Family Therapists in Whittier, Minneapolis, MN
I also have a multitude of experience providing services to veterans and their families and with substance abuse issues.
I have over 39 years experience providing therapeutic services to clients of all ages and with a variety of mental disorders. I am passionate about engaging with clients to help them find their highest potential of health and wholeness. I use a client-centered approach, letting the client determine their own path, identifying strengths and roadblocks, searching for more adaptive coping strategies. I am eager to be your personal coach. I will join you on your journey of examining where you are today and how to reach your aspirations. Together we can examine relationships, professional as well as spiritual goals.
I also have a multitude of experience providing services to veterans and their families and with substance abuse issues.
I have over 39 years experience providing therapeutic services to clients of all ages and with a variety of mental disorders. I am passionate about engaging with clients to help them find their highest potential of health and wholeness. I use a client-centered approach, letting the client determine their own path, identifying strengths and roadblocks, searching for more adaptive coping strategies. I am eager to be your personal coach. I will join you on your journey of examining where you are today and how to reach your aspirations. Together we can examine relationships, professional as well as spiritual goals.
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with extensive experience working with couples, families, adolescents and individuals.
I am Certified in Narrative Therapy, and have experience with Applied Behavior Analysis, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Harm-Reduction.
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with extensive experience working with couples, families, adolescents and individuals.
I am Certified in Narrative Therapy, and have experience with Applied Behavior Analysis, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Harm-Reduction.
Helena LaFave
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW
Whittier, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Waitlist for new clients
I am EMDR trained and utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-informed, and relationship-oriented approaches
My areas of clinical expertise are trauma with a special focus on religious trauma, queer identity, and anxiety and depression. I utilize parts work, which is the idea that we are all made up of different parts of ourselves. During our sessions, I prioritize curiosity around who these parts are and what makes them feel safe.
I am EMDR trained and utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-informed, and relationship-oriented approaches
My areas of clinical expertise are trauma with a special focus on religious trauma, queer identity, and anxiety and depression. I utilize parts work, which is the idea that we are all made up of different parts of ourselves. During our sessions, I prioritize curiosity around who these parts are and what makes them feel safe.
I work with clients who are struggling with depression or trauma, particularly those related to relationships or family dynamics.
Therapy should be a place where someone can feel heard, understood, and supported. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Together, we explore your experiences, uncover patterns, and develop practical strategies to help you cope, grow, and build resilience.
My approach combines evidence-based techniques with empathy and collaboration, tailored to your unique needs. Whether you’re facing a specific challenge or seeking personal growth, I aim to empower you to gain insight, improve emotional well-being, and create meaningful, lasting change.
I work with clients who are struggling with depression or trauma, particularly those related to relationships or family dynamics.
Therapy should be a place where someone can feel heard, understood, and supported. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Together, we explore your experiences, uncover patterns, and develop practical strategies to help you cope, grow, and build resilience.
My approach combines evidence-based techniques with empathy and collaboration, tailored to your unique needs. Whether you’re facing a specific challenge or seeking personal growth, I aim to empower you to gain insight, improve emotional well-being, and create meaningful, lasting change.
I incorporate IFS (internal family systems), somatic-based approaches, and trauma-informed approaches most frequently.
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.
I incorporate IFS (internal family systems), somatic-based approaches, and trauma-informed approaches most frequently.
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.
I utilize several modalities of care, including but not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused and narrative therapies, psychodynamic therapy with a focus on attachment theory, internal family systems (IFS), emotion-focused, relational, and mindfulness-based interventions.
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 utilize several modalities of care, including but not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused and narrative therapies, psychodynamic therapy with a focus on attachment theory, internal family systems (IFS), emotion-focused, relational, and mindfulness-based interventions.
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.
Utilizing a healing-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach, I offer virtual individual sessions, nationwide family communication and conflict resolution, conscious uncoupling, relationship coaching, and support groups.
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.
Utilizing a healing-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach, I offer virtual individual sessions, nationwide family communication and conflict resolution, conscious uncoupling, relationship coaching, and support groups.
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.
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 Family Therapy Searches for Whittier, Minneapolis
- Calhoun
- Central
- East Isles
- Elliot Park
- Loring Park
- Lowry Hill
- Lowry Hill East
- Lyndale
- Phillips
- Stevens Square
- Uptown
- Ventura Village
FAQ - About Family Therapy
What do family therapists do?
A family therapist facilitates the process of understanding and improving how a family functions. The therapist will help family members develop empathy for one another. They’ll seek to understand existing patterns, misunderstandings, and conflicts that arise, in order to help the family arrive at a realistic, unified understanding and develop the coping skills they need to build stronger relationships.
How long does therapy for families take to work?
Therapy manifests differently in every family; a common time frame is 12 weekly sessions, but some families may see improvement after just a few weeks. Families should discuss their goals with the therapist at the beginning of the process and periodically revisit those goals to assess their progress together.
How can you encourage a family member to attend family therapy?
You can encourage family members to attend therapy by expressing with both love and concern the challenges you see and explaining how a therapist could help the family navigate those challenges together. An outside perspective can help everyone feel heard, get on the same page, and develop new skills. If family members are still hesitant, it may be helpful to emphasize that family therapy is short-term—it won’t last forever.
Is therapy for families effective?
Family therapy can significantly improve family dynamics and relationships. Research suggests that family therapy can help individuals understand their role in the family, communicate and solve problems together, reduce conflict and draw boundaries when necessary, and develop coping skills for stressors, major life changes, and mental or physical illnesses within the family.