Caroline Harrison

My working hours are between 8.00am and 6.30pm, with the exception of Monday mornings. I have space in my practice for new clients who wish to attend either online or in person.

If you’re unhappy – with yourself, your relationships, your life – or simply want to know yourself better, I can support you. Sometimes it's just easier to talk to someone who doesn't have preconceptions about who you are and how you live your life.

I'm an Oxford-based counsellor and psychotherapist of nearly ten years’ experience. Before becoming a therapist, I was inspired by my mixed heritage to train as a linguist (Spanish, French and Portuguese) and then became immersed in the media. I'm as passionate as ever about being open to cultures other than my own.

In our time together, my first aim is to understand where you're at and what's not working. Then, I create a confidential, compassionate atmosphere in which you can say whatever is on your mind. The therapy will be shaped by you and your needs. I take account of the many influences that shape your life, always respecting difference. Ultimately, I hope to support you to look at yourself and your circumstances with new understanding so that alternative options open up to you.

I trained in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling (Minster Centre, BACP accredited, Masters level), an approach that draws from the major therapeutic schools of thought. This means that I reflect on what you think and feel on many levels - and help you to think about yourself more deeply. I also work relationally. So, as we develop a trusting partnership, I will use our relationship to help you to notice how you relate to yourself and others.

I can work with a broad range of issues including relationship problems; depression; anxiety; life transitions; gender, sex and sexuality; illness; abuse and trauma. Whatever your struggles and even if you're just curious, I will use my skills and sensitivity to help you find a way forward.

I'm open to anyone who's ready to take the brave step of looking at themselves and life experience thoughtfully. My therapy rooms in Headington and Summertown, Oxford, are comfortable and confidential. We can meet in person, or we can do our sessions online.

An initial consultation (free of charge) gives us both a chance to see how we get along and to decide whether we can work together. Afterwards, I suggest we have six consecutive, weekly sessions before we decide next steps. That way, you get a good insight into how we will work together. 

The sessions are 50 minutes long and £65 each. I prefer to work weekly. Occasionally, a lower-cost space opens up; if you're in a difficult position financially, you can ask me about this when you get in touch.

The initial consultation is free of charge. 

In this session I will give you time and space to tell me what's brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to get from it. I'll take a brief "history" from you, including family background, previous experience of therapy and any major events in your life (including health issues, bereavements etc.). Of course, I'll return to these themes in more detail if you decide to work with me. You'll also have time to ask me any questions you might have about how I work or about therapy more generally.

Following our first session, I send out a "client contract" that outlines bounds of confidentiality, break and cancellation policies, payment details, and so on. We will both need to sign this on embarking our work together.