Therapist in Highgate – Somatic-Cognitive Therapy North London
Searching for a therapist near Highgate who works with both the mind and the body? I'm Carlos Monteiro, a somatic-cognitive therapist with a practice in St John's Wood, NW8. I work with young professionals from Highgate Village and the wider N6 area on confidence, self-doubt, people-pleasing, and social anxiety, combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with somatic, body-based awareness.
Highgate has a distinct, settled character, and a lot of the people I see from there are high achieving and self-aware, with a clear sense of what's not quite working. What tends to be missing isn't insight, it's a way of working that actually shifts the pattern rather than just understanding it better.
CBT gives us a structured way to examine the thoughts and beliefs driving avoidance, self-doubt, or the habit of putting everyone else's needs first. The somatic side of the work brings attention to how those patterns show up physically: held tension, shallow breathing under pressure, postural habits that quietly reinforce feeling smaller than you are. Working at both levels tends to produce change that actually holds.
Serving Highgate and Surrounding Areas
- Highgate Village (N6)
- Crouch End (N8)
- Hampstead (NW3)
- Archway (N19)
- Dartmouth Park (NW5)
- Muswell Hill (N10)
- Holloway (N7)
How I Can Help
Confidence Therapy
For those who feel held back, second-guess themselves, or struggle to feel fully like themselves at work or in daily life.
People Pleasing Therapy
For those who over-extend, struggle to say no, or put everyone else's needs first at cost to themselves.
Social Anxiety Therapist
For those who feel on edge around others, hold back in social situations, or struggle to speak up freely.
CBT Therapy
Practical, structured support for changing the thought patterns and beliefs that keep you stuck.
Somatic Therapy
Body-based awareness to help you notice and release the physical patterns that accompany stress and self-doubt.
Anxiety Therapy
Support for those who overthink, feel overwhelmed, or carry a persistent sense of unease into work and daily life.
My Approach
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) gives us a practical framework for understanding how thoughts, feelings, and behaviour connect. We identify the patterns keeping you stuck in cycles of self-doubt or over-accommodation, and build more useful ways of responding to the situations that trigger them.
Somatic practice (Alexander Technique) attends to the body's part in these patterns. Confidence and ease aren't purely mental states. They show up in how you carry yourself, how your breathing changes under pressure, and physical habits that have become so familiar they're almost invisible. Bringing awareness to these opens up room for something to shift.
The two approaches work together, addressing both the thinking and the physical side of the picture rather than treating them as separate problems.
What to Expect
Sessions are 50 minutes and take place at my practice in St John's Wood, NW8. I offer a free 20-minute consultation before we begin, with no commitment required. It's a chance to talk through what's brought you to therapy and get a sense of whether the approach feels right. The work itself is collaborative and practical, shaped by what's actually happening in your life.
Getting Here from Highgate
Highgate station is on the Northern line, with a straightforward route south to Camden Town, then a connecting bus westward to St John's Wood, stopping close to Violet Hill. Door to door, allow around 25 to 30 minutes. For those closer to Highgate Village itself, the 210 bus towards Finchley Road connects onward towards the practice. Street parking is available near the practice for those travelling by car.
About Me
I'm a certified CBT therapist, accredited by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I'm also a certified Alexander Technique teacher and a member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT).
Taking the Next Step
If what's described here feels familiar, the free consultation is a straightforward place to start. There's no pressure involved, just a chance to talk through what you're looking for and see whether working together makes sense.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation with no obligation. You can book your free consultation here, or find out more about what to expect in therapy first.
Ready to Get Started?
If you would like to find out more, there are two ways to get in touch.
The easiest first step is to book a free 20-minute consultation. It is a chance to talk through what has been bringing you to therapy and find out whether working together feels right. There is no commitment required.
Book a free 20-minute consultation
Or if you have a question before booking, feel free to send a message using the form below. I aim to respond within one working day.