Helen Downs, NCPS
7 years in practice
Helen Downs is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions and depression.
License and registration
- NCPS
- NCS17-05141 · expires June 2026
- Years in practice
- 7
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the registration with the body that granted it.
About Helen
Helen Downs is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions and depression. She supports those coping with trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, ADHD and challenges around self-esteem. Helen also works with people facing work or career strain and those dealing with life changes and compassion fatigue.
She uses hypnotherapy alongside talking approaches to guide clients towards practical changes. Sessions are calm and straightforward, aimed at finding small steps that add up.
Background and approach
Helen values respect, sensitivity and a non-judgemental tone in every meeting. Over seven years she has worked in different settings, including prison services, where she has supported people and their families through issues like addiction, neurodiversity and mental health struggles. That experience informs a down-to-earth style and an ability to adapt to varied needs.
Her practice draws on client-centred listening, cognitive behavioural techniques and elements of psychodynamic thinking. Helen mixes these so conversations stay focused and useful, rather than technical or abstract. People who choose Helen can expect collaborative sessions that aim to clarify goals and build coping strategies.
She encourages practical planning and small experiments between sessions. The aim is clearer thinking, better routines and more choice in daily life.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Helen lists on their public professional profile, 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 names
- Hypnotherapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How hypnotherapy and talking therapies work online
Helen uses hypnotherapy in combination with talk-based approaches to help people change habits and manage strong emotions. Hypnotherapy sessions typically involve guided relaxation and focused attention to work on thought patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, sleep and some addictions.She also draws on client-centred therapy, which centres on listening and reflecting so the person feels heard and understood. Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is used to identify unhelpful thinking and try small behavioural experiments to test new ways of coping. Both approaches aim to make clear, practical changes rather than long technical explanations.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Helen will discuss goals, preferences and what feels comfortable, then try methods that match those aims. This is a collaborative process and can be adjusted as progress is made.
Online sessions offer flexibility for different circumstances. Video calls let you work face to face from another location. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day. Live chat or text messaging provides brief check-ins, ongoing support and a written record of ideas to try between sessions.
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Questions people ask
What problems does Helen help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, addictions and depression. Other concerns include trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, ADHD and self-esteem.
What is Helen's general approach in sessions?
Sessions combine calm, client-centred listening with practical techniques. Conversations focus on setting goals and trying manageable steps between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Helen has seven years of experience as a practising professional, including work within prison services and with diverse client needs.
What credentials and location are listed?
Her listed credential is NCPS and she practises in the United Kingdom.
In which languages can I work with her?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Helen works via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time; specific cost varies with location and therapist availability.
How do I begin working with Helen?
Start by using the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to therapist availability.
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