Helen Rognaldsen MBACP ACC
Counselling & Coaching
Welcome, I'm Helen, a qualified and experienced integrative counsellor and coach supporting adults and young people to work through challenges including:
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anxiety
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trauma
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bereavement
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illness
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ADHD and autism
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sexual abuse
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a significant life change
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feeling different or worthless
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seeking greater wellbeing or a clearer sense of purpose.
Whatever has brought you to therapy, my aim is to help you develop self-acceptance, deepen self-understanding, and build self-esteem, while supporting you to make meaningful and lasting change.
Your experiences and needs are unique to you, so I will always tailor my approach, drawing on my professional training and experience alongside lived insight into mental health, personal development, and neurodivergence.
I'm a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), adhering to their professional codes of practice.
"Counselling with Helen has helped me come to terms with my pain and anger. I feel more hopeful."
"Thank you so much. Telling you all of these things that I've never been able to talk about before has made me realise that I was blaming myself for things that weren't my fault. It's been such a relief and I feel much less anxious than I did before."
Services
Whether through counselling or coaching, or a mix of the two, my aim is to support individuals to improve their mental wellbeing and achieve their personal goals.
Specialist interest and experience in:
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ADHD & Autism
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bereavement
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illness
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sexual and domestic violence
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menopause
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anxiety
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depression
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Therapeutic life coaching
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Workplace coaching
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Neuroaffirmative coaching
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Support for parents of neurodivergent children and young people facing mental health challenges
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Workplace neurodiversity coaching and training
Counselling
Life is not always easy or fulfiling.
You may feel isolated and alone, whether or not you have supportive people around you.
Therapy offers a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, explore your inner world, find self acceptance and compassion, and make meaningful changes in your life.
I listen with curiosity and without judgment, encouraging self-reflection and self-compassion to clients experiencing challenges including life transitions, low self esteem, stress and overwhelm, and feeling disconnected from life or loved ones. Other particular areas of interest and experience include:
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PTSD
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sexual and domestic violence
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menopause
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anxiety
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depression
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relationships.
Bereavement and illness
Through my work with patients and relatives at my local hospice, I have supported bereaved clients who are living with complex emotions of fear, grief and loss — and individuals with life-limiting illness who are navigating challenges like relationship and lifestyle changes, and difficult feelings about diagnosis and treatment.
Everyone’s experience is unique — there is no single “normal” way to cope with grief, bereavement, loss or a life-changing diagnosis. I offer a safe and compassionate space where you can express the complex and often overwhelming thoughts and feelings that may arise, including sadness, anger, denial, fear, guilt, and regret.
I aim to validate your experience and support you to find a way to accept and live with your new reality.
ADHD and Autism
I specialise in providing neuroaffirmative counselling for neurodivergent adults and young people.
Drawing on many years of personal and professional experience of neurodivergence, I understand how overwhelming, confusing and even hostile the world can feel when you don’t fit the 'neurotypical norm'. Masking, feeling as though you’re getting it wrong, or trying to fit in can be emotionally and physically exhausting.
I also recognise that it’s easy for others to make assumptions about what being neurodivergent 'should' look like, when in reality each person’s experience is unique and valid.
My therapeutic approach avoids 'one size fits all' frameworks. Instead, I remain open, flexible and collaborative, working with you to explore alternative ways of supporting your needs. This may include taking short breaks during sessions, using creative or sensory-based tools, or finding ways to explore emotions that don’t rely on talking in detail before you feel ready.
Ultimately, I will work alongside you to understand your personal experience, support deeper self-acceptance, and help you to build confidence, empowerment, and comfort in navigating the world as your authentic self.
Therapeutic life coaching
I coach clients seeking support to achieve personal goals associated with menopause, career progression and change, work-life-study balance, work-based stress and burnout, redundancy and emotional intelligence.
My coaching combines practical goal-setting with the deeper emotional insight of therapy. Together, we’ll clarify what you want to achieve while also exploring the patterns, beliefs, or challenges that may be getting in your way. I draw on counselling methods, mindfulness practices, and evidence-based approaches to offer a holistic and personalised coaching experience.
Workplace coaching
I coach individuals to identify and work towards their personal development goals while helping to create and support inclusive, mindful, and compassionate workplace environments.
With 20 years of corporate experience leading, coaching, and mentoring teams, I have a strong understanding of what effective leadership looks like, what defines a healthy workplace culture, and the crucial role both play in building a successful organisation.
My coaching approach blends traditional coaching methods with mindfulness, neuroscience, CBT techniques, somatic awareness, and emotional intelligence to support leadership development and positive organisational behaviour.
Neuroaffirmative coaching
My neuroaffirmative coaching recognises and values the different ways that neurodivergent people think, feel, and process the world. Instead of viewing your differences as a 'deficit', we'll focus on your strengths, lived experience, and personalised ways of working that align with your individual needs. I'll support you to explore goals at your own pace, discover who you are without masking, and develop strategies that feel authentic to you. The approach is collaborative, flexible, and designed to help you to build confidence, embrace your identity, and create environments where you can thrive.
Support for parents of neurodivergent children and young people facing mental health challenges
For parents and carers, it can be isolating, exhausting and overwhelming trying to support your child or young person if they are in distress.
Ultimately, it will negatively impact your own mental health and wellbeing too.
I use tried and tested counselling and coaching strategies to help you gain new perspectives and understanding, develop empathy, and learn essential practical skills to support your loved one and prioritise your own self care.
Workplace neurodiversity coaching and training
I deliver neurodiversity training, coaching and workshops to workplaces aiming to create a more neuro-inclusive enviornment where everyone is valued for, and supported with, their differences.
With over 20 years experience of working as a senior manager in the public, private and volunatary sectors, I have an excellent understanding of how organisations work.
I combine this with my knowledge and experience of neurodiversity to help individuals and organisations build more neuroaffirmative cultures — workplaces where people and teams can achieve their goals while both neurodivergent and neurotypical colleagues feel valued and able to thrive.
Neuroaffirmative counselling and coaching
Self-acceptance, self-advocacy and self empowerment are core to my neuroaffirmative counselling and coaching. We can explore themes including:
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sensory and emotional overwhelm
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burnout from masking
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anxiety and low mood
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receiving and navigating a diagnosis
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relationship and communication challenges
About me
Hello, I’m Helen
I'm a qualified, experienced counsellor (BACP registered) and coach (ICF accredited) with a lifelong interest, and professional training, in how our minds work, how our childhood experiences shape us, and how we can create meaningful, lasting change.
I specialise in supporting adults and young people to navigate trauma and challenge, including bereavement, illness, sexual abuse, anxiety, life transitions, and depression. I also work with individuals who feel disconnected from the life they are living and want to explore more authentic and fulfilling ways of being.
With professional and personal experience of neurodivergence, my counselling and coaching approach is neuroaffirmative, inclusive and trauma informed. I also enjoy working with clients of all genders, generations, orientations and cultural backgrounds, always focusing on their individual experiences and perspectives.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw from psychodynamic, CBT, gestalt, and person-centred approaches, tailoring these to each person’s needs, life experiences, and therapeutic goals. When helpful, I integrate counselling and coaching techniques to support progress and clarity.
A strong therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my work. I aim to offer a new, empathetic connection and perspective, and my style is active, collaborative, validiating and gently challenging. At the same time, I will always take your lead on the pace, focus, and direction of our sessions.
My previous career was in communications and marketing, where I coached and mentored multiple individuals and teams.
I live in Berkhamsted with my husband, three teenage/adult children and two cats.
Fees, sessions & contact
Counselling and coaching
All counselling and coaching sessions are online via Zoom or face to face in my therapy room in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
I also offer 'walking therapy' for clients who prefer to be outside and active, rather than online or inside. Walking side by side can feel more comfortable and less intimidating than face-to-face sessions, particularly when sharing difficult topics. It also offers the opportunity to get out into nature.
Fees are £65 for a 50-minute counselling session.
I offer a free initial 20-minute telephone or Zoom meeting to find out more about your goals. This also give you the chance to ask any questions and decide if you would like us to work together as finding the right therapist or coach for you is crucial.
Workplace neurodiversity coaching and training
These services are available online or face to face. Please get in touch with me to share your challenges or brief and we can discuss options. Fees are based on individual workplace needs and requirements.
Contact
You can contact me by emailing helen@helenrognaldsen.co.uk or calling 07736 199230. Or fill in the form below.