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Counselling in Gloucester
I am passionate about helping people to work through their issues and move from ‘surviving’ to ‘living’.
I see clients for therapy in my room at Gloucester Docks or online.
I believe it is essential to find the right therapist/client relationship, so I therefore offer a free 20-minute, online consultation.
If we decide to go ahead, we will then agree to meet once a week or maybe less frequently once we have established a flow of sessions and this seems suitable.
It can be helpful to contract for six sessions initially so that we have a time focus, but this is not essential and we can assess what we need as we go along.
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I use an integrative approach, which means that I combine Person-Centred and Psychodynamic approaches. I sometimes introduce CBT type techniques or dream analysis if this would seem helpful and appropriate.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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Counsellor
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Private practice
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NHS Sexual Health Services (Pregnancy Advisory)
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SARC Gloucester (Sexual Violence)
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Terrence Higgins Trust (HIV)
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Listening Post Counselling Agency
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Royal Forest of Dean College Counselling Agency
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NHS talking therapies service:
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Co-facilitator for wellbeing groups
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Counsellor
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Telephone screening
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Boarding School Syndrome
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Wellbeing support for documentary participants
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Articles written
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Podcast guest
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Care work at Althea Park Specialist Services (Eating Disorders and Self-Harm), Stroud, Gloucestershire
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QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
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Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Counselling (2013)
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Challenging Ideas in Mental Health – Open University
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Safeguarding Children & Adults
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Personality Disorder Awareness
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Preventing Radicalisation
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Working with People with Complex
Psychological Needs -
Equality & Diversity
PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR EX-BOARDERS
If you are an adult who was sent away to boarding school as a child, you may be experiencing Boarding School Syndrome. When children are sent to boarding school, their attachment – which is vital to development – is broken. They have to find ways of surviving and unconsciously develop strategies in order to do so. The strategies you developed as a child, however may be unhelpful to you as an adult and you may find that you experience issues such as:
Feeling unhappy, anxious or traumatised; low self-esteem; feelings of ‘What’s the point?’; difficulty feeling emotions; finding relationships tricky. You might have upsetting memories of teasing, bullying or sexual abuse, or periods of your childhood that you can’t remember.
It might feel as if you’re surviving life but not really living it.
I am passionate about helping ex-boarders overcome difficulties resulting from having been to boarding school, and helping them to move towards a more content and fulfilling life.
*****REVIEWS *****
“Helen is such a lovely person; she is warm, caring, engaging and so easy to talk to. She has a positive outlook on life which can be infectious, and when you talk to her you genuinely feel she cares about you and how you feel.”
“Helen is a wonderful counsellor with a very good understanding of boarding school syndrome. We trained together with Nick Duffel and have no doubts you are in safe hands with her.”
“I met with Helen a few years ago following my divorce. I was dealing with alot of conflicting thoughts and feelings around what happened including depression. Helen helped me navigate the fog and helped me find myself again! I found her very easy to talk to and would definitely recommend her to anybody seeking help.”
“Helen is great, she is very warm and understanding. Incredibly easy to talk and kind. Couldn’t recommend her highly enough.”
“I had counselling with Helen for over a year, whilst doing my own therapy training. Her care, support, warm curiosity and creativity became an invaluable part of my process, which I am sure I will remember for years to come 💛”
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“I have spent significant time with Helen reflecting on subjects relevant to our roles as therapists helping others and have often suggested to people that they approach her for counselling. As a fellow yogi Helen cultivates healthy habits for herself and she also brings a lightness and curiosity to all her interactions, which is lovely to be around. Helen has excellent knowledge and skills for supporting people with all kinds of life circumstances and demands but her specialist interest in boarding school issues is so important and unique locally.”
“Helen has helped me a lot - I found her empathetic, genuine, easy to talk to, and she took the time to listen and understand. Helen never missed or cancelled a session with me which I've had issues with in the past.”
“Helen was supportive and caring, being more than just someone to talk to. Helping me improve and work on areas i wanted to, whilst celebrating the improvements.”
“I’d recommend Helen to anyone looking for support or just someone to talk to.”
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