Helen Whitehead

I am Helen Whitehead and I am an Integrative Counsellor and we will work together to help you put the pieces of your life back together, through a choice of collaborative interventions. I work from a homely comfortable environment and the first 30 minute consultation is free for individual clients, (For couples please see fees below)

Sessions can be Face to Face, Over the phone, WhatsApp video or Zoom.

Currently working with young People over 16, Adults and Couples.

I truly believe in the power of choice and everyone deserves to make their own choices to suit their wants needs and desires. I offer a non judgemental empathic professional relationship based in a comfortable setting.

My background is a Foundation Degree and a BA(Hons) in Counselling and Coaching, I have run my own private practice for 12 years working with adults, couple and teens. I have also worked long and short term with children and Young People from ages 5-17 at a school Based Counselling Organisation for 11 years. I have also supported Adults of all ages with Counselling and Coaching at a Mental Health Resource Centre.

Some of the various difficulties that I have worked with are:

• depression
• Job Loss
• self-harm
• loss and bereavement
• abandonment
• abuse
• low self esteem
• lack of direction in life.
• Domestic Abuse
• Anxiety
• Relationship Breakdown
• Separation

I have continuous training in relevant areas to support my skills and my clients to the best of my ability.

I have experience working with Children, Young People and Adults using talking therapies and various media such as art materials to aid my clients to express themselves in a way comfortable to them. I am a member of the BACP and abide by their Ethical Framework for Good Practice.

I work with couples helping them at various stages in their relationships, guiding them to communicate and hear their partner, to appreciate their partner and to work towards a common goal.

I am a qualified and experienced integrative Counsellor, Coach and Coach Therapist and I use the relationship of Person Centred counselling with the forward movement of Coaching should you require this. I incorporate various counselling techniques to suit the needs and pace of the client. I work flexibly with the whole person and fully involve my clients with the process. I can work long and short term depending on your needs and wants.

I have regular supervision in line with the requirements of the BACP to support and develop my practice.

There are times in each persons lives when we need some extra support to find direction and clarity. Maybe you have experienced the loss of a relationship, a redundancy, you have pressures from work or your past is stopping you from moving forward, whatever the reason I treat each person as an individual as one size does not fit all, I am an integrative Coach and Counsellor and I can draw on various theories to aid you to find a resolution to life's difficult times.

Counselling can help you with your own personal internal world to assist you through difficult times and understand how you think, feel and behave. Counselling will help you find who you truly are within life's challenges. Counselling is for you if you feel that you have come to a time in your life when it seems a bit too hard to go it alone, I can help you unravel the internal difficulties that you face and help you find a way through to becoming your true self.

Coaching is made up of various skills and theories to equip you to find a positive way forward in your external life I,e: House move, redundancy, job change etc. Coaching is a stand alone intervention or used following Counselling to help you find solutions to certain external areas of your life that you may find difficult, for example finding a new career path, juggling everyday life or becoming more organised as a person for example.

Coach-Therapy is an integrative approach using the relationship of Counselling and the forward movement of Coaching, all of this is done at your pace and with you in control. I will work collaboratively with you offering a transparent, honest, non-judgmental safe space for you to explore what you would like to change in your life and how you can achieve this. The relationship is fundamental to your change and we will achieve this by working at your pace. I will challenge you when I feel it is appropriate to and beneficial to your journey.

Coach Therapy can help with various difficulties that life throws at us and can help you see a way through. Difficulties such as relationship problems, anxiety, stress, low mood, depression, anger or behavioural problems in children (including self-harm/social anxiety/low self-esteem).

Adults
Can access either Counselling or Coaching or an integration of the two disciplines, I will work collaboratively in a way that suits each individual person. We will start with a contract so that you are in control of the sessions and what you want from them.

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Maybe you feel you have lost your way as your life transitions to a new stage, you know what you don't want but struggle find what you do, we can work together to find this. I have my own private practice in Pontefract.

Please get in touch to talk about how I could help you.

After contacting me we would arrange for an initial meeting at a time suitable to both parties. If we agree that what I offer is best suited to you we will arrange how and when we will work together.

Adults; Each 1 hour session costs £50 with a free initial consultation of up to 30 minutes. There is also an option of 45 minutes for £40 if required.

Young people 30 minutes initial session followed by either; 30 minute sessions £30, 45 minutes session £40, or 60 minutes at £50.

Couples Counselling: initial 90 minutes session cost of £70, subsequent sessions of 60 minutes costs £50 per couple or the 90 minute sessions for £70 

Supervision free initial 30 minute consultation followed by £50 per hour or £65 per Hour and a Half 

Possible slot for trainee counsellors requiring a lower fee, to be discussed in initial session. Please check if a slot with lower fee is available at the time of enquiry.

I am based in Pontefract.

Endorsements

B From Pontefract

I reached out to Helen when I was in quite a low place with a number of different stresses and grief. She has worked with me to really help me to get over the hurdles and stresses of life to become the new revitalised version of myself. The way she works is incredible, encouraging me to help myself with no judgement and continuing support. I am so glad I approached Helen, shes been fantastic and I'm now feeling happy, confident and strong which will allow me to move on and work through the next hurdles knowing that she is still there if i need her.

H from York

Our daughter/step daughter lost her mum at the age of 9. Life ticked along until she hit her  teenage years. Quite quickly behaviours changed and it was apparent that M was struggling with not having mum around.

M had weekly sessions, made lovely things, chatted but most of all she came back buzzing. Her confidence was lifted, she was ready to tell us things which troubled her.

We got our daughter back! M was in control of when and how often she saw Helen, sometimes she told us about their chats and sometimes she didn't. We were just happy that M was happy

B from Pontefract

Talking with Helen is like untangling a big ball of wool in your head. I always come away with more self-knowledge and clarity. She is always supportive, non-judgemental and seeks to meet you wherever you are. I am undoubtedly a better version of myself for my sessions with her and I am so grateful for the self-trust and positive outlook she has helped me to develop in myself. I couldn’t recommend sessions with Helen enough.

S from Pontefract

I have been visiting Helen on and off for about the last 4 years. Her counselling has helped me tremendously through some difficult and challenging periods in my life. It has provided me with a space to get to grips with the issues that bother me and to find solutions to problems in my life. I would absolutely recommend Helen to anyone. She is professional, personable and will support and encourage you through whatever you are dealing with, in a non judgemental and comfortable way. Thank you Helen. Without you I would never have made the progress I needed to in order to improve my life.