Helfrich grew up in Windhoek, Namibia and Weinheim, Germany where she received piano lessons.

She studied in the Netherlands at the Amsterdamse Hoogeschool for the Arts and in New York, where she had lessons with Kenny Barron and Larry Goldings.

In 1996 Helfrich formed a trio with John Weidenmüller and Jochen Rückert, releasing her first album You'll See in 2000 with guest Mark Turner.

Since 1999 she has lectured at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Mannheim, and since 2011 at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.

In 2006 her CD Better Times Ahead was nominated for the German Record Critics' Quarterly Prize.