Helen Bailey
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Sometimes life can feel desperately hard. The stresses and strains of the world, work, family and relationships can be unrelenting and deplete us of our energy and joy. Many of us battle on for a while, surviving the best way we know how, but this can be a lonely and confusing journey to walk alone.
Talking therapies can help you find relief from the echo chamber of your inner thoughts and feelings - a bit like releasing an internal pressure valve. You can gain clarity about how and why you think, feel and behave the way you do, and be empowered to choose different ways to make positive changes in your life and relationships.
If this sounds appealing to you, then counselling and/or psychotherapy may be for you.
A bit about me...
I'm a BACP registered counsellor and UKCP and UKATA registered trainee psychotherapist based in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. I'm culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ allied, and trauma- and neurodivergence-informed. I have completed extensive training in Transactional Analysis, an inclusive and flexible humanistic therapeutic approach that is well-suited for working with individuals, couples, and groups.
I'm curious about the different ways families, society, culture and environment influence how we think of ourselves and others, and the stories we create to make sense of our identities, experiences and relationships.
My interest in stories originally led me to study English Literature, and I worked for over 10 years as a researcher and teacher of English in Higher and Further Education. My PhD research looked at how writers explore the relationship between music and spirituality - a connection that still fascinates me. I retrained in counselling and psychotherapy so I could work therapeutically with individuals, couples and groups to help them make sense of their own stories.
I like to relax by going for walks, looking out for interesting wildlife, and curling up with my cat, Marbles!
- BACP = British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
- UKCP = UK Council for Psychotherapy
- UKATA = UK Association for Transactional Analysis
How I work...
Our first few sessions will normally be spent exploring the issues you have brought and building a secure and trusting relationship. We will also agree some initial goals together, which we'll review on a regular basis and adjust if needed.
Everyone has a unique therapeutic journey, and I invite open and honest discussions about how sessions are going, what you need or want from me, and what I'm able to give you.
As part of your own journey, you may like to experiment with other ways of exploring what is going on for you, perhaps through creative expression or taking sessions outdoors. I'm a strong advocate for the therapeutic benefits of the the natural world and creative arts, and will happily facilitate this for you if it's something you'd like to explore.
No therapeutic journey is ever the same, and what works for one person won't necessarily work for you. That's why it's so important to find a therapist and approach that fits you. If you'd like to explore whether we'd work well together, please contact me for a free initial consultation.
Training, qualifications & experience
Specialisms & Experience
I work with adults aged 18+ around a wide range of issues, including (but not limited to) those outlined below.
I specialise in working with people who, for whatever reason, may be struggling with their sense of identity as an individual and/or in relation to others.
I have particular experience in bereavement, loss, depression, anxiety, neurodivergence, and relationship problems.
Training & Qualifications
- 2024-Present: Working towards Berne Institute Certificate in Working with Couples
- 2023-Present: Working towards MSc level Certified Transactional Analyst status & UKCP accreditation.
- 2023: BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- 2023: PESI Intensive Trauma Treatment Workshop
- 2022: Berne Institute Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling (Level 7 / postgraduate certificate)
- 2019-2023: Berne Institute Advanced Training in Transactional Analysis (Psychotherapy)
- 2019: Berne Institute Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis
- 2018: TA 101 Certificate
- 2014: PhD in English Literature (University of Reading)
- 2009: MA (Res) in Modern & Contemporary English & American Literature (University of Reading)
- 2008: BA (Hons) in English Studies (Durham University)
Member organisations
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
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Cultural identity
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Phone consultation: free of charge for 30 minutes
- Individual sessions: £50 for 1 hour
- Couple sessions: £70 for 1.5 hours
- Group therapy: £25 for 2-3 hours (please contact me if you are interested in group therapy)
Please contact me if affordability is preventing you from accessing therapy. I offer a limited number of concessionary rates, which I am happy to discuss with you.
When I work
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