Helen Barnes

I have limited availability on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for face to face work (in the Farringdon/Barbican area of Central London). I also work online.

I am a skilled and compassionate coach, coach supervisor, occupational therapist and Gestalt counsellor, with a deep curiosity and intuition about people. I believe that a client’s narrative is the best way of getting to know them; where they are in the context of their lives and where they might be thinking about going. Clients describe me as reflective, with a supportive non-directive approach.

For many years my professional interest has been in exploring what keeps a person well in the workplace, particularly managing mental health and wellbeing, returning to work following burnout or long-term illness/absence, and supporting neurodivergent thinkers to work at their best. My experience has been rich and varied, working with a diverse range of clients in the NHS, European Commission, voluntary, social enterprise and corporate sectors. 

I keep myself updated with regular supervision and training and have developed specific skills that best support neurodivergent clients to manage frequently cited difficulties such as time management, concentration, memory and organisation, and related issues including anxiety, stress management, depression, and emotional resilience. I have a BSc and MSc in Occupational Therapy, am a registered Occupational Therapist with the UK Health and Care Professions Council, am a Certified Coach with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council at Senior Practitioner Level. I also hold Certificates in Supervision, from The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, and Humanistic Counselling from the Gestalt Centre, as well as a Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapeutic Counselling from the Metanoia Institute.

I offer a complimentary 20 minute chemistry session to discuss what it is you are looking for and how counselling/coaching might help.  This also gives each of us a chance to see if we are a good match or not - as the relationship is key.