Dr Helen Whittle

Dr Helen Whittle holds a PhD in Forensic Psychology, a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Child Counselling. Helen began her career working in residential children’s homes with young people with complex disabilities before moving to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP). Helen was involved in the creation and delivery of Thinkuknow education resources and routinely delivered sessions to young people, alongside providing training for teachers, social workers, police officers and other child protection professionals.

Helen then worked in the Behavioural Analysis Unit at CEOP where she used behavioural analysis techniques to generate offending profiles and provide specialist support to UK police forces during child sexual abuse investigations. Helen was also heavily involved in research, conducting debriefs and risk assessments with child sex offenders in prisons, and working with young people who had been victimised. Helen has been part of research teams for projects within law enforcement and the NSPCC and has authored numerous peer reviewed published articles.

Having worked with New Ways Safeguarding since 2014, Helen works therapeutically with young people who have experiences of trauma, sexual trauma or are exhibiting problematic sexual behaviour. As part of her continued professional development, Helen regularly attends specialist training courses including those which focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused CBT, working with trauma in children and using mindfulness with clients.