Helen Lyon

You might seem fine on the outside, but inside you're full of self-criticism, nagging thoughts and exhaustion. If you're starting to wonder whether life has to feel this way or whether there's another way to live then you're in the right place. I work with people who might look like they’re ok, the dependable one, the thoughtful one but that doesn’t feel like the real them. The real them feels overwhelmed, struggling to keep up; they keep saying yes when they want to say ‘not right now’, but they can’t say it for fear of being seen as not nice or a failure. I support people whose thoughts continually criticise them, who replay old conversations wishing they’d done something differently, and whose anxiety keeps holding them back. Exhausted people. Maybe something has happened in your life and that’s what’s brought you here. Perhaps you’re feeling rejected, burnt out or confused, maybe something hasn’t worked out the way you hoped it would. Counselling can be a place for you to check in with yourself and explore what's going on, and what needs to change. I understand how overwhelming and confusing it can be to realise that the life you’ve built (or maybe your life feels built for you) isn’t working, and you’re wondering how you got here. Maybe you’ve reached a point where your coping strategies don’t work anymore, you’ve noticed how much you people please or rely on other people's opinions of you to feel okay. Maybe you feel like the breaking point is close. This might feel like a scary place to be, but it could also be an opportunity to take a moment and do things differently. I have worked with adults who are experiencing Anxiety and feeling like they can’t turn their thoughts off or down Depression, feeling stuck and hopeless Self-criticism, self-doubt and overthinking Stress, overwhelm and burnout Feeling unseen like no one knows them the real them How I work: As an experienced integrative counsellor, the therapy I offer draws from a number of different approaches to suit your needs best. I am mainly influenced by: Person-centred theory is about you, you know you the best, this approach explores how you see yourself and how you see the world around you. Relational Theory, looks at the here and now, using our relationship as a place where you can be yourself. Psychodynamic theory to gently explore your past and see how it might be affecting your present. Transactional Analysis to notice any patterns in your communication or relationships. Reflection gives you the power to make different choices. Counselling with me is about being open and honest. I won’t hide behind long words, or use psychobabble. I show up ready to meet you where you are, to really hear you, ready to explore your experience with warmth, compassion and curiosity. Counselling with me isn’t about advice or fixing you, it’s about getting to know you, reflecting and revealing things that may have been invisible to you, to help you find your way. After working with me clients often feel more confident, like they have more direction and their minds feel calmer and quieter. They feel able to make decisions from a place built on their needs and values. We’ll review our work together regularly to ensure you’re finding it beneficial and the therapy is moving at a pace that’s comfortable for you. I offer online and telephone counselling as well as in-person counselling. If you would like we can also take the counselling sessions outside.