What we provide
Stepping Stones Practice
Helen has a warm and gentle approach in her counselling and works closely with individuals to provide a safe and supportive space. She utilises a variety of evidence-based treatments including family therapy; individual therapy; adolescent focused therapy; emotion focused therapy and motivational interviewing. Helen is passionate, empathic, open minded and creates an environment that allows individuals to feel safe and supported to help them take control back of their life.
Stepping Stones with Helen Dean is excited to announce that Helen now offers Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Having recently completed specialised training, Helen is equipped to guide families through this evidence-based approach, which emphasises the critical role of family involvement in supporting children and adolescents with ARFID. Her compassionate, expert-led sessions are designed to empower families to help their loved ones achieve lasting recovery. Contact Helen to learn more about how FBT can support your family's journey.
Dietetic & Counselling Services
Eating Disorders
We know that eating disorders can not only take over a young person's life, but affects the whole family. Helen specialises in anorexia nervosa and ARFID with a very strong interest in working with neurodivergent clients. Helen also works with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and orthorexia as well as all eating disorder presentations. We provide family-based therapy; adolescent-focused therapy, individualised counselling services; emotion focused therapy and ACT.
Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are becoming increasingly common amongst young people. It is important to address these mental health disorders early on to manage this quickly. Let us work with you and/or your child to assist with teaching the successful ways to manage this.
Parent & Family Counselling
Our Parent and Family Counselling service aims to prevent family breakdowns by working directly with parents, families, and young people to assist in resolving conflict and improve relationships (often fractured with eating disorders). We assist with relationship difficulties so that you can feel more confident in managing issues concerning your children and family.
Helen provides parent & carer counselling and family counselling.
Counselling for Children and Adolescents
There are many different events that children and adolescents face during their life that can lead to an experience of trauma. Experiences such as domestic violence, sexual assault, bullying, separation, friendships and death can cause lasting effects on a young person’s emotional growth and development.
Helen provides counselling support to work through these issues and assist them with improving their quality of life.
Eating Disorders & Trauma
There is now substantial evidence between eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, and trauma. In many cases, individuals will often use eating disorders as a coping mechanism to try and 'block out' painful experiences. Helen takes a holistic approach to care in order to work with individuals so that they can learn to replace eating disorder behaviours with other coping strategies.
Individual therapy for 18-30 years old
Helen offers individual therapy now for 18-30 year olds. Specialising in anorexia nervosa, ARFID, Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia, Helen uses a range of treatment modalities.
Body Image & Self Esteem
Is your teen suffering from low self esteem no matter what you say to them? It’s common for teenagers to have a low opinion of themselves and often compare themselves to others, and judge themselves as inferior. Regardless of the factors contributing to your teen’s low self-esteem- whether it be body image, school pressures or generally a lack of confidence in self, Helen can assist to address the underlying emotions so as to help them develop a healthy relationship with themselves.
Counselling
Helen is a registered counsellor and provides individual; parent; family counselling. Individual counselling for all ages- children, adolescents and adults. Specialising in trauma; anxiety; relationship issues and emotion regulation.
Therapy
Family Therapy
Helen specialises in family based therapy (FBT) for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and ARFID as well offers family and parent therapy for other issues - these include fractures in family relationships; communication difficulties and conflict.
Emotional Focused Family Therapy
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) follows the principles and practices of Emotionally Focused Therapy to restore connection and promote resilience in family relationships. The principle goal of EFFT is to re-establish more secure family patterns and assist to repair emotional bonds. Helen is trained in EFFT and uses this as part of her therapy approach.
Dietitian Services - What we offer
Nutritional Adequacy
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provide meal plans/guides to ensure adequate nutrition
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work on 'challenge' foods- can be done in the session in a safe and non-judging way
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monitor physical signs of poor nutrition
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provide safe exercise guidelines
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Provide strategies to manage eating disorder behaviours, coping strategies
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re-establish positive relationship with food
Parent Education
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Assess parents and child's nutrition knowledge
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Ascertain parent strengths and areas for improvement
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Family environment/food influences
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Assess parental influences
Body Image
How young people think and feel about their bodies and the way they look can affect their mental health in a both positive and negative way. Did you know that 1 in 5 young people don't think they "look good enough"!
Helen will work on body image thoughts and behaviours to help you change your mindset and negative self beliefs.