Helen's qualifications, training and experience
Helen works as a person centred counsellor working with individuals and couples.
Training and qualifications
1993 Training in Person Centred Counselling Skills, followed by extensive help line experience
2003 Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
2006 Traumatic Incident Reduction Training with the Traumatic Incident Reduction Association
2007 Post Graduate Certificate in Education
2010 Workshop with Margaret Warner, Working with difficult, fragile and psychotic process
2011 Diploma in Person Centred Supervision with Irene Fairhurst (who worked with Carl Rogers)
Additional continued professional development
Bridging worlds - working with extreme states, living with HIV, Heterosexism and homophobia, gender dysphoria
Helen has experience working with people experiencing:
Abortion, abuse, addiction, affairs and betrayals, agoraphobia, anger management difficulties, anger management, anxiety, people with Aspergers syndrome and on the autism spectrum, bereavement, bi-polar disorder / manic depression, bullying, cancer, couples counselling, dementia, depression, diagnosed with HIV/ AIDS, dissociation, domestic violence, eating disorders, exploring their sexuality, emotional abuse, family issues, feeling they are disappearing or wearing a mask, finding their purpose in life, gender dysphoria, grief, infertility, loneliness, low self confidence, low self esteem, miscarriage, panic, personality disorder, physical abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, postnatal depression, pregnancy and birth, redundancy, relationship issues, schizophrenia, seeking more joy, self harm, separation and divorce, sexual abuse, sexuality, spirituality, stress, suicidal thoughts, trans issues, trauma, unhappiness, work related stress and worrying.
Helen has been a volunteer counsellor at Leeds Mind and at Solace, a charity for survivors of persecution and exile.
When we have missed out on stability and caring in our childhood, or when we have experienced neglect or trauma we can benefit enormously from a counselling relationship. With the counsellor we can acknowledge the loss and experience the consistent care and empathy which helps repair the damage of the past.
Some of us aren’t quite sure why we are coming at first, but we just know we need someone to talk to.
Whatever it is you are coming to talk about, Helen will welcome you. We can feel that our issues are too big or too small, or that we won’t be able to find the words to speak about things, and yet when we have someone who wants to listen to us, someone who accepts us for who we are, then somehow the words just come.
Many people meet prejudice in society, subtle signals that they aren’t welcome and counselling can be a respite from the storm of discrimination, a place where you can simply be you.
Helen is an accredited member of the AHPP.