Helen Thomas
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Maybe you’re thinking about counselling because you’re struggling with difficult life events, sadness, anxiety or negative thinking or perhaps, you simply have a vague sense that there must be more to life than this. I am so pleased you have found your way to my profile.
I offer a warm and accepting space in which we can work together to make sense of your feelings, thoughts and experiences and help you find a way forward to a more balanced, positive and fulfilled way of living.
I am a qualified and registered counsellor with many years’ experience of working with people experiencing difficulties and challenges in their lives. This includes working for two leading local counselling organisations and as a counsellor and a mental health practitioner for the NHS.
I hold Accredited status with my registering body - BACP - which reflects my experience and competence as a counsellor.
I use a wide range of approaches to respond to what my clients are hoping to achieve from therapy and draw on a deep conviction that every person has within them the potential for growth and change.
I work with people who are looking for a few sessions simply to develop better strategies for living, all the way through to people who are seeking long-term therapy to tackle deep psychological issues or work on their personal development. I also work with trainee counsellors.
I have been privileged on so many occasions to watch my clients grow in awareness and confidence and find their own inner capacity for healing, building a better life for themselves on the other side of difficult life experiences and emotional distress.
If you would like to find out more please get in touch by phone or email. I am happy to schedule a conversation to discuss your hopes and goals for therapy.
In addition to counselling psychotherapy I also offer solution-focused Life Coaching for clients seeking structured support to achieve their life/career goals.
Reduced fees are available depending on circumstances.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have over 20 years experience of working with people experiencing difficulties and challenges in their lives. Since 2001 I have also supervised and trained others in this work.
I have worked as a counsellor with two leading counselling organisations in North Staffordshire and within a Local Authority Coaching service.
In addition to private practice I have also provided counselling for the NHS.
Qualifications:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, Keele University
- Certificate in Counselling, Keele University
- NLP Practitioner (qualitycultureuk)
I have undertaken further training in Trauma, Compassion-focused Therapy, Couples Therapy, Mindfulness & Breathwork, Working with the Sacred, Suicidal Ideation, Existential Therapy and therapeutic practice with young adults.
I am a member of the BACP - the regulatory body which oversees standards for the provision of counselling and therapy services.
I am fully insured and maintain my professional expertise through regular professional supervision and training/development.
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
Critical incident debriefing and working with clients in crisis
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Session rates:
60 minute face to face/online/telephone sessions - from £40 to £50
Reduced fees are available depending on circumstances
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
Further information
I am experienced in a wide range of counselling areas but have a particular interest in:
- loss and bereavement
- anxiety
- anger
- attachment
- relationships
- creating meaning and purpose - a life worth living
- traumatic experiences, intrusive thoughts and phobias
