Helena Verhelle

Helena Verhelle holds a MSc in Criminology and a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology. Since 2017 she works as a researcher in the People and Well-being Research Group, research line 'Safeguarding Sport & Society'. Before she started at Thomas More University, she has worked at a Forensic Psychiatric Treatment Centre as a therapeutic counsellor.

She mainly conducts practice-based research on bystander behaviour and the prevention of harassment and abuse against children in the sports context. Helena is involved in several Erasmus+ projects (Safe Sport Allies, Safe Para Sport Allies, CICEE-T). 

Finally, Helena is coordinator of the Postgraduate Programme Forensic Psychodiagnostic and counseling and she  supervises Applied Psychology students in their undergraduate thesis as well as external research trainees.

• Mountjoy, M., Adriaens, K., Junge, A., Verhelle, H., Laureys, F., Kirby, S., Dienstbach-Wech, L., Foster, J., & Vertommen, T. (2024). Association of self-reported health problems and interpersonal violence in sport: A cross-sectional study in world-level performing athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, bjsports-2024-109022. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-109022
• Vanneste, C., Decuyper, M., Verhelle, H., Adriaens, K., Vertommen, T. (2024). Grensoverschrijdend gedrag ten aanzien van studenten in het hoger onderwijs: een systematische literatuurstudie. Panopticon. 45(4). 
• Adriaens, K., Verhelle, H., Peters, G.-J. Y., Haerens, L., & Vertommen, T. (2024). The Safe Sport Allies Bystander Training: Developing a Multi-Layered Program for Youth Sport Participants and their Coaches to Prevent Harassment and Abuse in Local Sport Clubs. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1389280
• Verhelle, H., Vertommen, T., Adriaens, K., Parent, S., Haerens, L., & van de Veerdonk, W. (2024). What would you do? Developing, implementing and evaluating a coach bystander intervention to prevent sexual violence in youth sports clubs. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2024.2331212
• Verhelle, H., Vertommen, T., & Peters, G.J. (2022). Preventing sexual violence in sport: Determinants of positive coach-bystander behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.862220
• Vertommen, T., Verhelle, H., Martijn, F. M., & De Boeck, M. (2021). Static and Dynamic Recidivism Risk Factors of People Who Have Committed Child Sex Offenses in Sport. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.624548
• Vertommen, T., Laureys, M., Stockman, D., Verhelle, H., & Aga, N. (2019). “Jij kan de absolute top bereiken, maar alleen als je me vertrouwt”. Plegerkenmerken van seksueel kindermisbruik in de sport vanuit slachtofferperspectief. Panopticon, 40 (4), 254-272.
• Verhelle, H., Vertommen, T., & Robert, L. (2019). Mens sana in corpore sano, ook in de gevangenis? Een onderzoek naar sport en psychische gezondheid in detentie. Fatik, 162, 6-16. 
• Verhelle, H., Vanhouche, A., & Huys, T. (2016). Gewichtheffen, voedingssupplementen en anabole steroïden in detentie. Nieuwe fenomenen binnen de gevangenismuren of weggecijferde moeilijkheden? Fatik, 151, 19-28.