Imagine actually feeling better,
not just coping better.
I'm Helen Billows — a female psychologist based in Adelaide, South Australia.
I'm an Adelaide Hills local. If you see me around, I'm likely on my way to pilates, buying my eighth coffee for the day, or taking my toddler to the playground.
I came to trauma work through my early career in alcohol and other drug services, where almost everyone I worked with had a significant trauma history driving their problems. Teaching people to cope with the surface problem while ignoring what was underneath it didn't sit right with me. That's what led me to EMDR in 2018 — and it's been the focus of my work ever since.
I've dedicated myself to staying at the front of this field. This includes specialised trauma and EMDR education, eight years of university study, and a Master of Clinical Psychology completed with a perfect GPA (if I can't brag here, where can I?)
I'm a member of the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) and EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) — two of the peak bodies for EMDR internationally — and one of the most highly credentialled EMDR clinicians in South Australia.
I'm in the top tier of EMDR clinicians nationally.
I'm a trauma therapist with a strong EMDR focus — this is the work I love. I'm about 'root-causes' — I'm not interested in staying on the surface and simply teaching you to cope.
I want to help you actually feel better, not just function better.
7,000+ sessions delivered. Trauma, PTSD, complex trauma, and personality disorders. This is focused work, not generalist practice.
Registered Psychologist. Registered with the Psychology Board of Australia since 2018.
EMDRAA-Accredited EMDR Therapist and Consultant. A level of accreditation only held by a small number of psychologists in Australia.
EMDR Training Facilitator. One of a small number of psychologists selected by national training providers to help deliver EMDR training programs across Australia.
Eight years of university training. Including a Master of Clinical Psychology, the highest level of clinical postgraduate qualification in the field.
PSYBA-Approved Psychology Supervisor. Approved by the Psychology Board of Australia to provide formal supervision to psychologists.
In South Australia, only a handful of psychologists hold consultant and facilitator-level EMDR credentials. This places me (and Billows Psychology) in the top tier of EMDR practice nationally.
Working with the Root Cause
Most people who find me have already done some form of therapy.
They understood themselves better for it.
They have excellent insight into their problems.
But insight doesn't heal wounds.
The body stays stuck. The same patterns, the same reactions, the same sense that their past is still running things in the present.
You didn't fail therapy. It's usually a sign the work hasn't reached the source.
When it does, people don't describe the change in clinical terms.
They say they think differently.
That situations that used to derail them no longer do.
That they feel like themselves in a way they haven't in years, or possibly ever.
That's what trauma-focused work can produce.
That's the standard I hold my work to.
How I work
Therapy with me is collaborative, practical, and grounded in the research. I bring clinical rigour and honesty to every session — including being willing to name when something isn't working and change direction.
I bring my full self to sessions — curious, compassionate, cheeky, a bit sweary, and always in your corner.
Once we've finished assessment and have a treatment plan in place, I'm not a so, tell me about your week? therapist — I'm a ready to do more EMDR today? therapist.
There's always room for what you need to bring, but the goal stays the same. I want you to feel genuinely better, not just cope more efficiently.
What to Expect
I won't waste your time. Sessions are purposeful, the treatment plan is clear, and I'll tell you when I think we need to change approach.
I'm persistent (stubborn, even). Trauma work can be complicated and progress isn't always linear, but I don't give up when things get hard. You're not just another appointment in my calendar. I'm committed to helping you achieve your goals.
Honesty matters to me. I'll respect your time and your money by being straight with you, even when that means saying something you might not want to hear.
My experience
My clinical focus is trauma. I use EMDR as my primary treatment approach because the evidence for it is strong and the outcomes, when it's done well, can be significant.
EMDR works for more than PTSD. It can be effective for anxiety, phobias, depression, and other presentations; anywhere past experiences are driving current symptoms. If you're not sure, I can help you figure it out.
Click to read more about what EMDR and trauma are.
Even if you don't relate to the typical 'trauma' idea, EMDR could still help if you suspect your past is causing you problems.
I also draw on other therapies including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), schema therapy and mindfulness. These weave in with EMDR particularly well in complex trauma presentations.
The through-line across everything I do is root-cause focus. Coping strategies have their place. They're not where I spend most of my time.
Before You Book
New clients are asked to prepay their first session fee to secure their session.
Cancellations within 48 hours of the appointment time incur the full session fee.
If you have questions before booking, the fees page is the best place to start. Or, you can contact my team using the link below with any other questions.