Helen Pool, BACP

Helen Pool works with people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or out of step with who they want to be. Her approach is shaped by both professional training and lived experience - before training as a therapist she spent years people-pleasing, driven by a fear of rejection and abandonment rooted in childhood trauma. That history surfaced as low self-worth, toxic relationships, and repetitive patterns, and it informs the empathy and practical understanding she brings to therapy.

With eight years of practice, Helen supports adults and young people aged 11 and up on issues such as anxiety, trauma, relationships, self-esteem, family dynamics, addictions, grief, and major life changes. Her work is integrative and tailored to the individual; she draws on psychodynamic ideas, cognitive behavioral approaches, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, and person-centred methods to build a plan that fits each person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Helen holds a Postgraduate Diploma from Leeds Beckett University and a Diploma in Hypnotherapy, and she is a registered member of the BACP and NCPS. Her professional background also includes previous roles as an engineer and project manager, which give her practical insight into workplace stress and the pressures of professional life.

Clients can expect a warm, open, and gently challenging presence. Helen aims to help people develop awareness of the patterns that cause pain and to build clarity, trust, and inner resources at a pace that feels safe. She offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, and messaging to accommodate different needs and circumstances.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns formed in early relationships and how they influence current connections. In brief, this approach helps people understand attachment needs and responses so they can build more secure and satisfying relationships.

Client-Centred Therapy places the person at the heart of the process, offering a non-directive, empathetic space where the therapist reflects and supports the client’s own capacity for growth. It is helpful for building self-esteem, clarity, and personal agency.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, targets the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It offers practical strategies to address anxiety, depression, and unhelpful habits by testing beliefs and trying new ways of responding.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Helen will work collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best suit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process allows adjustments over time so therapy remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions by video or phone allow face-to-face style conversations from anywhere, while live chat and messaging provide options for people who prefer text-based support or need more frequent, brief contact. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to access licensed professionals and therapists regardless of location.