Helen Williams, originally from New Zealand, loves travelling and exploring new corners of the world. With around 40 years of experience as a counselor and workshop facilitator, she has specialized in personal and self development, spiritual direction, individual, couples and marriage counselling, workshops, seminars, public speaking and teaching and training people from all walks of life, cultures, ages, and countries. She remains an inspiration to those who require personal development and specialized help. Helen loves to walk, swim, read, knit, eat out, travel and be involved with music. Currently, Helen works in counselling, teaching, training and mentors, as it allows her to be plausible, credible and trusted, while displaying the broad perspective which can only be gained through a great deal of training and lived experience.
Website: https://mindfulme.me/
Interview with Helen Williams
1. Why did you want to pursue a career as a counsellor? Was this always what you wanted to do?
I ran a youth group when I was a teenager and loved working with other teens to talk though problems and difficulties. I began training in various counselling modalities when I was quite young to be able to offer more to those I was working with after experiencing much growth from receiving counselling for myself. Running workshops became of great interest to me then too. Looking back now, I’m so aware this was always going to be my life, but it didn’t stop me also exploring many other pathways and opportunities for growth.
2. What was the biggest challenge you faced to get to where you are today?
I often say that my biggest challenge was losing my mother to cancer at an early age. This of course completely altered the course of my life. Since then life has been a constant series of challenges! It always is, and each challenge serves to shine a light on the way ahead, to bring growth, learning, fresh choices and is always a vehicle for awareness.
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3. What piece of advice would you give to those who require personal development?
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Any form of personal growth and development is always about building, honouring and nurturing a relationship with yourself. Instead of trying to change your external circumstances, turn to look inside yourself to see what your intuition and inner wisdom and guidance are revealing to you. Everything you need is already within you.
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4. What's the best part of being a counsellor, or the best part of a normal day in your life?
Nowadays I’m working with MindfulME, teaching and supporting Mindfulness workshops and individual sessions about how Mindfulness practices and meditation can change the way we experience our lives. I love watching people discover fresh insights and self-awareness, connect with new ways of seeing their daily challenges, and discovering how to apply mindfulness principles to their thinking. It’s extremely rich and rewarding to be a part of a growing Mindfulness community in Dubai.