Our Approach
At Renewed Hope, we recognize that life can often feel overwhelming, filled with challenges that can lead to stress and uncertainty. Our approach to therapy is deeply personalized, ensuring that we understand each client's unique experiences and needs. Drawing upon our own experiences and struggles, we take the time to listen and create a safe space for individuals to express themselves. By tailoring our therapeutic strategies, we empower clients to navigate their struggles and foster resilience, helping them find renewed strength and hope for the future.
Helen Watkinson RP (Qualifying) and OCT
Helen is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Clinical Director, Certified Dialectical Behaviour Therapist, and Ontario Certified Teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Education. Helen has been working in the education system for over 23 years and draws on her wealth of experience when working with children, youth, their parents, and those in need of mental health support. In particular, working in the education system has given Helen a first-hand understanding of the challenges that teachers, students, and parents face.
Through meeting clients and working with a variety of people with a wide range of needs, Helen came to discover that she has a great deal of understanding and empathy for the unique challenges people experience as they try to navigate the demands of daily life and the emotions that go with that. In therapy, Helen uses the modality that best suits client needs in the moment but often works through a DBT lens, offering many tools and techniques to support clients with their day-to-day interactions. Shadow work and Narrative Therapy are also often used to help clients more deeply understand themselves.
Helen became a psychotherapist after many of her own lived experiences led her to realize that there is help out there and it is important to accept that help. She is now 'paying it forward' by guiding others on their journey to wellness and personal growth.
Meet Hope, our practice mascot. Renewed Hope was named after our girl because she taught us all to never give up hope, even in the toughest times. Hope has put in as many therapy hours as her humans and is the best listener here. She makes appearances in almost all virtual appointments (but sadly, not in-person ones as she would squish the humans off the couch with her snuggling).
