Dr. Helen Willis

Cognitive Neuroscientist PhD, MSc (Oxon), BA (Oxon), DHP, LAPHP

Hello, I’m Dr. Helen Willis.

I am the founder of the Connectome Connection.

I often label myself as a cognitive neuroscientist, because that is my academic background.

However, because I have also undertaken additional psychotherapeutic and wellness coaching training, the way that I work professionally is more a carefully constructed hybrid of therapist, coach, scientist and also thought leader.

So, my profession is essentially an applied hybrid practitioner, utilising key neuroscientific principles to guide selection of the most appropriate physiological and psychological techniques to achieve successful cognitive load management.

The Connectome Connection was inspired by my expertise in cognitive processing and, more importantly, cognitive load. These insights came from an academic and professional perspective, as well as personal experience having undergone burnout myself.

I was therefore inspired to find effective solutions to counteract cognitive overload and to influence our nervous state to cope with today’s fast-paced and overstimulating world.

To find the best possible known solutions, I undertook a thorough exploration of different psychophysiological research fields. This included my own doctoral thesis that investigated the cognitive load associated with listening in deafness and assistive technologies. I also underwent further professional training in a diverse range of wellbeing and therapeutic techniques.

I soon discovered that an eclectic combination of these interventions enables the connection with your connectome (i.e., the unique wiring of your brain).

And so the Connectome Connection was born, delivering bespoke natural neuromodulation toolkits to my clients.

    • 2014-2018: PhD in Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences, University College London

    • 2013-2014: MSc in Neuroscience, St. John’s College, University of Oxford

    • 2010-2013: BA (Hons) First Class in Physiology and Psychology, St. John’s College, University of Oxford

    • May 2022: Nutrition Coach, Amanda Hamilton Nutrition Coach Academy (accredited by Complementary Medical Association)

    • May 2022: Wellness Coach, Amanda Hamilton Wellness Coach Academy (accredited by Complementary Medical Association)

    • December 2020: YOGABODY® Breath Coach, Yoga Teacher College

    • October 2020: Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy (DHP), Royal Berkshire College of Clinical Hypnosis (Hypnotherapy School of the Year 2022)- includes training in Neurolinguistic Programming and Emotional Freedom Techniques

    • 2020-onwards: Licentiate of the Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (LAPHP)

    • 2018-onwards: Patron for Cued Speech UK

    • My Youtube channel that was created for “Soothing Stress Strategies” (a stress management consultancy): this contains information about the impact of stress on the body and the neuropsychological and neurophysiological principles of the different types of techniques available to combat stress and cognitive overload

  • A keen ballroom dancer (who is branching out into salsa and bachata), and horse riding enthusiast

Advisors to the Connectome Connection

  • He has built a thriving hypnotherapy practice over many years, and was the Director of Ethics for the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s largest hypnotherapy body. He has been awarded the title of Fellow of the Association for Professional Hypnosis & Psychotherapy, an honour bestowed on a select few in recognition of their skills and contribution to the field of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (currently only 14 therapists have received this title worldwide).

    In addition to working with clients, he is the principal of the Royal Berkshire College of Clinical Hypnosis, which has won the accolade of Hypnotherapy School of the Year 2022, where he takes an active role in training others to become successful therapists.

  • https://www.stillwaterstherapy.co.uk/

Dr. John Allen Lee

Surgeon-scientist, entrepreneur, & investor

  • John is a surgeon-scientist, entrepreneur, and investor who has driven innovation across Europe, United States, and Asia. These ventures have raised millions in seed investment, expanded into new markets, and launched from Silicon Valley's Y Combinator, DigitalHealth.London, and NHS accelerators.

    Now Managing Director at RYSE Asset Management, he talks about healthcare, technology, venture capital and impact investing. Also an Expert-in-Residence at Imperial College and Public Governer at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, his most recent addition to his portfolio is becoming a Fellow of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University.

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnleeallen/

Amanda Hamilton

Nutritionist

  • Amanda has been one of the UK's most established nutrition experts for almost two decades with a career that's included more than eight internationally syndicated TV series and four books, the latest of which became a number one Amazon best-seller. She has also been named as one of the UK's top five "super-nutritionists”.

    Her primary focus is education in nutrition, especially in the practical application of key nutrition principles. She teaches holistically, providing foundational principles for good nourishment and also for sleep and movement (she is a qualified Pilates and Barres instructor). In 2021, she launched two academies in collaboration with other health professionals in order to train nutrition and wellness coaches worldwide.

    Amanda is in great demand as a consultant and guest speaker across a diverse range of sectors and works with a number of brands on projects ranging from board level strategy, PR and communications to engagement and education. In the hotel and wellness industry she is well known as a thought leader. She led several successful wellbeing concepts and health programmes for some of the world's leading destinations. In the UK, she continues to host her retreats at the award-winning Champneys Hotel & Spa.

  • https://www.amandahamilton.com/

Kevin Still

Therapist (Psychotherapy & Hypnotherapy)