Helen Rice

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she/her
Relationship Therapist MA MSc MBACP Relate Certified
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Branksome Park, Poole BH13 & Poole BH12
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

As a Specialist Relationship Therapist & Psychotherapist in private practice for over 10 years, I have a proven track record in working effectively with individuals, couples and families dealing with a broad spectrum of relationship difficulties and personal challenges. I've included some Testimonials in the Further Information section.

Research has consistently shown that it is the quality of the relationship between a client and therapist that leads to successful outcomes, rather than any specific discipline or therapeutic technique and it is this relationship that I place at the heart of my practice. Learning to reflect, considering current & past circumstances and being willing to tackle challenges with a sense of neutrality and non-judgement in a safe and supportive environment is the key to success. In this way, clients are enabled to distinguish the very personal barriers that have been in the way of having the life and relationships they want, and what it will take to achieve their goals. This process allows real, lasting and transformative change to happen naturally and with ease - and in many areas of life!

My training and experience is extensive. With high-level academic and rigorous practical training - Counselling & Counselling Skills (Diploma, University of London), MA Relationship Therapy (University of Hull, with Relate), MSc Applied Psychology (University of Surrey) and personal development coaching (Landmark Education) & corporate training, I can draw on a wide range of ideas and techniques to support each client to find a way of working that best suits them. Continuous Professional Development is also of course an ongoing commitment.

Theoretically speaking, the 'integrative' approach I use incorporates psychodynamic, systemic, existential, compassion-based and other therapeutic ideas, as well as the latest neuro-scientific thinking around recovery from trauma, life-coaching techniques and facilitated exercises in sessions when they may be useful. For those couples wanting to address difficulties with sex, I offer a Sensate Focus approach which combines talking therapy with a programme of self-guided practical exercises.

I am available for face-to-face sessions at the Consulting Centre, Branksome, Poole and online.  Home visits can be arranged (variable fees). As the founder of www.belovecurious.com I offer online relationship therapy & coaching to clients dealing with love life difficulties, nationwide & overseas.

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications:

  • MA Relationship Therapy, Relate Institute @ Hull University
  • MSc Psychology, University of Surrey
  • Relate Certified Practitioner
  • Level 5 HEFCE Counseling & Counselling Skills, London University
  • Extensive training & practice as a personal development coach & professional mentor in corporate roles and at Landmark Education

Registered Member BACP - Registration number 137257

Experience:

  • Relate Certified Counsellor working with couples, individuals and families.
  • Founder of relationship counselling & lovelife coaching website www.belovecurious.com
  • Regular media commentator on relationship & dating issues. In 2016 & 2017: Psychologies Magazine, Metro daily newspaper; Daily Mail YOU Magazine; Tesco Magazine; New! and Saga UK magazine http://www.belovecurious.com/inspiration/in-the-press/

Other:

  • Professionally, I have many years experience working in senior corporate roles and as a freelance social research consultant to HM Government.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Communication skills & stop the arguments
    Bring back intimacy
    Self-confidence & self-esteem
    Marriage or civil partnership preparation
    Children & family life
    Affairs & betrayal
    Divorce or separation - conscious uncoupling
    Sex & sexuality
    Dating difficulties
    New relationship


Photos & videos

Fees

£80.00 - £105.00
Free initial telephone session

Additional information

  • Initial 15-20 minute telephone consultation - Free of charge and no obligation
  • Assessment session (1 hour) - Online £90 |  In-person at the Consulting Centre, Branksome, Poole £105
  • Ongoing sessions - Payable per session at above rates or discounted for pre-pay 6 sessions.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night
  • Times for online & face-to-face appointments vary.
  • Mornings from 10am. In-person last appointment 6pm.
  • Typically 1-2 week wait for online, may be longer for in-person. 

Further information

TESTIMONIALS

I found some of the sessions quite challenging at times, but all have been positive and very thought provoking! I'm not sure anybody else could have made me feel so at ease to be able to open up like I did. I/we have learned a lot and you have given us the tools for us to go forward and to start a new chapter in our relationship together. COUPLE

Even in the first two sessions we have had, I feel I have something new and clear to work with. Thanks! COUPLE

 
I've learned so much about myself over the past year by talking with Helen. I now understand my patterns of behaviours, and my responses to stress, which has allowed me to notice my triggers and bring a new level of self-awareness to situations that I just did not have access to or even know I could access before ...I feel that I talk to myself with much more compassion and kindness, I feel comfortable exploring my feelings and allowing myself to have big feelings, and I can show vulnerability with myself, my family, and my friends. Therapy has been life-changing for me, and I will endeavour to continue to take my new knowledge, strategies, and awareness to whatever life throws at me next! SINGLE WOMAN

The support and professionalism i have received over the past 4 years from Helen has been so valuable for me. I have understood and overcome many challenges through the early years of my children and relationship with my partner. I have unpacked cycles of entrenched behaviour that have been with me since my childhood. Feelings of rejection, feeling trapped, communication styles and much more. The help in navigating my emotions and behaviour and the understanding i have gained has literally saved my marriage and will continue to support my thinking now that my sessions have ended.  Much Love and Gratitude. "SOME GUY, AGED 49"

I’m generally on top of things and feel ok with how my life and my relationship with my daughter is developing at the moment. Thanks again for all your help & support. DIVORCED DAD

I will be forever grateful for your truly expert guidance and support that has allowed me to reconnect with myself, my partner and every element of life. I remember feeling so completely overwhelmed and disconnected from everything and in a dark and trapped place when I first came to you - couldn't see how any element of life could be okay again - I cannot believe that you have helped to completely turn this all on it's head to the point that I'll be shouting 'BRING IT ON' and embracing every connection, emotion and opportunity possible - I'm once again excited by life and so glad to be living it after a long while of not being very present in any way. MARRIED LGBT WOMAN

I was so sceptical about therapy. I didn’t think it would work or that anyone could tell me anything I didn’t already know about my own emotions. I reached out in more desperation than hope and I am so pleased I did. This had such a positive impact on my wellbeing from the very 1st session. Helen was magnificent. Together we focused on the job in hand without a need to cross into unnecessary areas, yet I could put her theories into practice across all aspects of my life to benefit. Helen's kindness immediately put me at ease and I surprised myself with how much value I took from each session.

Having been through the process I honestly believe everyone should have therapy and everyone would benefit ... Even if you think it’s a load of rubbish, or you are nervous you definitely need to just take a leap of faith and try it because you won’t ever look back! SINGLE WOMAN


I would say my time with you has been the most intriguing and insightful experience of my life. It’s opened up a new world to me that I’ll encourage others to look into as well. SINGLE GUY

I have been able to grow like I never knew I could before. I put everything I learned into practice and your sessions really helped me to be where I am today. I leave my bed every day now, do exercise classes, I'm learning to drive and so much more. Thank you for that!  MARRIED WOMAN

Thank you so much for helping and guiding me to get to this point. I've made a few small tweaks to my daughter's routine which has made a huge improvement for us. She has even been happily spending the odd hour in the company of others without me, which is huge progress too! MARRIED MUM

Thank you so much for all your help over the last months, it has really been invaluable and got me over some obstacles that were looking insurmountable. I feel so much more empowered over my responses to things now and in turn that’s reaping benefits. I hope it will last but feel more confident than usual that it will.  DIVORCEE 

I cannot thank you enough for your advice and care. I feel comfortable in my skin for the first time in years.... For now, my heart is clear and open, and that's all we can really ask for I think, to move forward in life.  SEPARATING COUPLE

I think I'm finally living the life I imagined! Thank you!  MARRIED WOMAN

You have helped us through such a tricky time and reframed the outcome for us both. ... Thank you for your support, loving kindness and advice.  COUPLE

At my first session I was nearly in hysterics, panicking that I was not measuring up to any of life’s standards. My sex life, my love life and indeed my life was in tatters. The sessions with you not only improved the areas that I thought I needed help with, they went to my core. I walked out of the final session more whole than I have ever felt in my adult life. At last I was equipped with the self confidence to really blossom and grow. This was a life changing experience of which you read about in books!  MARRIED WOMAN

At the start I was quite sceptical, but I’m a complete advocate of therapy now. I’d go so far as to say it’s a good thing even if there is no problem as such. It’s a great opportunity to talk with someone who is completely neutral and non-judgmental and be challenged about the way you think about people and relationships. Now when a date isn’t going to plan I just imagine Helen’s voice in my ear and ask myself “what would she say?” SINGLE GUY

We really appreciate your help. We have decided to separate but are both being civil and are now communicating more honestly and effectively. We are also being amicable which is great and we are putting the children first. SEPARATING COUPLE

I am feeling a lot better and would like to thank you for all of the support you've provided over the last few months. I'm not sure how I would have got to where I am without you. I will certainly be in touch again should I feel I need to. MARRIED WOMAN

I am still feeling the huge impact from our session yesterday. I am using the power of my awakening like magic and slowly going through different areas of my life, tentatively touching each area with new clarity and letting it transform. The process is slow but really joyous. MARRIED WOMAN

I started getting counselling from Helen at a very stuck stage of my relationship. I was confused because I was unhappy in what seemed like it should be a perfect relationship. She listened to all my cries without judgement after which she would ask simple questions that led me to an unshakeable clarity about the next steps for me. Without ever being told what I needed to do it was so clear that I had to find the courage to leave what was comfortable and familiar and follow my heart to find what will make me happy! Now I am single but more open to finding real love than I have ever been.  SINGLE WOMAN (Daily Mail YOU magazine, Jan 2016)

The overall process has been absolutely brilliant! All of a sudden everything clicks into place and when you can see the full circle, all the work we’ve been doing over these few weeks makes complete sense. I’ve had what I thought were good and bad sessions, and sometimes I’ve felt down and very reflective, but in retrospect I feel there’s never been a bad session because it’s all been extremely helpful. COUPLE

My attitude to sex has completely changed. I used to think it was always going to be disastrous, but now I have hope that I can have a satisfying and enjoyable sex life. I’ve learned to relax a lot more and not be so bossy, so it’s a lot easier for someone to be spontaneous and more relaxed with me. MARRIED WOMAN

Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset, BH13

The Consulting Centre, 348 Poole Road, Branksome, Poole, BH12 1AW

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone
Home visits

Types of client

Adults
Older Adults
Couples
Families
Groups
Organisations

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom

Social