Hello, I'm Helen (she/her). I'm an Integrative Counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

If you're reading this, then I'm guessing you're giving some thought to working with a counsellor, perhaps for the first time.  I believe that talking about your thoughts and feelings with someone who is trained to listen and respond to them with empathy, genuineness and without judgement can be life changing. It won’t "fix" you or change the past, but it may help you to move forward with greater self-awareness, acceptance and compassion.

My Approach

I believe that we all experience suffering and come up against challenges throughout our lives. No one escapes the complex journey of what it is to be human. Along the way, many of us internalise the belief that our thoughts and feelings are "wrong" and that our vulnerable selves are "bad". Often, these internalised beliefs come from our earliest relationships and the social and cultural norms of our environment.

The result can be feelings of anxiety and depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, illness, work problems, issues of identity and addiction (to name a few). To repeatedly feel this way can leave us with a sense of disconnection from ourselves and others and we can struggle to live life in a way that feels manageable, meaningful and authentic.

My theoretical approach is integrative and relational. This means that I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to find what is most helpful for each client. It also means I am particularly interested in how a client relates to themselves and to others, including how we experience each other. By exploring this together in a safe and confidential environment, I hope we will be able to play with new ways of being which support the possibility for change and growth.

Whilst my work as a counsellor draws on the two main therapeutic traditions - psychodynamic and humanistic - I am also interested in how clients make sense of themselves through their bodies. This may be through the exploration of sensations, emotions and movement in order for us to get closer to a sense of what it is to be you.

In my work, I also acknowledge the harm that societal oppression and discrimination can have on a person's wellbeing, whether that be race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and other intersections.

Outdoor Therapy

Many of us find spending time in nature a restorative and soulful experience. The colours, sounds, smells and sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves can create a sense of aliveness, peace and presence that often feels absent in our busy, urban lives. 

Research into the positive effects of nature on our minds and bodies is ever-growing. We now know that spending time in green spaces is linked to a host of health benefits: lower cortisol levels, lower heart rate, greater feelings of connectedness, improved mood, better physical health and increased emotional engagement (Collier, 2018). It’s for these reasons (plus many more) that some clients are drawn towards working with a counsellor outdoors. 

Walk and Talk 

Walk and Talk therapy is one way we could work together. An alternative to traditional talk therapy, walking side by side with a counsellor rather than sitting face to face can enable some clients to feel more comfortable when sharing in the therapy process. It can help increase feelings of relaxation, decrease rumination, release physical tension, help us breathe deep and connect us with our bodies while processing experiences in a different way.

Slow and Meditative

Depending on you and your needs, we may also decide to sit and talk - or be silent, if that feels helpful - and find a sense of space and stillness to allow for whatever you might need to bring.