Helen James

Helen’s training has equipped her to work with a variety of therapeutic techniques, including and not limited to, working with art, drama, music, and play. Helen particularly believes in the expressive power of play and of using creative mediums such as clay, paint and sand. Helen has a long-standing interest in attachment difficulties, Adverse Childhood Experiences and works from a Trauma informed position; prioritising the relational aspect of her work, believing firmly in establishing a sense of safety for her clients as quickly as possible. Helen enjoys working across all age groups, and she finds working with parents and facilitating dialogue between them and their children a very important part of her work.

Helen has been at TTC Sussex 2018. Before then Helen had been working with teens for over twenty years. Formerly working with children, teens, and adults, teaching them art techniques and creative expression, she ultimately went on to study Psychology, and then studying further to become a Psychotherapist, specialising in children and adolescents, a career which combines her two great passions; young people and creative expression perfectly.

Helen has been trained in a variety of theoretical frameworks which allow her to provide a customised approach to suit the needs of each child, young person, or adult. Helen’s focus is always based in seeking to understand the unconscious dynamics which might be adversely affecting the client’s life and in helping her clients understand themselves and then supporting them in building a stable and healthy sense of themselves in the world. Helen is keenly aware of the need to develop a child or adult’s capacity for resilience, and for their sense of their own agency and identity to be fully expressed. When working with parents, Helen sees her role as supporting them in thinking about how to support their children through difficult periods in their lives.

Helen has worked with the YMCA as a mentor to young people living in the organisation’s hostels and has also been involved with the Children with Diabetes (CWD) organisation over many years. Helen has worked with children and young people in a range of settings, from primary schools all the way through to students attending universities locally in East Sussex, prior to joining TTC Sussex. Currently she also works one day a week at the local NHS Acute Adolescent Inpatient Psychological unit which has given her experience in working with young people who are reluctant to engage in the therapeutic process and who are experiencing extremely severe mental health difficulties.