Lynda Graham

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SNCPS Acc, MSc, BA (Hons), Dip Counselling
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Donaghadee, Down, BT21
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Thank you for taking the time to view my profile especially if you are feeling stressed or are finding life difficult at present. I understand that making the first phone call or sending an email to a counsellor can be difficult. As a Counsellor,  I can offer you space and time to look at the issues you are facing or difficulties in your life, present or past. Throughout my working life as a Social Worker and then Counsellor I have been involved with people of different ages, enabling them to look at their issues, helping them to change and go on with a positive attitude and a new hope. 

I am a professionally qualified counsellor and a Senior Accredited Member of The National Counselling Society (SNCPS Acc). I work within its Ethical Framework for Good Practice providing a safe and confidential place where you can talk and will be treated with respect and assured of a non-judgemental approach.

I work from an integrative perspective which means that I will offer you counselling tailored to your own specific needs, allowing you to find a way forward, helping you to understand your problems and make choices. People come to counselling because they are feeling isolated or lonely, have suffered a loss, are struggling within a relationship or at work or at home, have unresolved issues from the past. Sometimes clients are unsure of where they fit in within their family, college/uni or workplace, maybe unsure about their own identity and need time and space to explore. Whatever your issue, counselling allows you to take time out of the busyness of live to think about yourself in a safe space where you feel accepted and regarded. Please give me a call or send an email if you would like to find out more, I’m happy to have an informal chat and provide any information you might need. 

In my previous career as a Social Worker I worked in the areas of child protection, then fostering and adoption. Working with adoptive parents made me aware of the impact of having (particularly) older children placed for adoption and the impact on the new parents as individuals and as a couple. I have a massive interest in the area of Post Adoption Blues/Depression, have widely researched this subject and offer Specialist Counselling, Support and Training to prospective adoptive parents and new parents. Over the last 10 years in private practice I have helped many individuals and couples, providing a safe and confidential space in which to talk. Few people in society understand the adoption world and the specific demands and difficulties so please don’t  be afraid to reach out for help and  support. Referrals  can be made by individuals or Social Workers.  

Being a Counsellor is a special role and sharing the journey with clients, either as individuals or couples, is such a privilege. Each client is unique, a person with their own specific needs and difficulties, someone who needs confidentiality, time and respect, a space in which to work at their own speed. 

"Pacing is important at the outset. An unhurried pace indicates that here is space to breathe, a certain freedom in the air". Mearns and Thorne

Training, qualifications & experience

  • MSc Counselling and Therapeutic Communication
  • Diploma in Person Centred Counselling
  • Certificate in Counselling
  • Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision
  • BA (Hons) Social Work
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
  • Brief Solution Focused Therapy
  • Extensive research and study on Post Adoption Depression
  • Systemic Family Assessment
  • Assessing Gay and Lesbian Adopters
  • Child Protection Training
  • Vulnerable Adult Training
  • Walk Leader Training

I attend regular CPD and short course training and enjoy learning!

I have over 30 years working with individuals, couples and families as a Counsellor and as a Social Worker.


Senior Accredited Member of NCPS 

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.

NCPS
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society

This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.

In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society

Other areas of counselling I deal with


Adoption Issues
I have over 20 years experience in adoption related issues, working with adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees and am happy to talk with you if you feel counselling would help you as an individual, a couple or a family.

I have a particular interest in Post Adoption Blues and work with individuals and couples who have children placed with them or where the Adoption Order has already been granted. I also work with local Health and Social Health Care Trusts providing counselling and support.

I provide training for new parents, Social Workers and other professionals. I also offer supervision for professionals working in this area.

Please feel free to get in touch if you would like more information, I would love to talk with you.

Walk and Talk Therapy

Have you thought about seeing a counsellor but are afraid that sitting in a therapy room would be difficult, maybe you are anxious about that first session or sitting face to face with someone you don’t know.

Walk and talk therapy is an opportunity to talk with a counsellor in a more relaxed environment, in the outdoors. This type of counselling is especially appropriate for individuals who are going through a life transition, are feeling anxious or are experiencing grief or a significant loss. You can walk and talk about anything that is troubling you or any issue you feel would benefit from therapy.

For more information please contact me and we can talk about how this might work for you.

Fees

£50.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Trainee counsellors

Additional information

Counselling £50 per session

Supervision £50 per hour

Couples £70 per 90 minute session

Personal therapy is offered for counselling students

Concessions may apply - please contact me for more information.

Day time appointments are available Monday to Thursday 

Evening appointments are available on Wednesdays

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Tuesday to Thursday daytime

Wednesday evening 

Further information

Private parking is available 

Donaghadee, Down, BT21

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Families
Groups
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

AccessNI check

AccessNI carries out criminal records checks for individuals working in certain roles in Northern Ireland. Find out more at justice-ni.gov.uk , or contact this professional directly.

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

I have experience supervising counsellors in private practice, schools counsellors, students as well as those working in voluntary health care settings.

View supervision profile

Social

Lynda Graham
Lynda Graham