Helen Binnie

My professional focus is the many issues raised by  identity and intersectionality, contemporary diverse relationships, gender and sexuality as well as clients who have experienced sexual or relational trauma.

I trained as a person-centered, humanistic therapist and psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist over 15 years ago and I have worked as an integrative therapist in private practice and other third sector organisations, since.

My initial therapy practice was rooted in the fields of trauma and addiction in particular working with men and women who had experienced sexual violence either as children or as adults – or both. As well as working directly with clients I also trained Police officers from several police forces and other third sector organisations in how to better support victims of sexual violence and then in additional moved into management consultancy and training for government departments developing their anti bullying and harassment policies and support systems. This work led to my Master’s level Psychosexual Therapy training at a leading London Hospital and University which included clinical work in the NHS Hospital’s Women’s Health Department and my interest in being able to support clients with sexual difficulties that may have arisen as a result of previous trauma. Subsequently I have practiced as an Accredited  (AccCOSRT) psychosexual and relationship therapist and a psychotherapist (MBACP). I am an LGBTQIA+ ally and trauma informed therapist.

I also have a particular interest in therapy as part of a holistic model of mental, physical and spiritual health. This view is founded on my belief that our personal wellbeing is impacted by the mind-body link and how stress, fear, chronic illnesses, and ill health impact and inter-relate to emotional health, sexual health, general well-being and relationships with others.

Finally and perhaps most importantly I believe that therapy can be a route to finding your joy. That the therapeutic journey is not only reparative but it is also can increase the capacity to find meaning and pleasure as well as intimacy with others and a renewal of optimism and general well being.