About me
Hi, I'm Helga. I have been a practicing counsellor for 20 years the last 8 years working in Cardiff.
Are you experiencing painful, confusing issues in relationships with a partner or family member?
Are you struggling to manage your emotions dealing with change or trauma?
Are you stuck in a pattern of depression or anxiety uncertain how to move forward and find meaning again?
Counselling may be exactly what you need - a space to pause, reflect and breathe calmly, truly heard with compassion and without judgement. I offer a gentle and solution focussed service aiming for positive change from the very first session. Although seeing a counsellor for the first time may seem daunting, I can assure you I work with every client at their own pace with a safe confidential approach, exploring collaboratively exactly what it is that is missing and what you feel you need to feel content and in balance again.
My approach is humanistic, relational and existentialist. I am very interested in spirituality and living mindfully aware of the impact of how we experience our emotions and the power of the imagination. I work as a Human Givens Therapist exploring the emotional and physical needs, and innate resources which every living being is gifted with. I work collaboratively with clients to determine how to manage this mix in a more self nurturing and balanced manner to help alleviate suffering and find new perspectives to better deal with discomfort.
I am experienced in working with adults, couples, and children and I am particularly interested in working on relationship issues, anxiety and trauma. I use the Human Givens 'rewind' technique to heal the suffering caused by PTSD and phobias. I have a background in teaching children and young adults. I worked as a bereavement counsellor for 12 years and as an accredited children's bereavement counsellor also. I have worked as a play therapist in primary schools and as a school project manager setting up a new counselling service within a primary school. I worked for 3 years for a charity specialising in sexual abuse seeing 15-20 clients a week dealing with complex trauma and a range of issues including PTSD, eating disorders, self harm, suicide ideation, attachment disorders and DID. I also have experience of working as a lecturer teaching counselling at foundation degree level.
Alongside my private practice I work as a school counsellor in Brecon. I am also a qualified supervisor. I see private clients in my home during the day and evening and sometimes at the weekend. I enjoy working with all age groups and I am happy to visit people at home if they have a disabling condition.
Training, qualifications & experience
BA Hons English 2.1 1983
PGCE 1985
Diploma EFL 1990
HND Integrative counselling Distinction 2012
Diploma Human Givens Distinction 2014
Diploma in Supervision CSTD 2016
Registered member BACP
PSA accredited Member HGI
I abide by the ethical framework of the organisations I am a member of.
I am committed to undertaking continuous professional development to ensure that I work to the best interests of my clients. A sample of some of the CPD I have completed in recent years:
Mindfulness and Person-based Cognitive Therapy - Prof Paul Chadwick 2011
Sexualised Trauma - Zoe Lodrick 2012
LGBTQ training WPP 2013
'Just what we need Training' in parent workshops 2014
Fundamentals of Supervision CSTD 2015
MHFA 2015
Hearing voices ACAMS 2015
Die Wise - Stephen Jenkins 2015
Disorganised Attachment in Relational Trauma - PODS 2016
Severe anxiety and OCD - HGI 2017
HG conference - Uncertainty 2018
Suicide and self harm - PODS 2019
Member organisations

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Human Givens Institute
The Human Givens Institute (HGI) is both a membership organisation and a professional body representing the interests of those in the caring and teaching professions who have an interest in or utilise the human givens approach. Counselling Directory register Registered Members (MHGI) and Fellow Members (FHGI), who will have completed the Post Graduate Practitioner's Assessment (Part III) and who are fully qualified to practise as a human givens therapist or counsellor. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership

Accredited Register Scheme
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
DID
Therapies offered
Fees
£50 a session.
Reduced rates for students and those on benefits.
24 hour cancellation policy
Further information
I have a personal enhanced DBS check.
I work in Cardiff with onsite parking.