Helen E Dodds

Hello, my name is Helen, thank you very much for taking the time to look at my profile. I am a qualified person-centred Counsellor and a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. As a member of the BACP I am committed to providing an ethical, quality service, demonstrating high levels of professionalism and integrity at all times.

I am a volunteer Macmillan Counsellor where my passion is in helping and supporting clients who are affected by cancer or other life limiting illnesses.

Working through bereavement can often present other interrelated issues such as loss in general, depression, anger management and anxiety, lack of confidence/low self esteem, relationship issues, work issues, smoking cessation/addiction worries, work/life balance, bullying etc and as a trained Counsellor I aspire to support clients who are experiencing any of these issues.

I believe that I am well placed to demonstrate true empathy and understanding on related issues as I journeyed through a ten year illness myself whereby I had to dig deep and find reserves which I was not aware I had. This journey taught me a lot and was in fact one of the springboards which led me into counselling.

I am also currently working with disabled students at the Manchester universities and have a wide range of experience working with students who present a whole range of challenging issues.

My work as a Counsellor involves me supporting a client with their past and present issues. It was when clients were coming to the end of their counselling journey that it became apparent to me that some are ready to look at future visions/goals and so my interest in personal development Coaching began. The areas I work closely with being health and wellbeing and career/study.

It is extremely satisfying and a great honour to work with clients who are able to share their personal innermost worries and dreams and this moves me forward in my personal development.

I am also a smoking cessation advisor as part of an N.H.S initiative and have enrolled on the Diploma in Neuro-linguistic Programming and continue with my Reiki development (I offer my clients complimentary Reiki sessions with an option to contribute a small amount to the Macmillan centre). I also attend regular training sessions at the Macmillan Centre.

Prior to this, after obtaining my Law degree, I gained twenty years management experience in a variety of areas, particularly in higher education where my role as a manager enabled me to coach colleagues to perform well and be their very best.

During my time in higher education, I was a volunteer Harassment and Bullying Advisor for 7 years which gave me a real insight into bullying and the significant issues surrounding it.

From the age of 11, I volunteered at my local hospital and also at a local residential home for the elderly which gave me my first insight into issues surrounding the elderly and their families.

Whatever issues are concerning you I very much hope that I can provide help and support to enable you to move forward to a more fulfilling life – which is what we all deserve.

Best wishes.

Helen.

Initial free 1 hour session (to ensure you feel comfortable with working with me).
Individual hourly rate £35.
Optional 30 minute/1 hour review session 3 months after completion of sessions.
Student hourly rate £20.
Smoking Cessation hourly rate £20.

I very much appreciate that not everyone may be in a position to afford the full hourly rate, for example, those going through a journey due to ill health may not be able to work during this time. In this instance, please call me, in the strictest of confidence, to discuss a suitable fee.

Client Testimonials.

Alison:

"Helen has helped me understand why I felt the way I did about certain things that have happened in my work environment and made me realise how these issues were consequently impacting on my personal life.

Helen is someone who is accessible, insightful and supportive, wonderfully solid and patient and her empathy, humour and humanity make her a very skilled Counsellor and an exceptionally special person.

Helen is genuinely interested in you as an individual who will sit and listen as you pour your heart out"


Carol:

"After the death of my Dad, I lost all confidence. I wasn't sure about coming to counselling as I'd not been before and my friend recommended I go.

You'll never know how much you have helped me. You've given me strength to move forward. I'm pleased I'm able to reflect now in a beneficial way for me.

I've been able to make some big decisions about the future and now feel more at piece with the family. I really feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders"


Claire:

"Helen has helped me gain perspective with my life and work balance when I was going through a massive amount of change and uncertaintly.

I gained a new way of looking at my situation and gained a lot by Helen's presence and by being listened to.

It has helped me enormously and I'm grateful for the experience - thank you!"


Louise:

I have found being coached by Helen a very positive experience during which I have set and achieved objectives that I might otherwise have continued to put off. My coaching sessions with Helen brought more clarity to my thinking and enabled me to better understand what was holding me back.

Helen is a very professional, supportive and encouraging coach, she took the time to really listen to what I was saying and at times not saying! She really helped me to clarify what I needed to do -  and then encouraged and supported me to do it, and I’m now on track to meet  my goals.

I also found that the structure Helen brought to the sessions very helpful – it kept me focussed and made my thinking about what I could achieve by when more realistic. Helen always made sure that she built in time  during the coaching sessions to reflect on my successes and achievements which I probably wouldn’t have done myself. This had a very positive effect on my motivation during the coaching session and beyond. I felt more empowered and determined after the sessions to take action and to take the positive steps I had identified to get me closer to what I wanted to achieve. Most of all Helen gave me space to think, to be honest with myself and to tackle things one at a time rather than try to do several things at once.

Many thanks Helen for all of your help.

Students and the increasing need for counselling in higher education.

University is a wonderful time. There is the potential to make lasting friendships, study and qualify in a subject you are passionate about, be independent, move away from home and a chance to try new things and get a real sense of who you are. The sense of freedom can be amazing.

The other side of the coin is that there can be a variety of challenges ahead – socially, academically and economically.

Even before you start university, the pressures can seem huge -  competition for university places, choosing the right course, can lead to exam related stress and general worries about the future.

Stepping into university life can be daunting for many – being suddenly away from home, family and friends. The normal routine is gone.

Moving to a big city or a strange town is exciting but can be overwhelming too.

Peer pressure can be immense and often this can start in Fresher’s week where there is pressure to make new friends, join clubs and have a great and full social life.

It can easily appear as if everyone is making friends and for those who aren’t quite as outgoing as others, feelings of loneliness and isolation can grow.

Academically, university is a new concept. Getting used to new ways of learning, taking ownership for progress, meeting deadlines, keeping up with course-work, the sheer volume of reading can be a challenge.

Economically there is more pressure than ever as families stretch to help put loved ones through university. Many more students are balancing academic life with jobs. This in itself can be difficult with the struggle to do well in studies and jobs. Many feel torn between the two and this can lead to feelings of anxiety.

As well as immediate financial worries, students now report worrying about future employability – will there be a job out there? Have I got the right skills?

Some students may have additional concerns, for example international students. Being in a new country, a different culture with different teaching methods, language barriers can all add to students feeling pressurised to do well and prove themselves.

More and more students with special needs are now going to university and settling in to university life can be more challenging or include different challenges. In my work with students with differing needs I have been overwhelmed by the determination to get on and do well despite the fact that they may have to work on obtaining extra things such as mobility assistance, support worker help, assistive equipment etc. This all takes time to put in place correctly and I see how organised students have to be.

Mature students may have different issues such as juggling family commitments, childcare issues, getting used to a reduced household income due to a reduction in working hours to fit in study etc.

Students can encounter a variety of issues – anxiety, alcohol/drug dependence, bullying, depression, a lack of confidence, anger management, time management, self harm, eating disorders, relationship issues.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists produced a report, “Mental Health of Students in Higher Education” in 2011. This was in recognition of the diverse and complex issues students can face due to the increased student population from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and also the current economic climate and its associated affects. Many recommendations/observations have been put forward, one being the need to recognise how important it now is for higher education and N.H.S services to work in collaboration.

Universities are committed to student retention and completion and work hard to help students face challenges and nurture their health and wellbeing. Counselling sessions are offered in a confidential environment and courses and workshops are often available. Some also offer online self help for those unsure about counselling – all to enhance the student experience.

For those who do not want to access their university counselling service, many seek help and advice from their G.P or prefer to find a Counsellor privately to work through issues in a safe environment. All credible Counsellors are members of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and work to the BACP ethical framework – Ethics for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

So – the great news is that there are many places to go to get support – so please don’t feel you are alone if you are experiencing or know anyone who is experiencing any of these issues. Taking the first step in asking for help is your bravest step and will immediately start your journey of recovery/getting back on track!