Attachment-based Therapists in Whittier, Minneapolis, MN
Therapy is a creative, collaborative relationship. As a therapist passionate about process, I am here to collaborate with you to cultivate the life you want to live. I am not here to fix you; you are not broken. We will work together to find new ways for you to be in relationship with the problems and the joys in your life. If you are ready to step into a curious, process-oriented journey, then I am here to offer a safe, supportive space to do just that. Let’s get curious about how to create more room for pleasure, joy, and connection as well as for the uncomfortable, tender parts of your life.
Therapy is a creative, collaborative relationship. As a therapist passionate about process, I am here to collaborate with you to cultivate the life you want to live. I am not here to fix you; you are not broken. We will work together to find new ways for you to be in relationship with the problems and the joys in your life. If you are ready to step into a curious, process-oriented journey, then I am here to offer a safe, supportive space to do just that. Let’s get curious about how to create more room for pleasure, joy, and connection as well as for the uncomfortable, tender parts of your life.
Helena LaFave
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW
Whittier, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Waitlist for new clients
Our relationship is the most important part of our work together. The more we can get into right relationships with ourselves, each other, change, and the world around us, the better equipped we are to live a life full of meaning, joy, and awe. I am EMDR trained and utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-informed, and relationship-oriented approaches.My values in therapy include queer and trans-affirming care, fat-affirming care, neurodivergent-affirming care, and sex positive approaches. I am happy to provide letters for gender-affirming care and surgeries.
Our relationship is the most important part of our work together. The more we can get into right relationships with ourselves, each other, change, and the world around us, the better equipped we are to live a life full of meaning, joy, and awe. I am EMDR trained and utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-informed, and relationship-oriented approaches.My values in therapy include queer and trans-affirming care, fat-affirming care, neurodivergent-affirming care, and sex positive approaches. I am happy to provide letters for gender-affirming care and surgeries.
I work with individuals and couples who seek therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, adjusting to life changes, and improving self-esteem. I will collaborate with you to reduce symptoms and gain insights, promoting self-acceptance, empowered growth, and positive change. I provide support with processing current and past stressors and life transitions, including relationship challenges, grief/loss, divorce, emotional abuse, substance misuse, complex trauma, and intersectional oppression. I am experienced working with adults and adolescents.
I work with individuals and couples who seek therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, adjusting to life changes, and improving self-esteem. I will collaborate with you to reduce symptoms and gain insights, promoting self-acceptance, empowered growth, and positive change. I provide support with processing current and past stressors and life transitions, including relationship challenges, grief/loss, divorce, emotional abuse, substance misuse, complex trauma, and intersectional oppression. I am experienced working with adults and adolescents.
You may feel exhausted by the constant thoughts about food, body image, control, or self-worth. Maybe your eating disorder began as a way to cope, stay safe, feel in control, or manage overwhelming emotions...but now it feels like it’s taken over your life. What people see on the outside may not match the disconnection, anxiety, and shame you feel on the inside. Many of the clients I work with have spent years criticizing themselves, minimizing their pain, or feeling disconnected from their bodies and emotions.
You may feel exhausted by the constant thoughts about food, body image, control, or self-worth. Maybe your eating disorder began as a way to cope, stay safe, feel in control, or manage overwhelming emotions...but now it feels like it’s taken over your life. What people see on the outside may not match the disconnection, anxiety, and shame you feel on the inside. Many of the clients I work with have spent years criticizing themselves, minimizing their pain, or feeling disconnected from their bodies and emotions.
I work with individuals and couples navigating sexual health concerns, trauma, perimenopause/PMDD, emotion regulation, and interpersonal challenges. Many of these experiences can feel isolating or difficult to discuss. I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their experiences openly. Together, we work to understand patterns, build resilience, develop healthier coping strategies, and create greater balance in life and relationships. My goal is to help clients move toward meaningful change, increased self-awareness, and a stronger sense of well-being.
I work with individuals and couples navigating sexual health concerns, trauma, perimenopause/PMDD, emotion regulation, and interpersonal challenges. Many of these experiences can feel isolating or difficult to discuss. I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their experiences openly. Together, we work to understand patterns, build resilience, develop healthier coping strategies, and create greater balance in life and relationships. My goal is to help clients move toward meaningful change, increased self-awareness, and a stronger sense of well-being.
Welcome. It's Your Time to Take Care of You. Address being the real you, codependency, procrastination, impacts of oppression and trauma, self-criticism, anxiety, imposter syndrome, political stress, or perfectionism. Increase your assertiveness, coping strategies, communication, and boundary-setting skills and goals. Improve mindfulness and life-work balance. I will combine my compassion, openness, and attentiveness with my 29+ years of experience, training, and knowledge. I offer a soft-landing space to help you foster your personal insight and well-being. A relaxed, confidential space where you are welcome to be your whole self.
Welcome. It's Your Time to Take Care of You. Address being the real you, codependency, procrastination, impacts of oppression and trauma, self-criticism, anxiety, imposter syndrome, political stress, or perfectionism. Increase your assertiveness, coping strategies, communication, and boundary-setting skills and goals. Improve mindfulness and life-work balance. I will combine my compassion, openness, and attentiveness with my 29+ years of experience, training, and knowledge. I offer a soft-landing space to help you foster your personal insight and well-being. A relaxed, confidential space where you are welcome to be your whole self.
Hello! Do you struggle with feeling connected to your own experience? Have you struggled to process traumatic events, childhood trauma, relationship issues, or anxiety? These issues can be challenging to process on your own and I am here to be a support along the way. Do you find yourself feeling disconnected or uncomfortable in your body? I am passionate about helping people feel more grounded in their bodies. I am also here to support and help you feel more connected to your experiences.
Hello! Do you struggle with feeling connected to your own experience? Have you struggled to process traumatic events, childhood trauma, relationship issues, or anxiety? These issues can be challenging to process on your own and I am here to be a support along the way. Do you find yourself feeling disconnected or uncomfortable in your body? I am passionate about helping people feel more grounded in their bodies. I am also here to support and help you feel more connected to your experiences.
Does it feel like your mind never slows down, leaving you overwhelmed and unsure how to move forward? Many of my clients come to therapy feeling weighed down by anxiety, relationship struggles, or long-standing emotional pain. You may feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, exhaustion, or low motivation, and wonder why things feel so difficult right now. What you’re really looking for is clarity, understanding, and a place where you can finally sort through what’s been building inside. Therapy can offer the support and perspective needed to begin healing and moving toward a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Does it feel like your mind never slows down, leaving you overwhelmed and unsure how to move forward? Many of my clients come to therapy feeling weighed down by anxiety, relationship struggles, or long-standing emotional pain. You may feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, exhaustion, or low motivation, and wonder why things feel so difficult right now. What you’re really looking for is clarity, understanding, and a place where you can finally sort through what’s been building inside. Therapy can offer the support and perspective needed to begin healing and moving toward a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Nearby Attachment-based Therapists Searches for Whittier, Minneapolis
- Calhoun
- East Isles
- Elliot Park
- Loring Park
- Lowry Hill
- Lowry Hill East
- Lyndale
- Phillips
- Stevens Square
- Uptown
- Ventura Village
Nearby Searches for Whittier, Minneapolis
- Calhoun
- Central
- East Isles
- Loring Park
- Lowry Hill
- Lowry Hill East
- Lyndale
- Phillips
- Stevens Square
- Uptown
- Ventura Village
Attachment-based Therapists
Is attachment-based therapy the same as attachment therapy?
Attachment-based therapy may be confused with what is called “attachment therapy” (sometimes called “holding therapy”), a discredited and dangerous approach to treating children with attachment disorders, autism, or other mental health concerns. Attachment therapy—not attachment-based therapy—may involve restraining a child, forcing eye contact, and other coercive or abusive techniques. None of these practices are used in attachment-based therapy and the two modalities are in no way related.
What should I expect from attachment-based therapy?
Attachment-based therapy is based on attachment theory, which posits that children’s early relationships with their caregivers strongly influence their ability to navigate the world later in life. Thus, adults who seek attachment-based therapy should expect to deeply explore their childhood, identifying the dynamics or experiences that disrupted their attachment and the steps necessary to overcome challenges that arose as a result. Parents and children should expect to explore the possible factors that disrupted the parent-child relationship and work toward restoring trust and connection.
How long does attachment-based therapy last?
Certain forms of attachment-based therapy, especially those designed for parents and children, last for a set number of sessions; for example, Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up, a specific attachment-based approach for young children who have undergone early adversity, unfolds over 10 one-hour sessions. When attachment-based therapy is practiced on adults or combined with other modalities, it may not last a specific length of time; clients may wish to ask prospective therapists how long they expect treatment to take.
Does attachment-based therapy work?
Most of the research on attachment-based therapy focuses on children and adolescents. Some of this research shows a positive effect, especially for attachment-based family therapy (ABFT). Other studies, however, have found that attachment-based therapy is no more effective than other approaches to childhood depression, anxiety, or suicidality. Less is known about the therapy’s efficacy on adult populations.