Individual psychological therapy
Specialist, individually planned therapy for adults experiencing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, shame, emotional exhaustion, difficult relationship patterns or significant change.
Explore individual therapyPsychological therapy in York and online across the UK
Psychological therapy for adults and specialist support for referrers and organisations
I am Dr Helen Blake, an HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist and Occupational Psychologist, and an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner.
I work with adults affected by trauma, PTSD, difficult or harmful relationships, emotional overwhelm, burnout or major change.
I have a particular interest in women in midlife who have spent years being capable, responsible and dependable, but are finding that coping now comes at too high a cost.
25+years of professional practice
DualHCPC registration
EMDREurope Accredited Practitioner
How I can help
Three clear routes into my practice
Case managers & referrers
Assessment and psychological treatment for adults referred by rehabilitation case managers, insurers, solicitors, healthcare professionals and other appropriate referrers.
Work can include trauma-focused therapy, EMDR, agreed review points, proportionate reporting and liaison with the wider team.
Information for referrersOrganisations
Selected consultation, reflective practice and tailored team sessions for services whose staff work with trauma, distress, safeguarding, risk or people in crisis.
Explore organisational supportWhen being capable has come at a cost
Understanding is important. Change also needs to be felt and lived.
You may appear capable and continue to manage everyday life, yet privately feel anxious, depleted or unable to switch off. You may understand where your patterns come from but still find yourself putting other people first, feeling guilty about boundaries or reacting as though earlier experiences are still present.
Therapy can provide space to understand what is happening, work directly with what continues to cause distress and make changes that become visible in everyday life.
How I work in therapyA wider psychological perspective
Trauma, relationships, work and responsibility do not exist in isolation
As a Counselling Psychologist, I am trained to understand emotional distress, relationships, trauma and psychological change. As an Occupational Psychologist, I also consider how work, roles, responsibility, leadership and organisational systems affect people.
This combined perspective is relevant to individual therapy, rehabilitation-focused treatment and support for organisations undertaking emotionally demanding work.
More about my backgroundDoctoral research
The impact of emotionally demanding work
My doctoral research examined vicarious trauma, burnout and secondary traumatic stress among staff working in UK domestic-abuse services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In straightforward terms, it explored what can happen when people are repeatedly exposed to other people’s trauma while working under sustained pressure.
It reinforced the importance of manageable demands, clear boundaries, useful supervision, supportive colleagues and managers, and a workplace culture in which the impact of the work can be acknowledged.
Appointments
York and online across the UK
In-person appointments are available by prior arrangement at Westminster Business Centre, 10 Great North Way, York, YO26 6RB. There is free parking and a waiting area. There is no lift.
Online psychological therapy is available to adults based in the UK. Standard appointments last 50 minutes and cost £130.
This is my independent practice, and every enquiry is read and answered by me.