WELCOME

At Helix Centre, we provide expert psychotherapy and psychological assessments tailored to individual needs. Our focus is on neurodiversity, offering dedicated support for individuals with ADHD, autism, trauma, and personality-related challenges. We are committed to providing accessible, high-quality care for those seeking psychotherapy for adults and adolescents, ADHD and autism assessments, as well as support for emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and burnout. Our approach is practical, supportive, and personalized, helping individuals gain clarity, develop effective coping strategies, and enhance overall well-being. We currently provide online sessions across the UK, with in-person services planned for Cheshire East in the future.

About Helix Centre

Helix Centre is a specialized psychotherapy practice offering ethical, evidence-based psychological support for adolescents and adults. We focus on neurodevelopmental conditions, personality-related challenges, and complex mental health presentations, providing both psychotherapy and psychological assessments tailored to each individual's unique needs. Our commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards ensures that every client receives the support best suited to their needs.

Meet the Team

My name is Kirstan Lloyd

Kirstan Lloyd is a specialist in neurodiversity, complex mental health, and psychological assessment, with extensive experience working with ADHD, Autism, personality-related challenges, and trauma. As the founder of Helix Centre, she is committed to providing clinically informed, ethical, and effective psychological support tailored to each individual’s needs.

With a background spanning clinical, educational, and psychotherapy settings, Kirstan has worked internationally, supporting adolescents and adults in navigating the complexities of mental health and neurodivergence. She is known for structuring her approach to each client based on their unique presentation, balancing developmentally attuned therapy with structured, evidence-based interventions where needed.

Passionate about multicultural mental health, she has worked extensively with British expatriates and diverse populations, ensuring that psychological care is culturally informed, accessible, and tailored to each individual’s experience.

B.A. Vega, B.A. Wits, B.A. Hons (Psych) Wits, M.Ed (Psych) Wits

HPCSA No: Ps 0116734 | DHA-P-03534719 | BPS CPsychol No.: 746868 | MBACP: 410520 | HCPC: PYL045887

Psychotherapy

At Helix Centre, psychotherapy is designed to meet the specific needs of each individual. Our work is guided by evidence-based practice, ethical responsibility, and a deep commitment to client well-being. Whether therapy is exploratory and adaptive or structured and skills-based, every session is designed to be clinically sound, effective, and aligned with best practices to support meaningful change.

Adolescence can be a challenging time, particularly for neurodivergent teens or those struggling with emotional and behavioral difficulties. At Helix Centre, we offer a safe, structured, and supportive space where young people can better understand themselves, develop effective coping strategies, and build resilience. Therapy is tailored to each adolescent's unique strengths and needs, whether they thrive with a relational, flexible approach or require a structured, skills-based intervention to support emotional regulation and personal growth.

Adolescents

For many neurodivergent adults, daily life can feel overwhelming—managing work, relationships, and societal expectations in a world that often isn't designed with their needs in mind. The challenges of ADHD, autism, emotional dysregulation, or longstanding personality patterns can create obstacles that feel difficult to navigate alone. At Helix Centre, psychotherapy provides a structured yet flexible space to help you understand yourself, improve relationships, and develop effective strategies for managing life's complexities. Whether you need practical tools, deeper self-awareness, or emotional regulation support, therapy is tailored to your unique experiences and goals.

Adults

When a loved one is neurodivergent or facing mental health challenges, families and couples often need guidance, support, and practical strategies to navigate these complexities. At Helix Centre, we offer family and couples consultations focused on improving communication, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering emotional understanding. Through psychoeducation and tailored support, we help partners, parents, and caregivers build stronger, more supportive relationships that respect individual needs.

Couples and Family Therapy

Assessment

At Helix Centre, we offer comprehensive psychological assessments to help individuals gain clarity on neurodivergence, learning differences, and emotional well-being. Our evaluations provide a deeper understanding of strengths, challenges, and cognitive profiles, ensuring accurate diagnosis and personalized recommendations.

Assessment Process

Understanding your cognitive and emotional profile is key to accessing the right support. At Helix Centre, we offer comprehensive ADHD, autism, and psychoeducational assessments designed to provide accurate diagnoses, practical recommendations, and clear next steps for children, adolescents, and adults.

Initial Consultation

The process begins with an initial consultation to understand your concerns, background, and what you hope to gain from the assessment. This session is typically conducted online and provides an opportunity to discuss symptoms, history, and goals for the evaluation.

Comprehensive Testing

Depending on the type of assessment, the client will complete standardized tests, clinical interviews, and behavioral questionnaires. These may be completed online. Testing evaluates cognitive functioning, executive functioning skills, emotional well-being, and neurodivergent traits. Parents, caregivers, or partners may also be asked to provide input where relevant.

Feedback Session

Approximately two to four weeks after testing, we hold a feedback session to go over the results, explain key findings, and discuss personalized recommendations. This session is designed to be clear, supportive, and practical, ensuring you understand your unique strengths and challenges.

Report

Following the feedback session, you will receive a detailed written report outlining all findings, diagnostic conclusions (if applicable), and tailored recommendations. This document can be used to access workplace accommodations, educational support, or further interventions.

What a the parent is also Autistic?

We talk a lot about Autistic children, but rarely about their parents.

Autism is highly heritable. Many parents only begin to recognise their own traits through their child’s diagnosis.

💡 Why is late diagnosis is so common?
💡 How stress and sensory overload affect Autistic parents
💡 What parenting looks like through a neurodivergent lens
💡 Why standard support isn’t enough

It’s time to rethink parenting support!

🔗 Full blog in bio

#AutisticParents #NeurodivergentMums #AutismAwareness #Neurodiversity #ParentingSupport #LateDiagnosis #MentalHealthMatters #AutismAcceptance #HelixCentre #BurnoutRecovery #SensoryProcessing #ExecutiveFunctioning

Free association isn’t outdated. It’s underused.

At Helix Centre, we’ve been reflecting on how powerful this technique can be. Especially with clients who have done all the right things in therapy, yet still feel stuck.

Free association invites what feels incoherent, irrelevant or uncomfortable to come forward.

It allows thoughts to emerge before they have been judged, shaped or silenced.

We might begin by saying something like: “Say whatever comes to mind, even if it feels random or silly. Don’t edit or filter. Just speak. Our work is to listen to what your mind is trying to tell us.”

In a world full of structure and outcomes, this process makes room for meaning. Especially when nothing else has worked.

New blog now live. Link in bio.

#HelixCentre #FreeAssociation #DepthTherapy #PsychodynamicTherapy #MentalHealthSupport #TraumaInformedCare #TherapyTools #ComplexMentalHealth #NeurodivergentSupport #RelationalPsychotherapy

Today is about more than awareness. It’s about understanding.

Too many autistic children are overlooked because their struggles don’t fit the stereotype.

They’re quiet.
They’re clever.
They’re compliant, until they’re not.

🔍 Early signs are often subtle, especially in:

- Girls and gender-diverse children who mask to fit in
- Gifted children whose abilities hide executive function challenges
- Children from multilingual or minority backgrounds who face systemic barriers
- Kids who are “quirky but coping”… until they’re not

These children deserve to be understood before they are mislabelled, excluded, or dismissed.

#WorldAutismDay #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #ChildMentalHealth #EarlyDetection #PsychologistUK #ADHD #ASD

The 30th of March is World Bipolar Day.

In The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll says: “I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self, and becoming slowly incorporated with my second and worse.”

We don’t believe people are split in two. But we do know how destabilising it can feel when mood states take over.

In our latest blog, we explore how identity, emotion, and biology interact in Bipolar Disorder — and how connection can be part of the healing process.

Read more on the blog — link in bio.

Written by @helixcentreuk

#WorldBipolarDay #BipolarAwareness #MentalHealth #NeurodivergentVoices #Psychotherapy #OxytocinHealing #ConnectionMatters #MentalHealthSupport #DrJekyllAndMrHyde #BipolarDisorder

Parenting a neurodivergent child is a journey filled with love, learning, and sometimes, exhaustion. ADHD, Autism, and sensory processing differences can mean big emotions, meltdowns, or struggles with routines. These can often look like defiance.

Common parenting challenges can include:
🔹 Emotional dysregulation – Intense emotions that feel overwhelming. These feelings can happen quickly, and take a lot of effort to overcome.
🔹 Routine struggles – Transitions can be tough for Autistic or ADHD children.
🔹 Misinterpretation – "Bad behaviour" is often a stress response, not disobedience.

The key? Understanding before correcting. Connection before correction. Neurodivergent kids thrive in environments where they feel safe, understood, and supported, rather than punished for their differences.

#NeurodivergentParenting #ADHDParenting #AutismAcceptance #ParentingNeurodivergence #TherapyForFamilies

Hi, I’m Kirstan Lloyd, founder of Helix Centre!

I established Helix Centre to provide neurodiversity-affirming, ethical, and evidence-based psychological support for individuals who often feel misunderstood by traditional mental health services.

As a psychologist and psychotherapist, I specialise in working with ADHD, Autism, personality-related challenges, and complex mental health presentations. I have practiced internationally, supporting clients in Dubai, South Africa, and the UK, giving me deep experience working across multicultural and diverse populations.

My approach is tailored, practical, and responsive. For some, therapy is about exploration and flexibility, while for others, structured interventions are essential. I believe in working with my clients rather than trying to force them into rigid models that don’t fit how their minds work or their specific goals.

#TherapistIntroduction #NeurodiversityTherapist #MentalHealthMatters #ADHDAwareness #AutismAcceptance #PsychologyUK

Not all therapists are trained in neurodivergence. And not all training is enough.

What makes a true neurodiversity specialist?
✅ Deep understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions (ADHD, Autism, personality structures, executive functions, emotional regulation, learning difficulties).
✅ Training beyond traditional models. The training is often in vivo and a lived experience. It also involves working alongside other professionals. These dimensions are central to growing knowledge and understanding that stretches beyond theory.
✅ Adapting therapy to suit how neurodivergent minds process emotions, relationships, and experiences.

#NeurodiversitySpecialist #TherapistForADHD #AutismAcceptance #ADHDInsights #PsychologyUK

Not all therapy works for neurodivergent minds. Here’s why specialised care is essential.

Traditional therapy models often don’t consider the unique challenges of ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergent mental health.

🔹 Rigid structures & CBT-style therapy often is ineffectual in supporting personality disorders and creating meaningful structural changes.
🔹 Talking about emotions without practical tools may not help people with ASD as it can feel too ambiguous or confusing.
🔹 Expecting traditional eye contact & social norms can alienate neurodivergent clients.

#NeurodivergentTherapy #CBTAlternatives #TherapyForADHD #AutismTherapy #MentalHealthUK #OnlineTherapy

Neurodivergent individuals aren't "broken", they're navigating a world that wasn’t built with them in mind.

Many Autistic and ADHD individuals experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout/ This is not because of their neurotype itself, but because of chronic misunderstandings, masking, and struggling to fit into rigid societal expectations.

🔹 Autistic burnout is often caused by sensory overload, masking, and social pressures.
🔹 ADHD emotional dysregulation is frequently dismissed as "just not trying hard enough."
🔹 Struggling with work or school can be due to systems that aren’t designed for neurodivergent minds.

Mental health care should not try to "fix" neurodivergence, rather it should support individuals in understanding themselves, advocating for their needs, and navigating life on their terms.

#Neurodiversity #ADHDAwareness #AutisticBurnout #MentalHealthSupport #NeurodivergentTherapy #TherapyThatWorks

The world has changed since COVID, and so has mental health.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen a surge in anxiety, burnout, and emotional dysregulation. Long waiting lists for support, uncertainty about the future, and the impact of isolation have left many struggling.

🔹 Burnout & Exhaustion – More people report chronic stress and difficulty focusing.
🔹 Anxiety & Emotional Dysregulation – Uncertainty has amplified emotional instability.
🔹 The Rise of Online Therapy – Accessible mental health support has never been more important.

At Helix Centre, we’re committed to providing accessible, high-quality psychological support to help individuals regain control and find stability in a world that’s constantly shifting.

#PostCovidMentalHealth #BurnoutRecovery #OnlineTherapyUK #NeurodivergentSupport #AnxietyAwareness #MentalHealthMatters

Mental health is a process of learning, unlearning, and growing through every step of the process.

Many people believe that therapy will "fix" them, but true healing isn't linear. It’s a journey of self-discovery, emotional regulation, and finding strategies that work for you, especially for those who are neurodivergent or living with complex mental health challenges.

At Helix Centre, we recognise that healing is different for everyone. Therapy should be tailored to your needs, whether that means building practical coping strategies, making sense of past experiences, or learning to navigate the world in a way that fits your unique needs.

#MentalHealthJourney #TherapyMatters #HealingIsNotLinear #NeurodiversityAffirming #ADHDsupport #AutismAcceptance #MentalWellness

The helix is a symbol of growth and transformation.

Unlike a downward spiral, the helix is a natural shape of progress, evolution, and resilience. It represents the way we learn, adapt, and develop, moving forward through challenges instead of being trapped in cycles of struggle and distress.

At Helix Centre, this symbol reflects our approach to therapy and assessment: a process of growth, understanding, and self-discovery. Whether navigating neurodivergence, trauma, or mental health challenges, we believe in supporting individuals as they move toward greater clarity and empowerment.

#PersonalGrowth #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthSupport #TherapyForChange #ADHDAutismSupport

"Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It's about how you drive, not where you're going." Noam Shpancer, PhD.

So often, we look for an end goal in life. Mental health is no different, and we often seem to imagine a moment where everything finally feels “fixed.”

But the reality is, mental well-being is an ongoing process of self-discovery, adaptation, and growth.

Therapy isn’t about “arriving” at perfect mental health, it’s about learning to navigate life in a way that works for you. Whether you’re neurodivergent, managing trauma, or seeking deeper self-awareness, the journey matters more than the destination.

At Helix Centre, we walk this journey with you, offering neurodiversity-affirming therapy and assessments to help you build a life that feels right for you.

#MentalHealthJourney #NeurodivergentTherapy #ADHDAutismSupport

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Booking

Bookings are managed through care patron

Phone

+971 50 431 3696

Email

kirstan@helixccentre.co.uk