Helen Wallace-Bell
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
An HCPC registered Music Therapist since 2007, I also hold qualifications in Music & Imagery Therapy, Guided Imagery & Music, and Music Breathing. Using these therapeutic techniques, I provide compassionate support to help restore emotional balance, nurture inner strengths, and cultivate and sustain inner resources.
Creative Arts Therapies offer a unique opportunity to combine creativity with emotional well-being and personal growth. I bring a wealth of experience in assisting people in navigating through challenging emotional situations and am dedicated to empowering them to reach their fullest potential.
From my own experiences, I understand that finding a therapist can be daunting - it needs to be someone you feel safe to open up with. I believe that trust, compassion, and creativity are the foundation of the therapeutic connection, sparking transformation and unlocking inner potential. Trust built in the relationship between therapist and client, along with the healing power of music, forms the core of each session.
Free Initial Consultation
Recognising the importance of feeling secure while addressing life's obstacles and emotions, I aim to establish a welcoming and inclusive space that caters to each person's unique requirements. This is why I offer a free initial consultation (up to 30 minutes), where you can ask any questions you may have, find out more about my approach, and explore how sessions would work best for you.
About the therapy
The following methods are used in sessions, according to individual needs:
Music & Imagery Therapy (MI) is a short or longer-term goal based therapy that helps to build resilience and equip you with strategies with which to deal with the stress of modern life. Looking at specific issues, or working through patterns in your wider life which may be impacting you, can develop, build, and increase self-confidence and self-worth, as well as encouraging self-acceptance and understanding. Sessions combine talking, music-listening, and creative expression, are suitable for a range of ages and challenges:
"... through Helen's guidance in Music & Imagery I feel l have made so much progress in terms of understanding myself and making physical progress in my daily life." (client accessing therapy for personal development)
Guided Imagery & Music (GIM) uses relaxation and music-listening to unlock imagination, potential, and creativity. A GIM session involves sitting, reclining, or lying down whilst listening to music and verbally describing your experience. Here you can safely navigate issues, challenges, and/or areas of your life you wish to explore, as I gently guide you through your imagery experience. A series of GIM sessions always begins by using MI to help familiarise you with music-listening and creative expression, and throughout your session series a mixture of methods may be used:
"My journey with Helen has been empowering, insightful and healing beyond words! I had to go through a lot of trauma, old and new, and I wouldn't have made it to the end of the tunnel without her warm and empathetic light guiding me." (client accessing therapy for complex trauma)
Music Breathing combines mindful breathing, music-listening, and neuropsychological theory, providing support for stress, trauma, and the nervous system, as well as building and increasing ability to self-regulate. Sessions are available in an 8 week course, beginning with Silent Breathing to familiarise us with the use of breath as a grounding technique, before music is used to accompany the breathing process; synchronising music and breath.
What to expect in your first session
The first session is an introductory session where you can share more about your life and how you hope therapy can help. It is also a chance to have a short therapy experience, to help you decide whether you would like to book further sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Music Therapy MA (Roehampton)
- FAMI (Fellow of Association for Music & Imagery)
- Independent Music Breathing Practitioner (Dip.)
- Music BA (Hons) (Southampton)
- VoiceGym Instructor (Level One)
During my work as a Music Therapist I have worked in many clinical areas, including adults with learning disabilities, terminal illness, dementia, the link between emotional and physical pain. In my private practice I work with adults and young people experiencing a wide range of challenges, including complex trauma.
I am also a registered supervisor with the British Association for Music Therapy, and an Assistant Trainer & Supervisor on a training programme for therapists/counsellors wanting to train in Music & Imagery Therapy.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Well-being for musicians and other creative professionals
- Self-esteem
- Self-expression
- Personal development
- Educational stress
- Significant life events
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
Music & Imagery and Music Breathing (60 - 75 minutes) are £60 per session.
Guided Imagery & Music sessions typically last between 1 - 2 hours, with a fee being agreed before therapy begins.
All sessions are usually held every 2 weeks, meaning they are cost effective.
When I work
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Further information
My approach is psychodynamic and trauma informed, using a mixture of talking, music-listening, visualisation, and creative expression.
