Helen Downs
Understanding support for complex challenges
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About Helen
Helen Downs is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom. She has seven years of experience and works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, bipolar and relationship difficulties. She also supports concerns such as self-esteem, grief, intimacy issues, eating and sleeping problems, parenting strains and career-related stress.
Helen practises hypnotherapy and draws on a mix of talking therapies to tailor sessions to each person. She aims to create a calm space where clients can talk about hard experiences without judgement.
Background and approach
Her approach is practical and focused on small, manageable steps to ease day-to-day life. She has professional experience working with neurodiverse people and with people connected to the criminal justice system, including those who face ADHD, addiction and complex mental health needs. That background informs how she plans practical interventions and supports someone through transitions.
Helen uses client-centred methods alongside cognitive and behavioural techniques and elements from psychodynamic work. She blends these so a session can include reflective conversation, practical skills and, where appropriate, hypnotherapy exercises to aid relaxation and change. Clients can expect a supportive tone and a steady emphasis on what they want to change.
The work is collaborative - priorities are set together and reviewed as progress is made. She highlights respect, sensitivity and compassion as central to her practice.
At a glance
- Years practising
- 7
- Registered with
- NCPS
- Registration number
- NCS17-05141
- Languages
- English
- Approaches include
- Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- How sessions happen
- Online, by video, phone or messages
Details are as listed on Helen's public professional profile. You can check any number with the professional body.
What Helen works with
Everything Helen lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Helen lists
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Hypnotherapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
How Helen works online
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. It often involves homework and short exercises that can help with anxiety, depression, sleep and coping with change.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, DBT, teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance and improved communication. These skills are often used when feelings feel overwhelming or when someone needs tools to manage strong reactions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Helen will discuss goals, preferences and day-to-day needs and then agree a plan together. That collaborative process helps shape whether sessions emphasise talking, skills practice or hypnotherapy exercises.
If you are considering online therapy, please confirm the available session formats before booking as the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited and remove travel time. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt the methods above to suit the online setting and to help you progress toward your goals.
Questions and answers
What kinds of problems does Helen help with?
She supports a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, bipolar, self-esteem, relationship and family matters, grief, eating and sleeping issues, parenting strains, career stress and ADHD.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is client-centred and practical, with an emphasis on respectful listening and small, manageable steps. Sessions mix reflective conversation with skills-based techniques to address everyday problems.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of professional experience and has practised hypnotherapy for seven years as well, building work with neurodiverse clients and those connected to the prison services into her background.
Where is she based and what are her credentials?
She is based in the United Kingdom and holds the credential NCPS as listed in her profile.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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