Helen Ogg

About me

'Calm seas do not make skilful sailors.' I am an experienced therapist working with individuals and couples.

My approach

I am passionate about the transformative potential of therapy. My role is to help you to explore questions like: 'why do I always feel anxious?' 'why do I keep finding myself in damaging relationships?' 'why am I such a people pleaser?' 'how can I ever come to terms with my loss?' or any number of issues that may bring you to therapy.

Therapy is about gaining better self-understanding in order to facilitate change. Feeling more at ease with your self, and becoming better equipped to face life's challenges, are the goals.

A trusting, collaborative and confidential relationship between therapist and client is an important part of this process. I encourage my clients to challenge themselves, the better to shed entrenched and unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Helping people to recognise and utilise their strengths is also an important aspect of my approach.

My training background

I am trained in an integrative approach to psychotherapy. This means my approach is flexible and adaptable, and recognises that people are complex and their lives complicated. I have a rich academic background in developmental psychology, and my rich life experiences also inform my practice.

Couples counselling

Couples counselling allows for exploration of relationship difficulties and space to make decisions about how to move forward into the future. It is an opportunity to explore different ways of communicating with and being with each other.

I have experience of working with couples where high-functioning Asperger Syndrome/ASD has been diagnosed, or may be a factor.

Online therapy

With many hours of experience of working remotely, video call or telephone sessions have proved to be an effective and convenient way for people to engage in counselling.

EAP/Organisations

I have experience of working successfully with referrals from EAP/Organisations and charities. Enquiries welcome. Current DBS Certificate. Registered with ICO.

Confidentiality

It is in the nature of the counselling process that clients often disclose deeply personal details of their lives. To safeguard client confidentiality I do not add your name or other identifying details to my notes. In addition, I do not store sensitive client information on my computer.

Training, qualifications & experience

Always curious about how we think, feel and behave, I earned a 1st Class psychology degree at the University of London in 1996. I went on to research children’s early language and cognitive development for which I was awarded a doctoral degree in 2002.

Other qualifications include:
Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.
Advanced Post Diploma Certificate in Couples Counselling. The training also covered the particular relationship difficulties encountered when Asperger Syndrome has been diagnosed, or may be a factor.
Diploma in Anatomy and Physiology reflecting an interest in the link between mind and body.

Additional/recent training includes:

Neuro-diverse relationships - neurotypicals and ASD/Asperger Syndrome partnerships: recognising the unique challenges of neuro-diverse relationships. How to thrive rather than merely to survive.

Working with Survivors of Sexualised Trauma

Psychopharmacology and Therapy - to aid an understanding of the pros and cons of anti-depressant/anti-anxiety and other psychotropic medication.

Trauma - The Body keeps the Score -understanding how trauma memories are stored in the body as well as the mind.

Remote therapy - CPD/training in working via Zoom/Skype/Telephone

Conscious Uncoupling - Psychotherapy in the transition through separation and divorce.

I have worked in a wide variety of environments, from secretarial roles in both the public and private sectors, to teaching psychology to post-graduate students. I have also run my own successful small business.

In addition to my professional and academic qualifications, my 'university of life' experiences also inform my therapy practice.

I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society (NCS) and adhere to their Code of Ethics and Practice.