Helen May- Online Therapy
About the Therapist
I have lived and/or professional experience of neurodivergence, queer identity, ethical non-monogamy & polyamory, and kink. I am currently undertaking a GSRD certificate (gender, sexuality, relationships, and erotic difference), in the hopes of filling in any gaps in my knowledge that might be present. As a member of Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility, I have a commitment to recognising the impact of the political dimension on the client-therapist relationship, and to identifying and challenging adverse discrimination at all levels, both within the profession of counselling and the wider world. What this means in practice is that I will seek to locate your issues not just in the personal sphere but in their wider social, political ecological and economic context. I am not a 'blank screen' counsellor- I bring myself, my sense of humour, and my politics into our work, whilst still centering you and your experiences.
- Bi- | Pansexual
- Other
- Queer
Level 5 Diploma in Counselling, University of the West of England, 2018. Level 4 Certificate in Counselling, University of the West of England, 2016. Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills. https://www.bacp.co.uk/therapists/382396/helen-may/bristol-bs6 Registered Member of the BACP 382396 Â Currently undertaking a Certificate in Diversity Within Contemporary Relationships, that covers a range of GSRD topics.
Award | Awarding body | Year of award |
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Diploma in Online & Distance Therapy | School of Applied Mental Health | 2021 |
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From a young age, we are often taught that we are only acceptable if we behave in certain ways. We learn to censor ourselves in order to receive love: first from parents, then peers, friends, partners, and society as a whole. This can mean keeping aspects of ourselves hidden, leading to secrecy, shame and low self-worth.
Over time, we learn different ‘roles’ and ways of being that we inhabit, depending on who we are around. These serve a purpose, but it can make it hard to know who we truly are.
One of the principal theories of humanistic counselling is that if you can show these parts to someone who will accept and respect you, you will in turn learn to accept and respect yourself. This doesn’t mean I will never challenge you, or experiment with looking at a situation in a different way; but it does mean that I endeavour not to shame you for the choices you have made, but rather respect your agency to make them.
Something that is hugely integral to the way I work is a stance of non-judgemental, open curiosity. I want to learn about how you see the world, and what it is like for you to inhabit; I am not here to 'fix' you (for a start, you are not broken!), pathologize you, or reduce you to a label or a set of symptoms. We are all unique individuals, who have developed 'creative adjustments'; survival strategies for navigating our environment. Sometimes, it is useful for us to examine these stategies to see if they are still serving us.
If you are having difficult emotions, are struggling with a decision, or have experienced an event that is causing you distress or confusion, having someone to talk to who is external to the situation can be invaluable. Because I don't have a pre-existing relationship with you, such as a friend or family member might have, I can listen to you without having my own prior opinions on you or your situation.
- Gestalt
- GSRD therapy
- Humanistic
- Integrative
- Neurodivergent
- Person-Centred
- Psychodynamic
- Psychodynamic (Freudian)
- Psychodynamic (Kleinian)
- Relational
- BDSM | Kink
- Bi- | Pansexual
- Consensual non-monogamy
- Lesbian
- Non-binary | Genderqueer
- Queer
- Questioning
- Trans
- One to one
- No adaptation
- Adults
- Online
- In Person
Initial consultations last 30 minutes, take place over Zoom (or over the phone if Zoom isn't accessible to you), and are charged at £25. Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £50 per session. I recognise that the cost of counselling can be prohibitively expensive, and in an effort to combat this and make therapy more accessible, I do offer some sliding scale conscessionary places where possible. These are charged at £40 or £45 for weekly slots. I have one £35 concessionary weekly slot, which is currently not available- I will update this listing when it is to reflect this. If cost is an issue, do please get in touch with me to discuss your circumstances- my concessionary slots are often full, but if this is the case, I'm happy to dd you to my waiting list. Unfortunately, I am not currently in a position to offer concessions on evening (5pm onwards) sessions, and it's unlikely that I can offer a concessionary slot on a fortnightly basis.
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