Therapist's
About Helen | Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist in Southwell
PG(Dip) Counselling Children and Young People, PG (Dip) Play Therapy, Bsc (hons) Heath and Social Care, Registered Member PTUK & Registered Member MBACP (Accred)
Hi I'm Helen
Specialist Child, Teenager and Adolescent Integrative Psychotherapist and Play Therapist, supporting children and young people aged 5–18 with their emotional and psychological wellbeing. I provide child psychotherapy, play therapy and counselling in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, offering a safe, supportive and confidential space where children and young people can begin to make sense of what they are experiencing. I also work collaboratively with parents, carers, schools and other professionals where this is helpful and appropriate.
My Experience
I have over 15 years' experience supporting children, young people and families across education, the NHS and private practice. Since 2021, I have worked within NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), including both community and crisis services. Through this work, I have supported children and young people experiencing a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including more complex presentations. My experience has also involved working closely with parents and carers, schools and other professionals to develop a fuller understanding of a young person's needs and how best to support them. Alongside my NHS work, I provide private therapy through Mandala Psychotherapies, offering individualised support to children, teenagers and young people in a way that is tailored to their age, development, personality and circumstances. I am a Registered Member MBACP (Accred) and Registered Member of PTUK. I hold postgraduate qualifications in Counselling Children & Young People and Play Therapy, alongside specialist training in therapeutic approaches and an indepth understanding of trauma and attachment. I also hold a full enhanced DBS.
My Approach To Therapy
I believe that children and young people need to feel understood, accepted and safe before they can begin to make sense of what they are experiencing. As an Integrative and Play Psychotherapist, I do not believe that one type of therapy is right for every child. Instead, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches and adapt the way I work according to each young person's individual needs. My practice is informed by attachment and developmental theory, person-centred, psychodynamic and humanistic approaches, gestalt, systemic perspectives, CBT-informed interventions and is trauma informed. My specialist Play Therapy training also allows me to use play, creativity and expressive approaches alongside talking therapy. For some young people, talking may feel like the most natural way to explore their experiences. For others, it may be easier to communicate without words, using creative mediums. This is particularly important when working with younger children, who may not yet have the words to explain how they feel, but it can also be valuable for teenagers and older young people to express and explore the parts of them, when words are not enough. Rather than expecting a child to fit a particular therapeutic model, I aim to understand the individual child and provide a bespoke, tailored approach.
What I Can Help With
Children and young people come to therapy for many different reasons. This may include anxiety, low mood, emotional regulation difficulties, low self-esteem, trauma, relationship or friendship difficulties, school-related difficulties, significant life changes, or difficulties associated with neurodevelopmental differences. Sometimes there is a clear diagnosis or difficulty; at other times, parents simply notice that their child is struggling or that something has changed. I also work with children and young people who find it difficult to understand or express what they are feeling, even when there is no clear explanation for what is happening. You can find more information about the therapy and support I offer on my ways we can work together page.