Carrie Helman

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Psychotherapeutic Gestalt Counsellor Dip.Co, MBACP, MCMA
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

To book a free 15-minute introductory call, please book directly through my website's booking system by clicking here.

https://parasolcounselling.co.uk/bookings/newclient/

I'm Carrie and you're no doubt asking yourself why should I choose this Therapist to work with?

Firstly, I like to think I'm non-judgemental, empathic and compassionate. Secondly, my aim is to offer you time, space and understanding to be seen and heard. Thirdly, the plus point of us working together is that I don't know anyone else involved and likely never will.  I'm here for YOU and YOU alone without any motives or judgement.  I'm here to listen to you fully and be open to you sharing and working through whatever is going on in your life.  I adapt my approach to each individual client and am not hesitant to try something new, especially at the request of a client.  

Some of the techniques I use are Sand Tray Therapy, Play Therapy, Art Therapy, etc.

Some of the general issues I support clients with are:

- anxiety
- depression
- worries around physical/sexual relationships
- physical/sexual/coercive abuse
- sexuality/identity
- financial and/or work-related concerns
- childhood/adult trauma
- bereavement/grief/loss (people/animals)
- grief/loss (losing a part of yourself due to illness/surgery)
- bullying/harassment
- low self-esteem
- body dysmorphia/body image
- end of life counselling
- gender dysphoria/sexuality
- pregnancy/childbirth/post-partum depression
- infertility/miscarriage
- jealous tendencies
- separation/divorce
- phobias

I'm affiliated to the NHS within the Gastro-Colorectal field as well as other professional medical bodies. Clients I see have encountered a diverse range of medical, physical and psychological issues including:

- fear of upcoming surgery 
- living with Bowel Disease, e.g. Colitis, Crohn's, IBS, etc.
- chronic illness
- long-COVID
- cancer diagnoses
- disability
- chronic pain/fatigue
- worries around body image (post-surgery, due to medication, etc)
- living with an ostomy (ileostomy/ colostomy/urostomy)
- dynamics in the immediate family (due to surgery or illness)
- pre-/post-surgical uncertainties

By reaching out for help you've made a really important first move.  Let me now help you through the rest of this process to allow you to get to a place where you're truly able to manage better.

Training, qualifications & experience

I studied at Hertfordshire University and The Albany Centre and have worked with a diverse variety of clients over the past 5 years, from the young to the elderly.

I worked at a Women's Centre supporting the mental health and well-being of women over the age of 18 who suffered from coercive, physical and sexual abuse.  I worked at Mosaic Counselling Services in St Albans with a variety of clients aged 20-65 with a range of general and medical issues.  I'm also linked to the NHS as a Medical Counsellor specialising in Bowel Disease and was recently invited to work with the Ileostomy Association.

I'm a member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists), the CMA (Complementary Medical Association) and the Counselling Directory. 

In addition to counselling individuals, I run Group Therapy Sessions.

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

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Medical Counselling specialising in IBD - all types of bowel disease, relationship issues and physical/sexual problems due to this, coping with an ostomy, cancer diagnoses, body dysmorphia/image, etc.

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£55.00 per session
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle OAPs
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors

Additional information

My cost per session is £55 however, I will offer a discounted rate in very special circumstances. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I don't work over weekends or Bank Holidays. I am flexible in that I see clients on certain days of the week in the evening.

Further information

I've been interviewed on Podcasts and have an Article coming out in the September issue of Happiful Magazine (affiliated to the Counselling Directory). I'm also writing an Article for the Ileostomy Association Journal. 

I work from my self-contained Therapy Room in Borehamwood at the back of my house which can be accessed via a side gate.  Privacy is respected at all times.  I also see clients remotely via Zoom.

Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Groups
Organisations

Key details

DBS check info

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access info
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

My Therapy Room is self-contained and located at the rear of my house, accessible via a side gate. There is one step (not steep) going down on entering the Room.

Online platforms

Zoom
Skype
Microsoft Teams

Social