Therapist Identity: LGBTQ+

Isabeau Welter

Post author By Isabeau Welter
Post date February 19, 2025

With over 10 years in clinical work I have had the privilege of supporting many different individuals from all communities. My fundamental belief lies in empowering individuals to forge meaningful and lasting transformation in their lives. Drawing upon my extensive clinical experience with diverse populations, I offer a distinctive and personalized approach to navigating life’s challenges. I place great importance on fostering genuine connections that makes space for humour and providing a secure environment that encourages collaborative exploration of obstacles and facilitates transformative change at client’s own pace.

In my practice, I adopt a client centred, flexible approach to therapy and use trauma-informed techniques, drawing from a rich toolkit that includes DBT, Narrative Therapy, Attachment-Focused Therapy, and other evidence-based treatments. Above all, my goal is to provide a unique, tailored approach that works for you including humour and genuine connection.

I would love to chat and see if my approach and skills can help support and create whatever change, growth or healing you are looking for in your life. I believe that good fit is essential to effective counselling so I offer free intake meetings so please reach out if you think we might be a good fit!

Arielle Cohen Gould

Post author By Arielle Cohen Gould
Post date February 17, 2025

Life is hard enough.
Therapy doesn’t have to be.

My name is Arielle Cohen Gould (MSW, RSW) and Healing Somatics Counselling & Psychotherapy is my private practice, where I support individuals, couples & relationships, and families who struggle with BIG emotions and trauma across diverse backgrounds, identities and experiences.

I bring an ethic of warmth, gentle curiosity, innate compassion, openness, and a healthy dose of humour to my work! My intent is to help you navigate life’s complexities with care, understanding, and a focus on what truly matters to you. Whether you’re facing emotional challenges, chronic pain, or relational struggles, I’m here to walk alongside you as you create meaningful change in your life in a way that feels authentic to you. You want to stop feeling so raw, and I am here to support you rise above your challenges and move towards a life with less suffering and greater fulfillment.

Together, we’ll create a roadmap- one that helps you process your past, shed old layers, and grow into the person you’re meant to be.

I am deeply committed to helping you see healing and transformation not only as possible but as inevitable. The greatest reward is to see clients leave feeling lighter, freer, and genuinely excited about their lives.

My approach is trauma-informed, somatic-based, and grounded in harm-reduction and anti-oppressive principles. As a member of both the LGBTQ and neurodivergent communities, I am passionate about offering neuro-affirming and gender-affirming care backed by best practices and up-to-date research. I am also fortunate to have learned and worked with many BIPOC communities, educators and clients and am committed to ongoing anti-racist work within my practice.

I practice accountability and lifelong learning by participating in ongoing group supervision, peer consultations, and clinical supervision.

I value client feedback and will periodically check in with you to ensure our sessions meet your desired outcomes and therapeutic needs.

Rabea Murtaza

Post author By Rabea Murtaza
Post date February 14, 2025

I am a therapist and educator. I bring over 20+ years of experience in community-based counselling and teaching to my sessions. I support people with anxiety and depression, trauma, substance use concerns, disordered eating and exploring neurodivergence in families, schools and workplaces.

The heart of our therapeutic work is our ‘click.’ I draw on psychodynamic and emotion-focused approaches, narrative therapy, and trauma-informed mindfulness and somatic practices. I integrate Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy approaches if appropriate. Together we find your right balance of sharing, working in the moment with an emotion, problem solving issues, and identifying your strengths and skills. We find hope and agency together.

I worked in drop-ins, shelters and community health centres for two decades. I taught community work and social service work for over a decade. I am an experienced participatory facilitator. I am also informed by my background as a social theory nerd and a poet.

Therapy can be joyful, even as we navigate deep emotional experiences together. If you’re curious about whether we’d be a good fit, I invite you to email me at therapy@rabeamurtaza.ca for a no-cost consultation by phone or video. I’m here to support you on your journey toward healing and growth.

Families; couples; adolescents; parents; midlife, career and life shifts; college/university students; neurodivergence*; graduate students; postdocs and academics; medical learners; artists; helping professionals; racialized people; trauma; Muslims/Islam; diaspora/migration; South Asia; newcomers; refugees; substance use concerns; eating disorders; LGBTQ2S; people exploring spirituality

*ASD, ADHD, OCRD, BFRBs

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