Helen Downs , NCPS

Helen Downs is a counsellor who focuses on stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma and abuse, and a wide range of women's issues. She works with people facing low self-esteem, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and life changes like career shifts or caregiving strain. Helen uses straightforward language and a calm presence to help people talk through what matters most to them.

She draws on seven years working as a hypnotherapist alongside broader counselling experience. That background means she is comfortable with clients who have neurodiverse needs and with people affected by the criminal justice system. Helen aims to treat everyone with respect, sensitivity and compassion.

Sessions are conversational and goal-focused. Helen combines client-centred listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. Hypnotherapy and psychodynamic ideas are also used when they suit a person’s situation.

People can expect a collaborative approach. Helen helps you set realistic steps and learn skills for managing anxiety, cravings, sleep problems or tense relationships. She also supports those dealing with identity questions, eating and body image concerns, and parenting stresses.

Her work is down-to-earth and paced to each person. Helen encourages small, achievable changes that add up over time. If someone wants to try different ways of working, she will discuss options and adapt the plan together.

How Helen uses therapeutic approaches online

Client-centred therapy puts the person at the heart of sessions. The counsellor listens without judgement and follows your priorities, helping you make sense of feelings and decide on next steps. This approach is useful for building trust and exploring personal values and relationships.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. It gives clear, practical techniques for anxiety, depression, sleep problems and unhelpful habits. Sessions often include simple exercises and homework to practise skills between meetings.

Dialectical behaviour therapy, or DBT, teaches emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. It can help when emotions feel overwhelming, when there are intense relationship patterns, or when people struggle with impulsive behaviour.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, listen to your goals and try methods that fit your needs and preferences. Many people use a blend of approaches and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits shorter check-ins, and messaging lets you reflect in writing between sessions. These options help therapy fit around work, family and care commitments.