Helen pitman
Child psychotherapy psychotherapistAbout Me
I am an Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. I work both in private practice and I have experience of working as a school counsellor in both Primary and Secondary schools. Although, I work primarily with children, adolescents and parents. I hold a special interest in working with younger adults for whom life can be particularly challenging.
In these uncertain times life can be especially hard; at these times it can be difficult to ask for help and see beyond our immediate distress, helplessness, sadness, and rage. Taking the initial step of reaching out can be daunting but most people experience a sense of relief when they share what is troubling them.
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
Children and young people may not have the language to express their experiences so they may communicate their distress through their behaviour. Psychotherapy can help them connect with, express, and develop language for their emotional difficulties. This can facilitate them feeling understood and therefore less isolated in their experience. Sometimes it can be difficult to access feelings through words alone, so I offer a variety of creative approaches such as: sand tray, art and play therapy.
Parenting Work
Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs of all. Understanding your child’s communications can be hard. I offer a space in which we can think together about your child and what they may be communicating to you through their behaviours in order to have less conflicted and more fulfilling relationships. Reflective parenting work can be powerful as we can often get stuck in patterns of relating with our children that can leave us distant from our children and unable to reach each other. This work can stand alone or can be built in to support the child or adolescent in psychotherapy.
Eco-Psychotherapy
I completed a diploma in Eco-psychotherapy in 2022. I believe that the troubled times we are navigating brought about through climate breakdown, war, and systemic inequality are especially hard to navigate and have an emotional impact on us. These may bring up a raft of new feelings which you may need support to navigate in order to face these difficult truths. Navigating these feelings can be difficult alone. I offer a non-judgmental space and listening ear which can help you to feel understood and also to resource yourself when times are hard.
I work with young people and adults who may be struggling with the feelings of eco-distress and eco-anxiety to face these difficult truths. You may be struggling with allowing joy, rest, and play into your life, you may feel lonely and alien from your loved ones and friends. Having a space to reflect on these feelings can often bring relief. Through the Climate psychology alliance, CPA, I have worked with people struggling with eco-anxiety, eco distress and burn out from being involved in activism.
Adult Psychotherapy
Although I specialise in working with Children and young people. I also work with adults, often our earliest experiences have shaped us and created a pattern or template for how we meet the world. We often lock away painful experiences in order to protect ourselves, but this can leave us feeling hollow. By becoming aware of these inner patterns and facing difficult experiences we become freer to move forwards in our lives.
Each therapeutic journey is different dependent on your individual needs. Being integrative, I draw on many different psychological theories and approached. I offer both short- and long-term therapy. Short term therapy is usually focussed on a particular issue e.g bereavement or phobia.
Issues often worked with
Types of therapy
Therapy offered
Client groups
Fees
I work from Enfield therapy rooms on Tuesdays only and have availability for children, adolescents and adults at the moment. I also offer walk and talk sessions during the day or online. Please contact me, if you are interested in working with me. I have immediate availability at the moment.
Training and qualifications
I hold a master degree in child and adolescent psychotherapy and I am accredited by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). I hold a diploma in Eco-psychotherapy and also in Clinical supervision. I was formerly a teacher and have worked with Children and young people for nearly 30 years.
I have worked therapeutically within diverse educational settings and the charity sector with young people (aged 3 to 18) and adults offering one to one therapy sessions. I also work closely with parents in reflective parenting sessions to facilitate their understanding of what their child is communicating through their behaviours.
I abide by the ethical guidelines of UKCP and as such I am in regular supervision to support my work and am committed to regular continuing professional development.