Helen Butler

Mentor and Trainer for Young People and Adults

helen butler coaching png
helen butler coaching png
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjmxHWMy41I

Hi I’m Helen.

I am a mentor and a trainer, a passionate parent of three great young adults and the happy partner of an amazing farmer and holistic therapist.

People say they find me easy to talk to and to listen to, and that I have a great sense of humour and am able to find the simplest solutions to the most impossible problems.

I enjoy working with people, especially young people and their parents, helping them navigate the journey of adolescence.

My training sessions are relevant, practical and delivered with humour and warmth.


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npc primary supporting parents and children
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aware your support light through depression

My Work

helen 121 coaching

Mentoring for Young People

I provide a space for young people to speak freely about difficulties they are experiencing and to gain guidance and support.


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helen butler podcast remote zoom session coaching

Mentoring for Employees and Individuals

I also mentor individuals (employees and volunteers) to overcome internal obstacles and develop in their roles.


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helen butler giving a talk

Project Mentoring for Community Groups

I work with community groups to assist in planning, writing applications, reviewing projects and developing strategies.


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helen butler mentoring projects

Training

I am an engaging trainer who builds rapport easily with groups. Some trainings I have designed myself, but I am also contracted by several organisations to deliver training on their behalf.


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My Values

Empowerment

Life-long Learning

Choice

Common Sense

Being Trustworthy

“A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of us to show us how they did it.
A mentor walks alongside us to show us what we can do.”
Simon Sinek, Optimist & Author

Mentoring for Teenagers and Young People

(Age 12-24 year olds)

I support young people who are are having a hard time with:

  • Friendships
  • Settling into a new environment
  • Sexuality and Gender
  • Growing Up
  • School Challenges
  • Family
  • Relationships
  • Dealing with loss and separation
  • Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
  • Making life choices

I help these young people to develop:

  • Peace of Mind
  • Clarity
  • A plan with clear steps forward
  • Self-confidence
  • Better communication skills
  • Improved problem solving
  • Decision making skills
  • Wellness tools
  • Resilience- the ability to bounce back from challenges 

My approach:

  • My approach is to empower the young person with the skills and tools they need for life. 
  • Our relationship is a partnership – I work WITH the young person rather than AT them. I am not an authority figure, but rather an ally on their path.  
  • My work is person-centred. We work at a pace that suits the young person.
  • The solutions we come up with and the actions we set together for the young person are suitable to their ability level. They are practical without being overwhelming. 
  • Sometimes we role-play situations so the young person has an opportunity to prepare for conversations and situations that are ahead of them.
  • For young people, coaching is a very empowering way to deal with issues. As well as helping them solve their dilemma, they develop their problem-solving and decision-making skills and learn how to discuss, negotiate and compromise with the adults in their lives.

helen butler giving coaching sessions to client

How we work together – in person at Hillside Holistic Farm or on Zoom

  1. Intro Session- 30 minutes- Free
    1. This is an opportunity for the young person to meet me and decide for themselves if they feel it would be helpful to them and they’d like to start working with me. 
  2. Youth Empowerment Package
    1. Session Length: Sessions are 45 minutes as this is the duration I find works best for young people. 
    2. Number of Sessions: I initially work with young people for 4 sessions. This enables a sense of trust and security in the relationship. It also enables the young person to make progress with their challenge. 
    3. Frequency: Sessions can be weekly or spaced out to suit the young person. 
    4. Price: 240 euro (60 euro per session) 


Get in touch with Helen

For Parents of LGBT+ Young People

When your child comes out to you, some parents are overwhelmed – not sure how to respond and overcome with questions and fears about the future. This isn’t how it should be. Having a child who is gay should not be something that parents are afraid of, but for some parents, this is the case! Often, societal norms and religious beliefs frame our sense of what is right or wrong, but what is important here is that we can rationalise these feelings for ourselves, get answers to our questions and take our relationship with our child to its most complete. Being able to talk through your concerns with someone whose knowledge and experience you can trust, who puts your welfare and that of your child before any other agenda. The parent support organisation TLC can give you that support. Follow them on Facebook (TLC – Tuismitheoiri le Cheile) or ring/text on 083-8979280 on Mondays between 7pm and 9pm. You can also give me a call, if you’d like to book a chat. 

Training for Organisations & Schools

1. Training in Primary Schools

I teach cyber safety to primary school students. This 1.5 hour workshop empowers pupils to practice safe online activity.  Workshops are tailored to meet the needs of the different age groups.  The maximum group size is 25 people. Workshops can be held in person or online. 

2. Training in Secondary Schools

I give talks and facilitated workshops on the following topics: Settling into First Year, Cyber-Safety, Getting the most from TY, Managing Exam Stress and many more.  The duration of the talks and workshop is 1.5 hours. They are suitable for all year groups. Group size varies and can be held in person or online.  I also have a number of personal development programmes for transition year students provided over the course of 6 weeks. Information below.

3. Training for Parents

I have been working with the National Parents Council Primary since 2010, delivering workshops to parents of primary school children. Topics include: Mental Health, The Transition from Pre-School to Primary School, The Transition from Primary to Post-Primary School, Anti-Bullying. See www.npc.ie for the complete list.

I also deliver programmes to parents of secondary school students, for example: ‘Supporting Your Child Through Secondary School’. Programmes can be designed as needed.

4. Training for Youth Groups

Cyber Safety Training: I have created the Press Pause Programme which has been designed especially for vulnerable young adults with intellectual challenges. The aim is to help them stay safe while engaging online. This programme takes place over the course of 6 x 1.5 hour sessions in person or online.

Personal Development: I have two personal development programmes which run over the course of 4-5 weeks. See information below.

5. Personal Development Programmes for Young People

Programme 1: PX2 is a version of the STEPS accredited personal development programme designed specifically for young people.  It caters for different learning styles and experiences and offers a space to identify, reflect on and improve personal effectiveness, overcome negative thinking and aids future-planning.  This programme takes place over 4 sessions of 6 hours with groups of a maximum of 15 people.  It can be in person or online.   It is suitable for transition years, training centres, youth groups.

Programme 2: The Mental Fitness Programme is a 5 week programme for young people, giving basic skills in understanding and managing their mental health.  It is an empowering, preventative programme which through input and discussion gives the young person a set of tools to understand and support themselves, to build resilience and create their own self-care plan. It is suitable for transition years, training centres, youth groups.

6. Personal Development Programme for Adults

The STEPS to Excellence Programme is an accredited personal development programme. It is delivered over four days and combines interactive discussions, personal reflection time, and activities utilising a wide variety of learning styles.  This programme is delivered over 4 sessions of 6 hours to a maximum of 15 participants per group. This can be in person or online.  Steps is particularly effective with helping long-term unemployed people develop the motivation and self-belief to complete other training and find jobs. It is also effective with equipping parents with better parenting skills.

helen butler giving a talk
helen teaching group

Get in touch with Helen

Project Mentoring for Individuals and Community Groups

Starting a community project?

Or midway through and losing the will to finish?

I can support, motivate, guide and direct you and your group to a successful implementation of your project.

My skills are:
  • Strategic and creative thinking
  • Innovative ideas
  • Excellent listening and communication skills
  • Engaging with project beneficiaries
  • Clear, simple writing for funding applications and reports

helen butler mentoring group

I help Individuals (Employees and Volunteers):

Are you in a new role or a completely new job?
Have you taken on a new employee?
It’s hard for them to hit the ground running or for you to have time to mentor them.
Through my Employee Mentoring Programme, I can work on a one-to-one basis, listening, guiding and supporting employees and volunteers in their new role.

How we work together: Sessions are 60 minutes in duration. I suggest bi-weekly sessions but the frequency can be negotiated. Six mentoring sessions €360.

The areas we can cover include:
  • Confidence
  • Self-awareness and reflection
  • Planning
  • Time management
  • Staff management

“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”
Sir Richard Branson

I help Community Groups and Schools:

I consult with schools, organisations and community groups to problem solve, work through challenges and develop creative solutions

How we work together: We will have 3-4 sessions. Sessions are 2 hours long and cost €100 per session.

I work with:
  • Youth groups
  • Active Age groups
  • Parent’s Associations
  • School grant applications
  • Primary schools
Together we:
  • Explore new possibilities
  • Plan projects and strategies
  • Make applications and review progress
  • Improve group communication
  • Increase community involvement


Get in touch with Helen

Testimonials

Helen has that X-Factor!

I met Helen several years ago at a presentation where she made two hours feel like 10 minutes, as she skillfully, sensibly and honestly guided parents around internet safety.  I have booked her as a Youth Coach on several occasions, both with my youth club for Autistic teens and also 1 to 1 with my teen daughter, who, when she was struggling a bit lately, said it all in one sentence: “I’ll talk to Helen, I trust her”.  I cannot name it but Helen has that X Factor with young people, she just gets ‘it’ even when no-one has quite figured out what ‘it’ is  She has a natural ability to connect, calm and create a much more positive sense of wellbeing and I would trust her with any of my children, I cannot give any higher recommendation than that. 

Faye, Leitrim

She asks the right questions

Having Helen as my mentor and go-to person is such an empowering experience. She’s an amazing listener, she manages to hear things you yourself weren’t even aware you’re saying. I think she’s the best at supporting people in recognising their strengths and she helped me discover how well equipped I was to deal with all the challenges I’ve encountered, just sometimes unaware of the tools I already had to handle them. Her ability to see every situation from all the possible angles and to always ask the right question are inspiring and I get so much out of every conversation. I couldn’t ask for more!

Mateja, Dublin

Mentoring with mental health and family issues

Over the years Helen was happy to listen and lend an ear to my problems no matter how big or small. She always handled it professionally and was non-judgemental and helped me look at my issues from wider perspectives.

Example:  when me and a friend had a disagreement Helen helped nip it in the bud and helped us see each other’s point of views and resolve the matter.

Joseph, Galway

A huge asset to us and our community

Helen has been assisting 6th class students in their transition to secondary education for over five years in Ballyglass NS. Typically the transition is a daunting time in any young child’s life however Helen assists the process by educating them on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Helen does this with great enthusiasm and always receives excellent feedback from the pupils and their families. Helen’s services are a huge asset to us and our community.

Ciana, School Principal, Galway

vsi local and global volunteering for peace
tlc tuismitheoiri le cheile safe space for parents of LGBT people
ballyglass ns
BREATHE FREE COUNSELLING

About Helen

helen butler out in nature

For the past 25 years I have been working as a professional youth worker, doing every possible youth work job you can imagine in Ireland and internationally. In my previous career in the healthcare industry I volunteered in youth work and in 1994 I took the plunge and became a full-time youth worker. That was one of the best decisions of my life!

In 2009, I graduated as a Life Coach – a qualification that added complementary skills and opened my eyes to what has become my passion- helping adults and young people be the very best that they can be.

In 2011, I qualified as a trainer and I deliver workshops and talks to groups in the community and in schools across the country.
My career in international youth work began back in 1998 and the experiences of introducing young people to youth exchanges, European volunteering, job shadowing and international training opened minds to the joys of travel and intercultural experiences. Through the European Erasmus+ Programme, young people, schools and community groups can benefit from funding that adds tremendous value and experience to their work.

In 2019, I graduated from The NUI Cert in European Youth Mobility Project Management, thus matching my skills and experience with a formal qualification.

  • Garda Vetted
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance

Something to Think About

A Piece Of Sky

“It all began the day I found
That from my window I could only see
A piece of sky.
I stepped outside and looked around,
I never dreamed it was so wide
Or even half as high.”
Bergman/Bergman/Legrand from the film “Yentl”

planting woodland at hillside holistic farm

I share the words above from a song I heard years ago which has been quite fundamental in shaping my own life, my parenting and my work.  Realising that life is full of possibilities and that there’s more to it than just the box within which I was born and the box that can be my mind. The conditioning and the limitations we’ve absorbed are an illusion. These can be changed and we are more powerful than we know. Now, in my wisdom years, I’m drawing together all my knowledge and experience to help other people, especially young people find their wisdom and overcome their limitations to be the best that they can be!


get in touch with helen


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