Thank you!
We will contact you shortly
Hélène Stelian
MA, NCC, MBA
Hélène Stelian, MA, NCC, MBAshe/her/hers
About Hélène,
Choosing someone to talk to about your mental health can feel vulnerable, and finding the right fit matters. The first few sessions are a chance for us to get to know one another, explore what brings you to therapy, and see whether we’re a good fit for working together—there’s no pressure or long-term commitment required.
I believe that no matter what you've struggled with, what regrets you carry, or what mistakes you feel you've made, you deserve a meaningful and fulfilling life. Time and again, I've seen that people are capable of far more healing, growth, and reinvention than they often believe.
My goal is to create a space where you feel truly seen, safe, and free from judgment. Clients often share that they are able to talk with me about things they’ve never felt comfortable saying out loud before, even in moments of deep pain, shame, or despair. From that place of honesty and trust, I help clients rediscover their resilience, hope, and capacity for change.
My style is warm, compassionate, and direct. I am in your corner—encouraging growth, celebrating progress, and gently helping you notice what may be getting in your way. Along the way, I may share practical tools, resources, and strategies to support you between sessions. And because healing doesn’t always have to be heavy, I believe humor can be healing and welcome moments of lightness and laughter when they fit the moment.
My approach is strengths-based, collaborative, and action-oriented, always tailored to each client’s needs. In practical terms, that means we may explore patterns from your past, navigate difficult emotions, improve communication and relationships, increase self-understanding, and help you move toward the life you want. I believe insight is most powerful when paired with action, and I enjoy helping clients recognize strengths they may have lost sight of, build confidence in themselves, and take meaningful steps toward the life they want to create.
I work with adults in individual, couples, and group therapy. I’m especially drawn to supporting people through periods of uncertainty and change—times marked by shifting relationships, questions of meaning or identity, and the challenge of figuring out who you are becoming.
These transitions often involve grief and loss, particularly the kinds of losses that can feel isolating or difficult to name. This may take the form of ambiguous or disenfranchised grief—experiences that are not always fully recognized or understood by others—such as caring for a parent with dementia, estrangement from a family member, the painful ending of a significant relationship, or supporting an adult child living with serious mental health challenges. My sensitivity to this work is informed both by clinical training and by personal experience with profound loss and ambiguity.
I’m also drawn to helping clients struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety-related conditions. OCD can be exhausting, confusing, and isolating, and I enjoy helping clients break free from cycles of fear, doubt, and compulsions. I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD, as well as Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), a newer evidence-based approach for obsessive thinking.
Coming to this profession later in life deepened my belief that it is never too late to change direction, rediscover yourself, and build a life that feels more aligned with who you are. Before entering the field of mental health, I spent many years in the corporate world in sales and marketing roles at Fortune 500 companies and later owned my own coaching business. These experiences help me understand the pressures many clients face around work, identity, achievement, and transition.
I strive to create an affirming, inclusive space for clients of all backgrounds and identities, including LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent clients, and those navigating marginalization or systemic barriers. I approach this work with humility, openness, and ongoing self-reflection.
I hold a master's in counseling from The Family Institute at Northwestern University, a BA from Duke University, an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, and a coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.
If you’re curious about working together, I welcome you to reach out and explore whether we might be a good match.
Wondering how to pronounce Hélène?
Say the letters “L” and “N,” with emphasis on the “N.” The H is silent.
Contact
847.529.8300 x 103