LIFE coach Helen Dos Santos has been ‘changing lives’ since a ‘lightbulb’ moment led her to launch a wellbeing business six years ago.
Helen, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent but grew up in Zimbabwe, has run Newcastle-based Horizons Coaching since October 2016. She has since worked with more than 11,000 people experiencing emotional or mental difficulties.
Her ‘lightbulb’ moment came when a psychiatrist told her: “You have done more for this patient in three sessions then the NHS has done in two years”.
She started mental health and wellbeing coaching at her last place of employment.
Having undertaken some intense work with one staff member, Helen was contacted by a senior psychiatric consultant who invited Helen to be a guest speaker to 40 local psychiatric consultants.
Helen said: “I decided it would be more rewarding to be changing peoples lives as a full-time job. I started my business as a sole trader, with the support of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.
“I took expert guidance and gradually gained the confidence to market my 1-2-1 coaching support and wellbeing and resilience workshops to the education, private and public sectors.”
Paul Simpson, chief executive of Derby City Council said: “Helen has worked alongside our HR team and our occupational health manager, who have referred identified staff to her at a point when a mental health issue has been identified, but prior to the individual being booked off sick by a GP. Not only is there a financial benefit to this, but also less stress on other team members.”
Since qualifying as a Havening Techniques Practitioner, Helen has worked with the military, and now hopes to expand her work into the ‘blue-light’ emergency services.
She added: “I thrive on having a positive impact on someone’s life, where I have either prevented them from going off ill, or helped them to return back into work – there is no greater feeling than making a life-changing difference”.
