Helena Hodgson

Thank you for looking at my information.  You may feel that I can help you, so I'll explain a little about how we can work together.

I counsel in a relational way, believing the foundation of trust, safety and non- judgemental support can help to pave the way for a successful counselling relationship where you will feel able to share your concerns with me.

I encourage you to trust in yourself, be attuned to your feelings and thoughts, as you are the expert in your life.  We consider what is important to you and we explore ways that you can face the issues that you're finding such a burden right now.

I can help you to find your voice, encouraging you to express yourself and to look at ways of healthily managing whatever you are facing.  Simply focusing on yourself and having more clarity of your situation can enable you to consider new ways of coping.  

Below are some of the issues I've supported people with over the years

• worry and anxiety,
• low self-esteem,
• parenting difficulties,
• loss of job,
• financial problems,
• making poor choices,
• relationship issues,
• alcohol dependency,
• panic attacks,
• sleep deprivation,
• negative effects of medication on life,
• domestic abuse,
• sexual abuse,
• depth of feelings around approaching end of life and palliative care,
• loss and bereavement
• depression
• self harm

I offer support, understanding and a counselling relationship which develops at a comfortable pace for you.  I have experience of working 1-1 with adults and children and young people.  I also have training and experience in counselling  couples and families. 

When working with relationship, between two or more clients, I help you to actually hear each other and to understand what the other is saying.  This in turn helps you to consider new ways of communicating and relating which can lead to more connection between you.

I have the following special interests

Working with Children/Young People and Families:

• I've worked with children/young people for over 20 years
• I've worked in many schools helping with problems around bullying, drug abuse, low self esteem, delivering group work
• I've counselled primary aged children for 2 years in school and managed a primary counselling service for a charity for 2 years
• I've counselled families for 5 years in an Altrincham charity, I deliver training to other professionals around counselling families

Working With People Whose Lives Have Been Affected By Cancer

I have a special interest in this area and have provided counselling for Macmillan Cancer Support at a local hospital, now The Christie East Cheshire. Working within a hospital setting means I've experienced helping people from a wide range of backgrounds with a whole spectrum of issues which adversely affected their lives.
I have a good understanding of living with life limiting or debilitating illnesses and also the impact they have on the loved ones of the person diagnosed.

Companion Animal/Pet Bereavement

I offer a counselling service for those facing or experiencing loss of a pet. This can be a very difficult time when those bereaved may not always have someone to share their emotions with.
The disenfranchised grief within society often means there is guilt around the loss, sometimes fear around not being understood, complexities around euthanasia and many other difficulties compounded due to the possible lack of understanding of the human/animal bond.

As an animal carer for most of my life, I fully understand the place they have in our lifes and have undertaken further training in this area and am part of pet loss networks focusing on the impact of pet loss.

I am passionate about supporting bereaved carer's of animals.  Please contact me for further information.

I counsel in two comfortable counselling venues in central Wilmslow for all of my individual and relationship clients.  I also offer sessions from a dedicated counselling space within my home for individual clients (limited availability).  I provide walk and talk therapy in south or central Wilmslow.  I also work online for video counselling sessions.

I offer an initial free telephone call up to 20 minutes, enabling us to decide whether we will work well together and for you to ask any questions you may have. If you and I feel we could work well together I will arrange an initial session with you.  I charge £55/£45 for the initial session (total 50 minutes) dependent upon location for an individual.  Please look at my website FAQ section for payment for couples/families as charges vary up to £95 dependent upon numbers attending, location and time of session.  Payment is required by bank transfer 48 hours in advance of the session to secure the appointment for the central Wilmslow locations and 24 hours in advance for South Wilmslow, walk and talk and Zoom sessions.

I offer a variety of concessions, please contact me for further information.

It has been an absolute privilege to support the clients I've helped so far.  I've supported many clients whilst working within charities, most recently a family counselling charity in Altrincham.  Due to the popularity of charities there are often waiting lists for the service and so I've decided to offer my services privately,  I'm the same counsellor who has delivered work consistently for several counselling charities and am now ready to deliver it at the time you need it and at the same price but with no wait!

If you'd like an initial conversation with me please telephone and leave a message if I'm unable to answer, text or email me.  I shall look forward to hearing from you.

If you feel I can be of help to you, please contact me to find out more.