same hour. And then in the days that follow it at times, slips into the quiet spaces. The empty chair. The song on the radio. The thing you needed to do before you remembered it was not needed any more….😔

You cannot ignore grief. You can try to stay busy, try to be strong for everyone else, try to tell yourself you are fine… but grief sits beside you until it is heard. It asks to be felt. Every painful emotion, every memory, every tear.

I am writing this from a place of personal experience right now. Just because I am a therapist I am not immune to hard emotions.

It’s very real, and it’s something I gently remind people in my room at Thrive and I have to remind myself and my loved ones.
Grief is not a problem to fix. It is love with nowhere to go.
It’s unfinished love that you never realised existed till now…..
And it’s bloody sore!

Grief is normal. It is part of being human. Part of loving deeply.
There is no right timeline. No neat stages. Some days you will cope. Some days you will not. Both are okay.

If you are grieving right now, be kind to yourself. Eat something small. Get a bit of fresh air. Talk if you can. Cry if you need. Sit quietly if that is all you have. You are not broken. You are grieving.

And if it feels too heavy to carry on your own, please reach out. You do not and should not have to walk this road alone.

And remember grief hits children and young people just as hard… even though they do not show it as readily!

Remembering all the good times and everything I have been taught.

Graham
Brave Journeys 💛

23/02/2026

Please reach out if you need support through an eating disorder.

23rd February - 1st March is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Do not struggle alone-reach out for support.

23/02/2026

Something new is coming.
I am creating a space where little hearts learn big emotional skills...
Where confidence can gently grow and develop...
Where Theatre and emotional wellbeing meet...
Brave Little Hearts launches soon.

A 60 min class for 4-8 year olds

Comment below if you are interested.

22/02/2026

There are lots of appointments free this coming week at Brave Journeys and I’ve opened up new online sessions on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings for anyone who works shifts, has school runs, or just needs a quiet slot when the house is calmer.

I see clients all over the UK and abroad, so if you’re an expat in Spain or Germany or just tucked away somewhere rural, we can still sit and talk.

And I’m really pleased to share that our lovely new counsellor Angela is now seeing clients in person on Tuesday nights at Thrive in Ellon. She’s warm, thoughtful, and very easy to talk to. I’m genuinely delighted to have her alongside me.

If you’ve been thinking maybe I should talk to someone, this might be the wee nudge you needed.

No fixing. No judgement. Just time, honesty, and a place to breathe.

Drop me a message here, email graham@bravejourneys.co.uk, or call 01358 286439.
And if money is tight, ask about our Access for All Fund. We’ll always try to help.

Take care of yourself this week. You matter. 🌱

21/02/2026

In my Tiny Talents class we are performing The boy, The mole, The fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy. In it there is a line where the mole responds to the boy telling him he wants to be kind when he grows up

“Being kind to yourself is the greatest of all kindnesses…. Nothing beats kindness, it sits quietly beyond all things”

And honestly… that’s it. That’s the whole lesson.

Anyone who knows me knows I go on about kindness all the time. I’m sure folk roll their eyes and think “Here he goes again.” But I’ve lived a life and worked with enough children, families, and hurting adults to know this is the truth:

Kindness IS the foundation of everything.

It’s the start of healing.
It’s the start of friendship.
It’s the start of confidence.
It’s the start of hope.

I’ve seen kids bloom because just one person noticed them.
I’ve seen parents soften because someone listened without judgement.
I’ve seen people find their feet again because they were treated gently when they felt broken.

But here’s the bit we forget…

Kindness isn’t just for other people.

It’s for you too.

It’s speaking kindly to yourself when you mess up.
It’s resting when you are tired instead of calling yourself lazy.
It’s forgiving yourself for not being perfect.
It’s asking for help when you are struggling.

Because if you are cruel to yourself, the world starts to feel cruel as well.

In my little theatre group, I watched wee faces saying big words about love and courage, and I thought… if they learn kindness young, really learn it, the world could be a gentler place.

So here’s me, piping on about it again…

Be kind to others.
Be kind to yourself.
Choose kindness even when it’s hard. In fact especially when it’s hard.

Because kindness isn’t a small thing.
It’s everything.

Graham, 🧡
Brave Journeys

19/02/2026

🌱 New Little Course Idea… Can I Ask Your Thoughts?

Over the years, working with young people through Brave Journeys and in my HMTS theatre classes, I’ve been thinking more and more about something…

What if we helped children understand feelings before they get overwhelmed by them?

So I’m thinking about starting a gentle, creative course for ages 4–8 called Brave Little Hearts.

It would be full of stories, games, drama, music, drawing and calm down tools.
Simple things like
• understanding big feelings
• what to do when you’re cross
• brave thinking when you’re worried
• kindness and friendship
• building confidence

As a therapist, and a dad of six, I know how much difference this can make later on. So much pain we see in teens starts with feelings that were never understood when they were small.

Sessions would likely be in Tarves / Ellon area, small groups, 6 weeks long, with little take home ideas for parents too.

Before I plan properly, I’d love to know…

👉 Would this interest your child?
👉 What days or times would work best?
👉 What topics would be best to work on.

Just comment below or message me privately.

If there’s enough interest, we’ll make it happen.

Graham 💛
Brave Journeys

19/02/2026

This is something that’s been heavy on my heart since I came across a photo today of someone I once worked with who is no longer with us!

Over the years there have been a number of young people in my life who have ended their own lives. And the hardest part is… that number never stops growing. Not just in my circle, but across our communities, our schools, our families.

It worries me deeply.
It saddens me.
And if I’m honest, it frightens me too.

Because it tells me that so many young people are carrying pain that feels too big, too lonely, too hopeless to share. Indeed I am hearing how overwhelmed our kids are that specialist services won’t see them until they are in a more settle place!

We are still in a mental health crisis.
You can feel it in classrooms, in rehearsal rooms, in counselling sessions, in the quiet conversations parents have at the school gate, and in the random conversations we have on the street.
And right now it doesn’t feel like it’s slowing down.

But here is what I also know.

Talking helps.
Being seen helps.
Having at least one safe adult who listens without fixing or judging can change everything.

I am not an expert with magic answers. I’m just a therapist and a dad of six kids, who cares deeply about young people and families. At Brave Journeys I sit with kids, teens and parents every week who feel lost, overwhelmed, angry, scared… and together we find small ways forward.

If your child is struggling, or you are, please don’t wait until it feels unbearable. Reach out. Speak to someone. If it’s not me someone else, just find your person!

Through the Brave Journeys Access for All Fund we can offer part funded or fully funded sessions when money is tight. Because getting help should never depend on what’s in your bank account.

You are not alone.
Your child is not alone.
There is always someone who will listen.

If you need to talk, just message me.
Graham 💛
Brave Journeys

18/02/2026

“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

I know it’s a phrase that gets used a lot.

I see it every single week in the therapy room.

Parents running on fumes and holding it together for everyone else.
Young people trying to be strong for their friends.
People who look fine on the outside… but feel absolutely drained inside.

We live in a world that quietly rewards self neglect.
Keep going.
Push through.
Don’t make a fuss.
Other people have it worse.

And before you know it, you’re exhausted. Snappy. Tearful. Numb.
Or just… flat.

Pouring from an empty cup doesn’t just mean being tired.
It means you’ve been giving emotionally, mentally, sometimes physically, with nothing coming back in.

Rest isn’t weakness.
Boundaries aren’t selfish.
Saying “I’m not able to do that right now” isn’t letting people down.

It’s maintenance and self care!

At Brave Journeys, I don’t fix people.
I don’t tell you to be more positive.
I don’t hand out magic strategies.

I offer time.
Warmth.
Honesty.
A place where you don’t have to hold it all together.

Sometimes refilling your cup starts with finally admitting it’s empty.

If you’re running on empty just now, you don’t have to keep doing that alone.

I’m here waiting for you

Graham
Brave Journeys 🧡

17/02/2026

I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Brave Journeys is sponsoring the KWS Junior Fun Runs at Run Barra 2026 💛🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

The event is organised by Kayleigh’s Wee Stars, who do incredible work supporting families at thier most vulnerable, and the Junior Fun Runs are such a special part of Run Barra. We’ll be cheering on lots of brilliant young runners as they head for that finish line moment with hope, courage, and a whole lot of heart!

At Brave Journeys, I care deeply about children and young people feeling supported, seen and encouraged – whether that’s in counselling or crossing a finish line. So this feels like a perfect fit for us.

If you’ve got a young person who would love the buzz of race day, why not get them signed up and let them experience that proud, medal round the neck moment?

Find out more and register here:
https://www.kayleighsweestars.co.uk/events/run-barra-2026

16/02/2026

Sometimes life just gets… heavy.
You keep going, you keep smiling, you keep saying “I’m fine”… and inside you’re knackered.

That’s usually the moment folk reach out to me at Brave Journeys.

Not because I’ve got magic answers.
Not because I’m an expert who will fix you.
But because sitting with someone who listens properly, who’s honest, warm, and human… can change things more than you think.

If your child is struggling.
If your teen won’t talk.
If you feel lost, angry, anxious, stuck, or just a bit done…

You don’t have to carry it on your own.

Send me a wee message.

Let’s have a chat and see if it feels right.
No pressure.

Or share this someone else see’s it that needs to!

Just a first step on your Brave Journey!

Graham🧡

15/02/2026

My theatre group is deep diving into this with my tiny talents classes, and what meaningful conversations come out of it with my kids. (4-7). Don’t underestimate the emotional
Intelligence of this age group….
Given the chance, and the right environment they can connect and understand.
Seldom am I left not smiling from my heart after these classes!

14/02/2026

Children’s Mental Health – What I’m Seeing Right Now

In my therapy room at Brave Journeys, I’m meeting more and more children and young people who are carrying a lot.

They are bright. Funny. Kind. Thoughtful.
And they are overwhelmed!

Children today are living with pressures that many of us never had at their age:

• Social media comparison and fear of missing out
• Friendship fallouts that follow them home on a phone
• Academic pressure and fear of getting it wrong
• Big transitions like moving to secondary school
• Family worries they absorb without words
• Poor sleep, constant screens, busy lives
• News and world events that feel frightening

And one thing I’m seeing more and more is emotionally based school refusal.

These children are not lazy.
They are not manipulative.
They are scared.

Their body says no when their heart wants to say yes.

They often miss their friends. They worry about falling behind. They hate the stress they are causing at home. But their nervous system is overwhelmed and mornings become tears, tummy aches, and panic.

This is not about forcing. It is not about punishment. It is about understanding.

In my work over many years, I’ve learned something simple but powerful:

Children don’t need fixing.
They need time.
They need warmth.
They need honesty.
They need someone to sit beside them and help them make sense of what they feel.

When families are listened to, things start to shift.
When children feel safe, courage grows.
When parents feel supported, they become calmer guides.

So above all else that is what I try to offer at Brave Journeys.

A steady place where children and young people, and their parents, can understand what is going on beneath the behaviour. A place where we slow things down. Where we build confidence step by step. Where families leave feeling more equipped to move forward.

If your child is struggling, you are not alone. And you do not have to figure this out on your own.

Reach out if you need to talk. Through my Access for All Fund I can offer part funded or fully funded sessions when cost is a barrier.

No fixing. No judgement.
Just time, care, and honest conversation.

Graham
MBACP Therapist
Brave Journeys
07818556866

https://brave-journeys.selectandbook.com/