About
A safe space for children and young people to be heard
Olga Heleno Walker is an MBACP-registered integrative child and adolescent psychotherapist working with children, young people and families across York, Harrogate and North Yorkshire. She helps children and teenagers make sense of difficult feelings and experiences — anxiety, low mood, anger, loss, family change, friendships and self-esteem — in a space that feels safe, unhurried and free of judgement.
Olga trained through Place2Be, one of the UK's leading children's mental health charities, completing a Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy for Children and Young People. She currently works as a school counsellor at St Aidan's Church of England High School in Harrogate, and has supported pupils across both primary (ages 4–11) and secondary (ages 11–18) settings.
Her work is integrative — drawing on several therapeutic traditions and shaping the work around each child, rather than fitting the child to a single method. It is also informed by mindfulness-based practice, having trained with the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation.
Before retraining as a psychotherapist, Olga spent over a decade in people-focused roles in the technology and e-commerce sector. She lives in North Yorkshire.
Approach
How Olga works
Led by the child. Children and young people make sense of their world in different ways. Olga follows the child's lead — through talk, play and creativity — meeting them where they are rather than asking them to fit a fixed format.
Integrative, not one-size-fits-all. She draws on a range of therapeutic approaches and tailors the work to the individual, their age and what they are bringing — so the therapy fits the child, not the other way around.
Safe, consistent and confidential. Therapy rests on trust. Olga offers a reliable, non-judgemental relationship, and works alongside parents, carers and schools where it helps — while protecting the young person's confidence.
Background
Training & experience
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2025 – present
School CounsellorSt Aidan's Church of England High School, Harrogate
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2023 – 2025
Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy for Children & Young PeoplePlace2Be
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2023 – 2025
School CounsellorAIM Academies Trust — working with primary (4–11) and secondary (11–18) pupils
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2022
Level 3 Certificate & Level 2 Award in Counselling Skills for Working with ChildrenPlace2Be
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Training
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
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2018 – 2021
Head of PeopleExpert Edge (now Havas Market)
Qualifications & Membership
Credentials
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Registered Member, BACP (MBACP)British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy — bound by the BACP Ethical Framework
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Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy for Children and Young PeoplePlace2Be
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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills for Working with ChildrenPlace2Be
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Level 2 Award in Counselling Skills for Working with ChildrenPlace2Be
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
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University of East LondonAlumna
Contact