Helen Wills

My working hours are 8am-7pm. 

I work in St Albans and London, in-person or online. 

Not all grief begins with a bereavement.

"The moment I met Helen, I felt her warmth and kindness. Helen helped me understand that what I was feeling was totally normal. She showed patience, understanding and empathy. She made me feel at ease, which enabled me to open up to her and talk about how I was feeling."

You may be coping with the death of someone you love, a cancer diagnosis, chronic illness, chronic pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME), a relationship breakdown, infertility, parenting challenges, redundancy, retirement, an empty nest, or a future that no longer looks the way you expected.

Perhaps you've always been the person others rely on. The one who keeps going, solves problems and holds everything together. Yet now you feel overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally exhausted or disconnected from yourself.

You don't have to carry that alone.

My role is to offer a safe, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can explore whatever is troubling you without worrying about what anyone else thinks. Together, we'll make sense of what you're feeling, understand the patterns shaping your relationships, emotions and sense of self, and help you move forward with greater resilience, self-compassion and hope.

Alongside my Gestalt training, I am a trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist. IFS helps us understand the different parts of ourselves that emerge during difficult times. Rather than fighting anxious, self-critical, perfectionist or overwhelmed parts, we'll become curious about what they're trying to protect. This compassionate approach can create lasting emotional change and greater freedom.

My work is also attachment-informed, recognising that our earliest relationships continue to shape how we experience ourselves and others today.

"Shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces." Ann Voskamp.

You may be looking for therapy because anxiety has become exhausting. Perhaps you're grieving someone you've lost, adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, living with chronic illness, chronic pain, fibromyalgia or CFS/ME. Maybe you're struggling in a relationship, navigating divorce, infertility, pregnancy loss, parenting challenges, addiction, alcohol misuse or another major life transition.

Whatever has brought you here, your difficulties make sense in the context of your life.

If you're living with chronic illness or pain, you may be grieving much more than your health. You may have lost confidence, independence, opportunities, relationships or a sense of who you are. Therapy offers space to acknowledge those losses without feeling like you have to stay positive for everyone else.

If you've experienced divorce, infertility, redundancy, retirement or another significant life change, you may wonder why it still hurts so much. These losses are often minimised by others, yet they can shake your identity as deeply as a bereavement.

Perhaps you repeat the same relationship patterns, put everyone else's needs before your own, struggle to express yourself or feel responsible for keeping the peace. Together we'll explore where those patterns came from and whether they're still serving you.

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent many years in senior corporate leadership. If you're balancing a demanding career alongside illness, caring responsibilities, relationship difficulties or burnout, I'll understand many of the pressures you're facing.

My work integrates Gestalt counselling, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and an attachment-informed approach. Whether you come with a clear goal or simply know you can't keep carrying everything alone, we'll work together to create lasting emotional change, not simply manage symptoms.

Reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you're used to coping on your own.

That's why I offer a free introductory conversation by phone or online before we begin. It's an opportunity for you to tell me a little about what's brought you here, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of whether I feel like the right therapist for you. 

If you choose to work with me, we'll usually meet weekly at the same time. I work online across the UK and in person from comfortable therapy rooms in London, central St Albans and the Fleetville area.

You don't need to arrive at your first session knowing exactly what to say. Many people worry they'll become emotional, won't know where to start, or feel embarrassed talking about what's happening. That's completely understandable.

We'll begin wherever you are. You can share as much or as little as feels comfortable, and we'll work at a pace that feels safe for you. My role isn't to judge, diagnose or tell you what to do. It's to help you understand yourself more deeply, make sense of your experiences, and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

Over time, therapy can help you feel less stuck, more connected to yourself and others, and more able to meet life's challenges with confidence, flexibility and hope.