Welcome to HABITS of London C.I.C. Whatever has brought you here today… do take this opportunity to browse this page… and time-willing the rest of the site… where you can discover more about Me, My Team & HABITS… after watching the 2-minute ‘Welcome Video’ illustrating how I can:
With over 20-years professional experience in the mental health (MH) & addiction field… and even more years overcoming my own personal and private MH & addiction experiences… I’m adept & available to help you work through & understand the pain… fear… confusion or other distressing emotions you maybe experiencing that may have brought you here today. It may just be that you want somebody who will listen & can help you make sense so you can gain clarity of your experiences. Whatever your need… our ultimate goal is to support you to be who… what & where you want to be.
We have a range of standardised & specialised psychotherapy, mindfulness & motivational programmes that support individuals, couples, families, groups & organisations.
Do take advantage also of the free downloadable articles embedded within buttons located in the “What HABITS Offer” section on the ‘Home’ page & the Footer on each page… as well as online resources accessible via hyperlinked texts across the site. They encompass empowering information to educate & enhance understanding of challenging experiences you encounter as well as relative & relevant information of special interest.
You can also find on the ‘Programmes’ page guided Mindfulness practice audio tracks. Routine Mindfulness practice aims to develop your attentional skills & cultivate self-awareness to understand your “habits of mind” so you can take control of your mind & your life.
To find out more about how we can further support you… click on this link to take you to the ‘Contact‘ page where you can book a FREE 30-minute consultation or make an enquiry.
Don’t be afraid to reach out… for you or someone you know. Change comes from realising the pain experienced in the current status is greater than the pain of making change. 💜
The mindfulness programme was a powerful instrument in moving my daughter through a very difficult and challenging phase of life. I witnessed her journey from seeing the world in total darkness to being able to see herself in the future; a future she has curated where she is valued, loved and able to contribute productively to. This gave me hope as her mother and also intrigued me as to what this ‘mindfulness’ is all about.
Participating in the programme I learnt how to forgive myself first and why this was essential before any further ‘change’ work could take place. I learnt to ‘notice’ my thoughts and, in turn, how these thoughts then made me feel. This was step one on MY healing journey. Helen skilfully held our hands throughout this journey and reminded us to stay in the present. This is the moment that counts… right now. Powerful.
Shantel Thomas: Trust-Wide Professional Clinical Lead for Social Work; Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust
HABITS’ Founder & Chief Executive, Helen Raphael, was awarded a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology, is a BACP Registered Mindfulness Psychotherapist, a member of BAATN and notably referred to as a Visionary Leader with 20 years of experience in the field of psychological health and holistic well-being. After completing several Mindfulness courses with Asia Health Co, whilst working in Thailand as an Addiction Therapist in 2012, she has gone on to successfully complete a Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction (MBSR) training programme specifically developed for clinicians to design, develop & deliver bespoke Mindfulness Programmes. The MBSR programme was written & certified by InsightLA, endorsed by their co-founder Jack Kornfield. Now fully embracing Mindfulness as a way of life, she continues her professional development currently pursuing a PhD researching Attitudinal Foundations of Mindfulness & the impact on Mental Health at the intersection of gender & race. Helen’s expertise and profound commitment to Mindfulness ensure that the programmes HABITS deliver are led by highly qualified practitioners dedicated to the well-being and success of you, your family, the local and wider community and organisations, here in the UK and abroad.
When I started my studies in psychology I never thought it would change my life so dramatically and significantly, but never the less it did; in an empowering, insightful and industrious way.
I spent a lot of my childhood in an anxious state constantly seeking the approval of my father. Attempts at expressing my emotional and psychological needs, those deemed normal for a child, were met unpredictably with detachment, contempt and physical violence. As a result, I developed a maladaptive sense of the world and how to relate to others. My understanding of interrelating was learnt from this damaging experience and as I grew older my anxiety turned to anger, destructively affecting all my relationships with family, friends and colleagues. However, at the time I was unaware of this process.
To help manage the emotional pain of resentment, rejection and emptiness I started to use drugs. Using substances catapulted me into a sense of freedom and further rebellion and before I knew it I was addicted. I had developed a serious habit that was going to destroy me even more than the feelings I was using it to run away from. One night I had a near-death experience and as a result I sought advice. As I started to learn about the effects of substances on the brain, no matter how euphoric it made me feel, I knew I didn’t want to carry on down this road. But what I didn’t realise was that as an addictive habit it was not going to be easy to break.
I decided to become abstinent from drugs; I trained as a driving instructor and studied media at college and professional broadcasting at university. However, with the intrinsic desire to abstain from drugs I relapsed twice but at the time couldn’t understand why.
A year later after searching into my spiritual existence and being intrigued by my behaviour as well as that of others, I started studying towards a BSc Honours in Psychology. “EUREKA”… the answers were slowly being unlocked and the understanding I had been looking for faithfully, and what felt like most of my life, was being handed to me in what I interpreted as a gift. I have been abstinent and sober from drugs ever since.
So empowered by this experience I became a volunteer substance misuse worker in an addiction service. Within three months I secured a full-time paid role as an aftercare worker and within 8 months I was promoted to team leader all the while being financially supported by my employers to complete my studies towards a Master’s in Addiction Psychology & Counselling.
I have since worked for the NHS as a Dual Diagnosis Practitioner training other clinicians, including psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists and social workers, on how to work effectively and thereby increase treatment outcomes with patients suffering dual-diagnosis issues. I also worked directly as a therapist with patients who experienced serious, complex issues as a result of their excessive substance use and severe mental illness.
The contract ran for a few years and after leaving the NHS I was given an amazing opportunity to work in a privately run 5* residential treatment centre in Thailand as an addiction therapist to very wealthy clients from all over the globe.
I returned to the UK to my incredibly missed family and friends… and took a leap in faith and fortitude by venturing out into my private practice as a psychotherapist, motivational speaker & trainer. My enterprise, as you now know, is called ‘HABITS of London’… HABITS for short!
I feel exceptionally blessed and have truly come to realise along my protracted, arduous and exuberant journey, that what we choose to think, what we choose to feel and what we choose to do in life is in our hands. Habits are born – through repetition… but habits are also broken – through replacement. I replaced my anguished mind and consequential behaviour with a desire to learn and understand myself followed by the act of doing that which would create the change.
I owe it all to Faith and to those people who saw the potential in me… supported me… nurtured me… and never gave up on me.
As a BACP Registered Psychotherapist, specialising in dual-diagnosis and Mindfulness, my experience of working in the addiction and mental health field now spans over 20 years. Whilst I work integratively, using a combination of therapeutic approaches as well as relapse prevention techniques, I firmly believe the client is the centre of the therapeutic journey. I consider it a privilege to be invited into their lives and to share in their highlights as well as their darkest experiences.
Living in a modern western society such as ours has its rewards. However, with the various social, health, economic and spiritual pressures it can be equally daunting and stressful. Whilst some have the capacity to locate resources to cope with these stressors more healthily… others have difficulty responding and adapting effectively and therefore rely on unhealthy coping strategies that eventually become habitual and cause harm – mild to moderate harm for most… but for the unfortunate few… severe or fatal.
I have several years of private and professional experience in addiction and mental health. Delivering psychotherapy, Mindfulness programmes & motivational workshops, I have worked for organisations in both the public and private sectors here in the UK and overseas. These include SW London & St. George’s NHS MH Trust, Asia Health Co. & KCA.
I am thankful that my private and professional experience affords me passion, affinity and the ability to work directly with people from diverse cultures and a variety of backgrounds.
I am an ardent believer that recovery from addiction and mental health conditions is available for all who seek it. I aim to support and assist everyone who seeks it through HABITS.
My work involves delivering treatment to individuals and groups who experience mild to severe forms of mental health conditions; this includes stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar affective disorder, personality disorders and schizophrenia.
In terms of addiction and compulsive behaviours, I have helped individuals overcome eating disorders and deliberate self-harm as well as destructive use of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and prescription medication such as tranquilisers (i.e. diazepam and other benzodiazepines) and pain relievers (i.e. oxycodone, dihydrocodeine).
In the course of my studies in psychology, I discovered that addiction is a habit – albeit a severe one – similar to all behaviours that we do on a constant, consistent & consciously unaware basis.
In other words, habitual behaviours… and thoughts… become so natural to us, that we do them without giving them a second thought; this includes those related to mental health issues also.
The habit-forming process is fundamental to our identity & existence; it is the definitive foundation of learning and a necessity for us as humans. However, when our habits become unhelpful and destructive it becomes necessary to address them if we want to change and develop healthy habits.
In discovering that habits are, in simple terms, the repetition of action and entrenched patterns of thought, it is my objective and ambition to share this developmental process in a simple, pragmatic & formulated way, with all those I have the privilege of sharing a relationship with, both in my professional and personal life.
As an integrative psychotherapist, I call upon a variety of psychotherapeutic disciplines relevant and appropriate to the presenting needs of the individual. This is based on an initial and continuous assessment of the client with the subsequent therapeutic approach tailor-made and agreed upon between me and each individual I work with. Every human being has mental health… each at varying degrees; the aim is to improve mental health that enhances personal competence, self-confidence and creative potential.
Initially trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Person-Centred Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, 12-Step Facilitation Therapy and Systemic Therapy (Family therapy), I have since added to my formal training Schema Therapy and Mindfulness both of which are fundamentally embedded within my therapeutic practice.
Having worked in the field for over 20 years, I have flexibility in my approach, giving me the ability to work with individuals or groups at almost any stage or degree of their addiction and/or mental health difficulties… utilising a formal or informal approach dependent on their existing presentation and historical report.
As a social enterprise HABITS delivers mental health… addiction & emotional health treatment to the needs of the local and wider community.
HABITS offers its services to those directly and indirectly affected with emphasis on treating those who fall within the most disadvantaged and reluctant-to-engage population.
Addiction has no prejudice, not unlike mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, affecting at least 1 in 4 of the UK population. In London alone, out of the 2 million of the 8 million residents affected by mental health issues, an astounding 1.6 million are from Black & other ethnic groups.
Whilst HABITS focuses on personal recovery, we utilize both preventative & curative approaches in the delivery of our services. Our overall aim is to support people to make sustainable life changes through the development of enduring, healthy habits.
We do this via Mindfulness-based psychotherapeutic programmes, workshops and events. We also offer our services to practitioners & professionals either working specifically in this field or in organisations that deliver other service provisions to community groups that may be affected by mental health and/or addiction issues.
HABITS firmly believes there is no habit impossible to change… if one has the desire & the capacity to make that change.
Next year April 2026… HABITS of London C.I.C. will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary since incorporating as a non-profit community & social enterprise. 🎉🎉
With over 13 years experience in child care, I have devoted my career to nurturing the growth and well-being of young children. My journey in early childhood education is anchored by a first-class honours degree in Early Years, providing me with a strong academic foundation and a deep understanding of child development.
As a certified Early Childhood and Adolescents Mindfulness Practitioner, I bring a distinctive approach to child care. My expertise in Early Years Mindfulness enables me to implement strategies that enhance children’s personal, social, and emotional development (PSED). Evidence of this was demonstrated through my dissertation research, which highlighted the significant benefits of mindfulness on children’s PSED. This research not only reinforced my belief in the value of mindfulness for all but also offered insights that I apply in my everyday practice.
I am dedicated to upholding best practices in every aspect of my work. This dedication is evidenced in my continuous efforts to create a child-centred environment that emphasises the holistic well-being and development of each child. My goal is to foster a space where children feel secure, valued and empowered to explore and grow.
Additionally, I am passionate about innovation and knowledge sharing. I actively seek out and share new ideas and current information with both my colleagues and the families I work with. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone involved in the child’s life is well-informed and equipped to support their development effectively.
My professional philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child deserves a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters their overall growth. By combining my extensive experience, academic background, and mindfulness knowledge, I am committed to making a positive impact on the lives of the children in my care and contributing to the broader field of early childhood education
With 20 years of experience in the field of welfare-to-work and careers guidance, I have established myself as an innovator in developing transformative programmes that promote both personal and professional growth.
My commitment extends beyond traditional career support, as I am deeply dedicated to enhancing well-being and mindfulness in the workplace and beyond. Through my work, I strive to create environments that not only empower individuals to achieve their career goals but also prioritise their overall mental and emotional health, ensuring a balanced and fulfilling professional journey.
