Helen Ard

I currently have availability and can offer sessions Monday to Friday, 8.30-5.30pm. Please contact me by email if you would like to discuss this further. I would like therapy to be available to everyone, so I offer fees on a sliding scale. Contact me and/or take a look at my website for more information about my practice. 

The world is a challenging place at the moment. I am noticing that the ripple effects of this on people's mental well-being are far-reaching. Therapy can be an opportunity to process and reflect on our experiences, and work on areas of 'stuckness', grief, loss and fear which prohibits us from thriving. I can help you to work through these difficulties and support you to move forward

I can offer a calm and welcoming space, online or in-person at The Wellness Rooms in Honor Oak Park, and The Artemis Clinic in West Wickham subject to availability. My training is Person-Centred so I work on the Rogerian belief that you are the expert and it is my role to facilitate and support you to navigate your own path, with acceptance of your unique experience and without judgement. I also draw from attachment theory, Positive Psychology and existential therapy. I will work relationally with you, placing emphasis on building an open and supportive therapeutic alliance to help you identify unhelpful patterns of behaviour. 

Outdoors therapy offers a chance to be out in one of the wonderful green parks I have local to me, where we can explore whatever is going on for you in a wide-open space. We can find a space that suits us both, a quieter spot or somewhere to pound the pathways and get into what is going on for you. During the darker months, I find that getting outside into the daylight and taking in the birdsong and fresh air can be so beneficial to my clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties and more. 

I am happy to answer any questions you might have about the type of therapy that's best for you but please see my website for more information.

I have a Higher Professional Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy and I am registered with ACTO (Association for Counselling and Online Therapy) and a member of the BACP. I have a diploma in working with alcohol and addiction, training in Walk and Talk therapy and I'm in the process of a Strength-Based Positive Psychology course on neurodiversity and inclusion.

I have 10+ years' experience of working in the community with Care Leavers and young families with complex needs, and with asylum seekers and refugees. For 5 years, I was a therapist in a girls' secondary school, helping students from a broad demographic, and supporting them to navigate the difficulties that they are facing as young people growing up in South East London. I am DBS checked.  

I am dedicated to offering a safe and welcoming space to members of the LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and disabled communities and to people from every cultural background. In my practice with you, emphasis will be on nurturing your unique identity and respecting and valuing your lived-experience. 

I offer a free telephone call firstly, to establish mutual availability and talk you through the process. 

Following this I offer a Zoom consultation at a reduced rate. This 50-minute session allows me to build a full picture of your current challenges and to explore your hopes and expectations for therapy whilst also providing a safe and supportive space for you. This would be an opportunity for you to see whether I am the right person for you and for you to ask me questions. If you are ready, we might agree the details of our therapeutic relationship at this point but there is no obligation. We can agree on a number of sessions or agree to work open-endedly, reviewing at regular intervals. I offer rates on a sliding scale, based on financial circumstances. I also offer block bookings at a reduced rate.