Dr Helena de Klerk
Counselling Psychologist

Who am I?

 

​​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

My name is Lena (pronounced Layna) and I am a counselling psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the British psychological society (BPS) and EuroPsy. ​I am also a registered counsellor and psychotherapist with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and also an EMDR therapist and clinical supervisor.

 

I have been working in the NHS since moving to the UK in 2015 and have experience in child and adolescent, primary, secondary and specialist teams working with individuals experiencing a range of presentations. I most recently worked in a perinatal NHS service (outpatient and inpatient mother baby unit).

 

I also have experience working in charities and national health services internationally, developing a keen understanding and interest in cultural differences/similarities, identity, the role of language, and issues of relocation, alienation and belonging.

 

My main therapy language is English, however I also speak Dutch and some German.

​

​

My Approach

I work in a pluralistic way, which means that I combine my training, skills and knowledge fluidly to meet you where you are and to help you achieve your goals. These goals might remain the same throughout therapy or change over time. Regular reviews will allow us to collaboratively ensure we are on the right track and to make adjustments when needed. ​

​

​

Qualifications

• Counselling Psychology Doctorate (DPsych) from City University of London

• Post graduate diploma in low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy from UCL

• Certificate recognising competencies in psychodiagnostics (BAPD) from Nationaal Institute van Psychologen

• Master of Science (MSc) from Leiden University

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Bard College

​​

​

Trainings

​I regularly attend trainings to ensure my knowledge and skills are up to date. 

Recently this has included:

• Standard eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)

• Attachment focussed EMDR

• Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)

• Perinatal Clinical Psychology Training

• Clinical supervision training

• Use of the parent-infant interaction observation scale (PIIOS)

• Introductions to schema therapy for the perinatal period & for BPD

• Introductions to Internal Family Systems (IFS)