Workshops & Training
” You can either make yourself miserable… or make yourself stronger… the effort it takes for either is the same! “

As a BACP registered psychotherapist I am committed to the principles and values set out by their Ethical Framework; therefore it is my duty to ensure I practice safely & professionally and that all therapeutic sessions (and relevant elements of workshops & training programmes) remain private & confidential in accordance with the framework.

“The content was appealing… this was the best attended workshop.”


“Excellent presentation and inspiring information… very good speaker… we need more.”
At the end of the session participants will gain a good understanding of the foods that are important to eat as part of a nutritional diet in maintaining a holistic healthy lifestyle. In essence this workshop truly highlights… “We are what we eat”… well at least our brain certainly is!

“Brilliant presentation by Helen… so inspirational and educational… an exceptionally good motivational talk”
“Healing the Enslaved Mind” centres on the psychological and emotional link of slavery throughout the last 600 years on today’s contemporary Afro-Caribbean race with the aim of given enlightenment on healing the wounded enslaved mind. There is a large body of data that highlights a high incidence of mental illness amongst this population; this workshop focuses on building esteem, confidence and a strong sense of identity that maybe considered damaged due to the generational effects of what Dr DeGruy termed as PTSS… Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome!


MI can be incorporated into any behavioural change including: smoking cessation, career change, commencing exercise, changing diet, abstaining from addictive substances or reducing alcohol consumption etc. All the skills learnt on the course encourage self-motivation and the ability to call upon the techniques long after the course has been completed.
The programme consists of four full day sessions delivered once a week over a 4 week period. This allows for the learning, development and practice of skills as well as the completion & assessment of homework.
“Helen covered the CBT and related topics thoroughly and professionally with a depth of understanding that made the learning experience fun and effective.”

Dual-Diagnosis Training
“Helen’s in depth knowledge about psychology, psychotherapy and the various disciplines used to treat addiction and help people in crisis is second to none. However, it is her application of this knowledge to each individual’s circumstances that makes it powerfully enlightening and unique.”
This programme will:
- explore issues and concerns related to working with people with dual diagnosis;
- identify reasons why people with mental illness use drugs/alcohol;
- enable you to gain awareness of the nature and effects of commonly used substances;
- give a better understanding of risk in relation to dual diagnosis;
- enable an awareness of the interactions between prescribed medication and drugs/alcohol;
- give an understanding of the inter-relationship between mental illness and substance use;
- enable assessment of current & past substance use as an integral aspect of mental health assessment;
- identify barriers and aids to engagement enabling an assessment of motivation to change;
- give an understanding of the principles of matching treatment interventions to the person’s stage of change;
- utilise motivational interviewing techniques;
- enable you to set realistic and achievable goals in collaboration with client;
- identify factors which precipitate relapse and factors which help maintain change;
- and give reasons & responsibility for homework and role play (more effectively referred to as skills practice).
Due to the copious amount of material covered and the need for homework and skills practice this is a 5-day course delivered over a 2 – 3 week period.

“Helen is an exceptional teacher and educator.”
You will come away from the training with a more empathic understanding of the reasons why people misuse substances and a more effective way of supporting them.
This is delivered as a 1-day programme; a ½ day programme is possible in an abridged format.

Understanding Anxiety
“Helen has great all around counselling skills and I was particularly impressed with her knowledge of CBT and addiction related counselling theory and application.”
When faced with actual danger brain signals are automatically activated sending messages to the body called in laymen’s term ‘the flight or fight response’. These responses, which include increased heart rate, deep breathing, tremors, tingling sensation in the stomach, sweating and dry mouth, prepare the body to do one of two things: 1. Fight whatever has signalled the danger or 2. Run away from the stimuli signalling the danger. There can also be a third response: to simply just freeze. However anxiety disorder, which is a mental illness, relates to a person having all or most of these responses without the presence of actual danger, on a regular basis, over a long period of time. This can be of a mild to severe form and is problematic on an emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual level. It is predominantly habitual with irrational thinking patterns that lead to the body’s misinterpretation of danger. Safety behaviours are those that people use to deal with unhealthy anxiety; these include destructive coping strategies such as misuse of alcohol, drugs and medication, fidgeting, smoking, isolation, use of avoidance tactics and escape plans.
This stand-alone session will explore the links between thinking, feeling and behaviour that contribute to anxiety and related issues using the CBT 5-Areas Model. You will quickly understand that irrational thinking primarily triggers the symptoms of anxiety disorder and that a healthy, rational change in thinking will lead to comfortable feelings and healthier, helpful behaviours.

“I have tremendous respect for Helen’ s ability to manage and motivate groups in an effective and well disciplined way.”
In this session we will explore the basic understanding of depression: causality, symptoms, maintenance as well as treatment and management options.

“Helen was highly competent in balancing the needs of the individuals with the need to cover the topics and progress clients’ understanding and learning.”
In this eight hour training session, ran over 4 weeks, you will explore and understand the root and the triggers to your anger, discover the relationship between brain chemistry & the emotional response and develop techniques to assist in managing and maintaining healthier responses to anger.

Each week addresses a different aspect of the process of motivating you for change… unlocking the ability you have within which culminates in a change plan to effectively assist you in achieving your goal. A follow-up session will give you the opportunity to address or identify unforeseen barriers to enable a modification of the plan if necessary and to support you to success.
The course is tailor-made to meet each individual need and though the initial assessment is carried out in person the following sessions can be delivered in person also, over the telephone or via video call.
HABITS of London C.I.C | Registered in England & Wales | Company No: 10114035