Helen Murphy, ACA, PACFA
Warm counsellor helping people find clarity
Continue with Helen
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- Practical coping skills
- Support for midlife change
- Strengths-based approach
About Helen
Helen Murphy is an ACA and PACFA counsellor with ten years' experience helping adults through difficult life stages. She creates a warm, supportive space where people can talk honestly about stress, anxiety, depression, relationships and low self-esteem. Helen listens without judgement and focuses on clear, practical steps clients can use between sessions.
Helen commonly works with people facing ADHD, burnout, grief and major life transitions. She also helps those coping with abandonment, attachment difficulties, adoption and foster care histories, and issues that arise in blended families. Her approach aims to strengthen emotional regulation and day-to-day coping skills.
Sessions focus on understanding what matters most to each person. Helen works collaboratively to set achievable goals and identify small changes that add up. She uses a strengths-based stance that helps people build confidence and clearer decision-making.
Over ten years Helen has supported clients through relationship strain, communication problems, commitment doubts and separation. She also addresses body image, co-morbidity and dependency patterns that affect wellbeing. People leave with tools to manage symptoms and to feel more in control of their next steps.
Helen is based in Australia and works in plain language so people can follow practical strategies easily. Her style is grounded, encouraging and focused on real outcomes rather than jargon.
Helen commonly works with people facing ADHD, burnout, grief and major life transitions. She also helps those coping with abandonment, attachment difficulties, adoption and foster care histories, and issues that arise in blended families. Her approach aims to strengthen emotional regulation and day-to-day coping skills.
Sessions focus on understanding what matters most to each person. Helen works collaboratively to set achievable goals and identify small changes that add up. She uses a strengths-based stance that helps people build confidence and clearer decision-making.
Over ten years Helen has supported clients through relationship strain, communication problems, commitment doubts and separation. She also addresses body image, co-morbidity and dependency patterns that affect wellbeing. People leave with tools to manage symptoms and to feel more in control of their next steps.
Helen is based in Australia and works in plain language so people can follow practical strategies easily. Her style is grounded, encouraging and focused on real outcomes rather than jargon.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Australia, Australia
Languages
English
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Helen uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change and improved emotional regulation. One approach helps people identify unhelpful thinking and replace it with more balanced perspectives, which often reduces anxiety and low mood. Another approach emphasises building day-to-day coping skills and routines to manage stress, ADHD symptoms and burnout, with simple strategies to try between sessions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options and decide together with the client which techniques best match their needs, goals and preferences. This collaborative process means the plan can be adjusted as progress is made.
If you are considering online work, confirm the session formats Helen currently offers before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also suit people who prefer not to be on camera or who need a lower-bandwidth option. Discuss practical arrangements and timing when you complete the matching questionnaire so sessions fit into everyday life.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Helen commonly help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and relationship problems, and supports those managing ADHD and major life transitions.
What is Helen's therapeutic style?
Her approach is warm and strengths-based, focusing on clear, practical steps and collaborative goal-setting to improve day-to-day coping.
How much experience does Helen have?
Helen has ten years' experience working with adults and young people across a wide range of life challenges.
Which credentials does Helen hold and where is she based?
She holds ACA and PACFA credentials and is based in Australia.
Are sessions available in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside Australia work with Helen?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What does therapy cost with Helen?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a course of sessions?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule according to therapist availability.