Brave journeys

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Brave journeys

Confidential and compasionate support for children and young people, adults and families through challenging times and brave journeys.
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Working online worldwide and face to face locally. Registered member of the BACP

04/09/2025

One thing I see a lot in the therapy room is how much teens carry around in silence. They worry about friendships, about their bodies, about school, about relationships, about not being “enough” and they often keep it all bottled up until it spills out in ways that look like anger, moodiness, or shutting us out.
And hormones is NOT always the answer….

As a therapist, I can spot it a mile off.
As a parent… I still get it wrong. I jump in with advice when they just needed me to listen. I miss the signs and only realise later. I take the slammed door personally when really it’s about something else entirely!

The truth is, our kids don’t need us to have all the right answers. They need to know we’ll keep showing up, even when we get it wrong.
They need to know that we understand there’s usually something underneath the eye rolls and silence.

If you’re finding it tough with your kids just now, just know you’re not the only one. I promise you that. 💙

Reach out if you need someone to talk to about it.
Some might say I’m a good listener…..
(Just not ‘my’ kids)😬

01/09/2025

🍂 September has arrived. A fresh page. A new season.

But for many of us we are already used to
“Im not going to school” mornings, school runs and forgotten PE kits, and it might feel like facing another month that feels no less heavier than the last, if not heavier. September can hold both excitement and dread, often at the same time.

If you’re starting this month already feeling worn down, you’re not alone. You don’t need to have everything figured out today. Sometimes it’s enough to take things one morning, one cup of tea, one step at a time.

Here’s to September bringing gentler days, small wins, maybe look out for the tiny yess’s and moments that remind you you’re still moving forward — even if slowly. I call these little stitches! The wee moments that matter and that help us heal - not the big patch fix that won’t last.
There is change away to happen all around us, weather, length of days, the clothes we wear, the electric bill now the heating is back on…..

So if you’re not feeling that fresh start buzz, That’s okay! You don’t need to be full of motivation to move forward. Small steps count. Quiet days count. Just showing up counts.

Here’s to September being gentle with you. 💛

Graham
Brave Journeys

30/08/2025

💭 “I am the one thing in life I can control.” –
(Wait for it~Hamilton)

When the world feels overwhelming, it’s easy to lose sight of the small anchors we do have. We can’t control the past, other people’s choices, or how long the waiting lists are… but we can control the way we take one breath at a time, the way we reach out for help, the way we talk to ourselves when our thoughts get loud. The way we reach out to other when we need them, and the way we remind ourselves we are enough!

Control doesn’t have to mean fixing everything. Sometimes it simply means choosing to keep going, to ask for support, or to be gentle with ourselves when life feels too much.

At Brave Journeys, I often remind people: you don’t need to have it all sorted – just enough strength for the next step.
Sometimes one step at a time!

What’s one small thing you can control today that helps you feel grounded?

29/08/2025

Sometimes the word overwhelmed feels too small for what’s really going on.

When everything piles up – work, family, pressure, worry – it doesn’t just stay in your head. It seeps into your whole being.

Physically – your body feels heavy, tense, or exhausted even after a night’s sleep.

Mentally – your thoughts race or they freeze, and concentrating on even the simplest task feels impossible.

Emotionally – you might swing between being tearful, irritable, numb, or just completely flat.

Being overwhelmed isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s your system saying “I can’t carry all of this at once.”

If that’s where you are right now, pause.
Breathe.
Take one small thing off your plate today, even if it feels tiny.
It matters.

And remember – you don’t have to carry everything on your own.

How does overwhelm show up for you – in your body, mind, or feelings? Share below and maybe help someone else out there feeling the same.

27/08/2025

My wee counselling space.. ❤️
Thank you Recreate Signs and Graphics

26/08/2025

One thing I’m seeing more and more with teenagers right now is struggling to sleep.

Phones, social media, homework, late-night overthinking it all adds up. Sleep gets pushed later and later, and then they wake up exhausted and irritable, which only makes school and friendships harder to manage. For some teens it becomes a vicious cycle: not enough rest, more stress, then even less sleep.

Sleep isn’t just a “nice to have.” For a young person’s brain, it’s as important as food. Without it, everything feels bigger, harder and heavier.

Sometimes what looks like “laziness” in a teenager is really burnout from running on empty. Sometimes what looks like “attitude” is just a tired brain struggling to cope. But oh my god it can be hard as a parent to stop, breathe, and recognise it!!
(Or maybe that’s just me)

If this is something you recognise in your teen, you’re not alone….
and it’s not about being a “bad parent.”

This is a massive challenge for families everywhere right now. At Brave Journeys, I support teens (and parents) to untangle the stress behind the sleepless nights, and find small changes that make a big difference.

And remember, support is possible even if money feels tight as the Access for All Fund is there for that reason

PM me or email graham@bravejourneys.co.uk

25/08/2025

🌿 Therapy Room Opportunity – Thrive Ellon 🌿

I’ve got a lovely space available at 125 Station Road, Ellon, and I’m looking for a therapist who might be interested in renting it under a licence to occupy.

It’s a calm, private office that’s being used for counselling and wellbeing work — ideal if you’re looking for somewhere to meet clients face to face in the Ellon area.

If you’re a counsellor, therapist, or wellbeing professional and would like to know more, just drop me a message and I can share the details.

Please feel free to tag or share with anyone you think might be interested.

21/08/2025

I often see the impact of adult conversations on young people – especially when parents are separated or divorced!

Kids don’t need to carry the weight of adult worries, frustrations, or conflicts. They love both parents, and when they hear things they’re not ready to process, it can leave them stuck in the middle, anxious, or even feeling like they need to take sides.

Even passing comments in the kitchen, on the phone, or in the car can land heavily on little ears. Children will make sense of what they hear in their own way, and it’s usually with a lot less information than we have. That gap gets filled with worry, self-blame, or confusion.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t perfect with this when my kids were little. I got it wrong at times too. We’re human, and it’s tough when emotions are high. But keeping adult conversations away from kids is one of the biggest acts of protection we can give them. They deserve to feel safe, loved, and free from carrying adult problems.

If you’re navigating this, know you’re not alone. Many parents are doing their best to balance their own feelings while protecting their children. Sometimes having space to talk it through can help.

That’s why I created the ‘Access for All Fund’ – to make sure support is there even if money is tight.

If you’d like to chat, I can offer that space!

Things that can help
Pause before speaking – check if little ears are around.
Save adult conversations for private moments.
If your child does overhear, reassure them simply: “That’s grown-up stuff, you don’t need to worry about it.”
Remind them often that they are loved, safe, and not to blame

20/08/2025

Heading back to school can feel really heavy for some young people. Whether it’s starting a new year, moving up to S1, or just the thought of walking back into the classroom after summer, the anxiety can feel huge!

If your child is struggling with worry, panic, or just that sick feeling in their tummy about school, please know they’re not alone. Lots of kids feel this way, even if they don’t always show it.

At Brave Journeys, I try to create a space for young people to talk through those feelings, find ways to manage the anxiety, and feel a bit more steady as they head back into school life.

Through my Access for All Fund, I can also offer part or fully funded sessions for families who might not otherwise be able to access support.

If you think this could help your child, drop me a message – I’ll do my very best to make space for them.

They don’t have to face this on their own. 🤍

I am just a call or message away

20/08/2025

Today I turn 50. 🎂

It feels like one of those big milestones that makes you stop and think. Part of me feels proud of reaching this age, part of me feels nervous about getting older. And with a young child still to raise, I sometimes catch myself worrying about the years ahead.

That’s the thing with milestones – they bring up all sorts of feelings. Joy, gratitude, fear, acceptance… sometimes all at once. Mental health is like that too. It’s not about one single feeling being “right” – it’s about holding space for all of your feelings, and letting ourselves be human.

So today, I’m reminding myself – and you – that it’s okay to feel mixed emotions about things. Life is precious. Every stage has its challenges and its gifts.

If you’re facing a milestone of your own, whether that’s an age, a life change, or something more private, you don’t have to process it alone. I’m here, holding a safe and non-judgemental space for anyone who needs it.

Here’s to being brave enough to feel it all. 💙

G.

13/08/2025

Sometimes a line from a show just… stops you.
Driving home from my office tonight I was listening to my musicals in the car - my guilty pleasure….

At the end of Dear Evan Hansen, Evan says:

“Today is going to be a good day, because, no matter what else, you are you. So no hiding. No lying. Just you. And that’s enough.”

I can’t tell you how many times in my own life I’ve not felt enough. And if I’m honest, there are still days when I don’t.
I think a lot of us know that feeling, when we are trying to be more, do more, be better — as if who we already are isn’t worthy.

But what if we let ourselves believe it? Just for today?
That being you, without all the hiding and the covering up and the “I’m fine” smiles… is actually enough.

It’s not always easy to hold onto that truth, especially when life has knocked…. And keeps knocking the confidence out of you. But I believe we can remind each other, sometimes just by kindness, love and consideration!

So if you can’t hold it for yourself right now, I’ll hold it for you

you are enough.

💛
Graham
Brave Journeys

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Aberdeen

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+447818556866

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http://www.bravejourneys.co.uk/

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