HELENA LEWIS
My 12 years’ work as a London-based psychotherapist has given me a wealth of experience in helping men and women from a variety of backgrounds cope with a wide range of problems. I offer support for anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders, relationship and work issues, the effects of bereavement, accidents and other traumatic experiences. My services are available either in-person, or in a virtual counselling setting.
I’m used to dealing with both short-term crises that need immediate attention, as well as working with people in an open-ended, longer-term way. I can help people through the process of more acute and ongoing issues, such as psychosis or personality disorders, and have been involved in the diagnosis of a range of mental health conditions.
Qualifications & Experience
I qualified as a psychotherapist in 2008, am registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and have a Master’s degree in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (IAP). I’m trained and experienced in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (commonly known as CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), and am a member of the EMDR Association, UK and Ireland.
For the past two years I have worked as a facilitator on the Manchester Attack Support Group Programme (MASG), supporting those affected by the 2017 terrorist attack on Manchester Arena. During this programme I have regularly facilitated support groups for people who were affected by bereavement, physical injury and psychological trauma. I have also been involved in the process of facilitating longer-term assistance, through community building and peer support.
My work with Noreen Tehrani Associates (NTA) has increased my trauma counselling experience. NTA has secure contracts with front line services such as the police force and ambulance service, and I have carried out psychological screenings and welfare reviews for staff, assessing the impact of work-related trauma on their mental health and wellbeing. As part of this I have offered targeted, specific short-term work following evidence-based models, using EMDR and trauma-focused CBT.
My previous work as an associate at the WeightMatters Practice in central London, has given me a clearer understanding of working with clients with disordered eating, and issues around weight and body image. This means I am able to support clients, help them change and adjust their behaviours.
I am a keen advocate for accessibility to mental health services and reducing the stigma of mental health issues as a whole. As such, I served as chair of the Ealing Mental Health Forum from 2017 to 2020, as well as mental health representative on the executive committee of ECN (Ealing Community Network) from 2018 to 2020, both voluntary roles that I wholeheartedly support.
My Career Path
Qualifying as a psychotherapist was a natural progression for me. My arts background in the theatre was followed by my work in different social care settings with looked-after children, teenagers in hostels, adults in residential mental health settings and the homeless sector. I then became a primary school mentor, working face-to-face with children and families around emotional and behavioural needs.
Combining formal therapy training and the creative process just seemed like the logical next step. My previous roles have helped me understand the need to consider a range of societal factors, and this approach continues to shape my work.
Developing a community-based and holistic approach, I set up my Ealing-based centre, On Route, in 2018. Here, clients could find different aspects of wellbeing under one roof. My aim was to create an environment where you could look after your mental health and physical wellbeing through a variety of mediums, including counselling, body therapies, yoga and social activities.
In all my work I strive for realistic and meaningful change within a safe, therapeutic environment.
Ethics & Data
As a UKCP qualified and registered practitioner, I abide by the council’s code of ethics at all times. This includes always acting in the best interests of clients, upholding professionalism, ensuring clear communication, and confirmation of a client’s consent for the services I offer. I respect, protect and preserve a client’s confidentiality, only offer the therapeutic services I am trained or have experience in, and ensure social responsibility is maintained. Finally, I will consistently act in a way that upholds the reputation of the profession and promotes public confidence in psychotherapy.
Find out more about the UKCP’s code of ethics here.
Client data is treated with the utmost respect, and in accordance with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) General Data Protection Regulation, as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018. For more information on its seven key principals, click here.
Complaints Procedure
If a client is unhappy with any part of the service offered, or has a complaint to make, I urge them to let me know as soon as possible so as to resolve the issue in a timely manner. All complaints can be done verbally or in writing and will be treated seriously. If, for any reason, you feel you are unable to direct the complaint directly to myself, please do address the UKCP.