Louise Helferty (She/her)

In my relational work, I take a holistic, integrated approach. I lean on structured and experiential interventions, and psychoeducation to promote mutual understanding and robust conflict navigation skills. I aim to help clients create relational equity where each person can feel heard, understood and known. Rooted in the belief that intimacy is an integral part of relationships I am committed to creating an affirming and supportive space of those connections whether that is sex positive or sex.

I offer collaborative, trauma-informed care rooted in honoring client autonomy and prioritizing safety and connection. This means taking a client led approach in navigating notions of resilience, struggle and survival. It also means holding an awareness of the connection between intersectionality, oppression, marginalization and trauma.

I care deeply about cultural humility and taking a curious stance vis a vis my clients. I see therapy as a tool for the creation of a world where people are seen, honored and cherished for their authentic and multifaceted selves. I am particularly passionate about working with historically marginalized clients, such as LGBTQIA+ adults and youth, and those navigating wider racial and cultural identity issues.

I work primarily from an (intersectional) feminist, contextual approach. I help navigate issues of family conflict though a relational justice lens where the perspective of all members of the system is valued and considered within the context of the family culture.

I lean on structured and experiential interventions, and psychoeducation to promote mutual understanding and robust conflict navigation skills. I aim to help clients create relational equity where each person can feel heard, understood and known.

In my clinical work I address cisheteronormativity firstly by dismanteling the myth that there is, or has ever been one way to ‘be’ (or rather ‘two’ if one believes in the a gender binary). By creating a validating, safe space I help my clients to confront the ways in which structural oppression rooted in compulsory heterosexuality and heterogenderism may be causing harm and distress.