Helen V. Hicks, named after both of her grandmothers, was born and predominantly raised in Fresno, California. She is the youngest of six. She was an Army brat during her younger childhood years, moving from California to North Carolina to Hawaii. Around the age of eight her father retired from the Army and the family settled in Fresno. She completed elementary, middle school and high school in Fresno before attending California State University, Fresno, where she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While an undergrad, she started working in group homes as a staff counselor where she solidified her love for psychology and helping others. Three years after obtaining her bachelors, she returned to grad school at National University where she majored in Counseling Psychology. Soon after graduating with her first master’s degree she moved to Pennsylvania and then New Jersey where she obtained her license as a professional counselor and established her own private practice.

            Helen’s experience in the mental health field spans numerous treatment modalities. The first fifteen years of her experience was working exclusively with children and adolescents. She started in group homes and treatment facilities with emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth. She advanced from being a counselor to a therapist and eventually a director. She later began working with non-profits that provided in-home treatment to both children and their families. There she developed her therapist skills in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy and psychodynamic theory. Leading up to obtaining her license, she worked in a local hospital ER as a crisis counselor. In 2009, after receiving numerous requests from adults to work with her individually, she opened her own private practice and slowly transitioned away from working with non-profits. To better operate her practice, she returned to school at Southern New Hampshire University to earn her MBA in 2017. Her practice, which she continues to operate in New Jersey, now consists predominantly of adult individuals and couples.

In 2022 she was recognized as a Best in the Country, State of NJ, mental health counselor by Nationwide Registries Top Doctors of America.