Columnar pattern discharges and multipulse uniform discharges were generated in atmospheric helium with a background air pressure of 40 Pa to study the effect of discharge behaviors on the equivalent capacitance between the electrodes. Applied voltages, discharge currents, Lissajous figures, and discharge images from the bottom of the electrode under various applied voltages were measured. Based on the Lissajous figures, the equivalent capacitances between electrodes and the transferred charge were calculated. It was found that the equivalent capacitance is about 9.6 pF at the applied voltages below the discharge inception voltage, and increases from 13.2 pF at the incipient discharge voltage to 21.4 pF at a applied voltage above the discharge inception voltage, at which a multipulse uniform glow discharge covering the entire electrode surface appears, with an equivalent capacitance increase in 62%. If the applied voltage is decreased from the incipient discharge voltage, columnar patterned discharges below the incipient discharge voltage will appear; it increased from 9.6 pF of a single column discharge to 13.1 pF of a local uniform discharge, with an increase in 36%. At applied voltages further below the inception voltage, the discharge disappears and the equivalent capacitance returns to 9.6 pF. The correlation coefficient between the equivalent capacitance and the transferred charge was calculated under various discharge behaviors. The results show that the transferred charge during discharges caused the change of the equivalent capacitance between electrodes. From this understanding, an amendment is proposed for a previously simplified electrical equivalent circuit.