Hello, I’m Helen


I’ve been working with children and young people for over 20 years and I have extensive experience of supporting children and young people with a range of emotional needs and of supporting parents, caregivers and professionals to build better connections with the children and young people in their lives.



I’m based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and I offer a range of support services for children and young people, including therapy (play-based and talking therapy), coaching, and advocacy.
I have experience of working with children, young people and young adults with additional learning needs, including learning disabilities.
I also have a great deal of experience supporting neurodivergent children and young people, in particular those who are autistic (including having a Pathological Demand Avoidance profile).
I work in an integrative way which means that I combine a range of theories and practices to best suit individual needs, including person-centred, attachment-based, psychodynamic and CBT approaches.
I am qualified to level 7 (Masters level) with a specific focus on working therapeutically with children, young people and families.
I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and I follow their ethical guidelines.
I am trained to Level 3 in Child Safeguarding (Designated Safeguarding Lead) and I have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate which is registered with the update service.
I also have considerable experience creating learning resources to support adults caring for, or working with, children and young people, and facilitating training.


Qualifications
COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
- MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy for Children, Adolescents & Families (Merit)
University of Roehampton
- Certificate in Adoption Support Counselling
The Albany Centre/Barnardo’s
ADVOCACY
- Level 3 Advocating on Behalf of Children and Young People
NYAS – Aim Qualifications & Assessment Group
- Level 3 Domestic Abuse Prevention and Early Intervention
SafeLives – Open College Network
- Level 3 Working with Women and Girls in the Sexual Violence Sector
RCEW – Open College Network
TEACHING AND EDUCATION
- MA Creative and Media Education (Distinction)
Bournemouth University
- Master of Teacher (Distinction)
Institute of Education, University College, London
- Advanced Skills Teacher – Media & Film Studies
VT Education and Skills National Assessment Agency
- Qualified Teacher Status
Department for Education and Skills
- Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Further Education)
Keele University
