A HOLISTIC therapist and coach had a great start to life in business after rising from ‘rock bottom’ to launch her own wellness hub.

Helen Almond, originally from Liverpool and now living in Prestatyn, turned her life around to become a qualified holistic therapist and coach.

She has now opened Becoming the Great on Wellington Road in Rhyl, and is working with organisations across the country to heal those in need of support, including veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and people suffering panic attacks, anxiety, and negative beliefs.

Rhyl Journal: Helen battled back from addiction to launch her own business.Helen battled back from addiction to launch her own business. (Image: Newsquest)

As well hosting workshops and one-to-one sessions, Helen - who herself fought back from depression and addiction with the help of her cousin, a Latvian monk – specialises in breakthrough coaching, while also selling crystals and self-care items.

A fully qualified practitioner in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Reiki, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping and EFT Matrix, she is delighted with the response from clients across North Wales and beyond.

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“The last six months has been an absolute whirlwind of coaching and holistic therapy sessions, meetings, networking and forging new relationships with organisations in so many different areas, from mental health support to veterans’ groups and the small business community,” said Helen.

“The feedback I’ve had has been so warm that I’m already looking to get to that next level, and I’m heartened to have received grant funding from Welsh Government to open my own premises and deliver care and coaching support to those who need it most.

“The majority of clients made contact initially because my story resonated with them, both men and women who have been in toxic relationships, subjected to abuse and hit rock bottom.

“To be able to turn the darkest of times into a positive quickly made me realise I had made the right decision in going it alone.”

Growing up in a tough area with dyslexia and anxiety made for a tough start to life for Helen, but after feeling lost and living alone pre-pandemic a visit to her cousin in Latvia turned things around.

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“He was empathetic and told me I was going to be a healer, which I thought was impossible at the time as I felt so little self-esteem, I had no confidence,” she said.

“So, I began to learn, to research and open my eyes to what’s out there, notably the impact EFT Tapping (a combination of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology known as energy psychology) and EFT Matrix can have almost immediately.

“The people who have come to see me here in Rhyl - and when I have been out and about or working in collaboration with services and businesses that complement what I do - have felt the effects and it has made a difference.

“Now I have to cast the net wider, I want to help even more people in larger organisations and businesses; there is an appetite out there to support people given everything they’ve been through during the pandemic – remote working, isolation, lockdown – and I can provide answers and solutions to a lot of questions they may have.

“The first six months in business has allowed me to lay the foundations to deliver that care and arm clients and bigger corporations with the tools to bounce back from the challenges of the last few years, to look to the future and, most importantly, put their health and wellbeing first.”