Louise Futcher

In summary, some things I might work with:

• Planning, initiating, and supporting big life changes.
• Improving the Self relationship, learning better communication skills, figuring out and applying boundaries, self-advocacy.
• Figuring out identity/ies, how to connect with and express them, support with coming out to others and living in an oppressive society with marginalised identities.
• Dealing with issues in relationships, including exploring formative relationships, identifying and working on attachment issues, improving communication. 
• General dissatisfaction, wanting to gain deeper insight into oneself, wanting to live life more fully, maybe suffering from anxiety and burnout etc.
• Working with a family member of an LGBTQ+ person to support them during coming to terms with their loved one's gender/sexuality and/or while they support their loved one. 

Some clients use the therapy space to gain self awareness, some to bring about change in their life within a supportive environment in which to reflect and work through fears and trauma, and some wish to resolve specific issues which have recently arisen. I provide a warm, open-minded, encouraging and affirming, and deeply empathetic environment in which to explore change and to heal. Specific issues clients bring may include frustration with repeating patterns of destructive behaviour, low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness, struggling to form or maintain meaningful relationships, issues around trust and intimacy, feeling overwhelmed or dissatisfied with their life but not knowing how to change it, or a mixture of issues or different issues. ​Sometimes people are in crisis, such as suffering from burnout, having significant relationship issues, feeling like they don't want to live anymore, or having issues with their identity and sense of self. All of these are valid reasons to seek therapy, whether in crisis or not. I regard therapy as a contained space in which to explore all issues relating to Self, our lifestyle, our life philosophy, relationships, work, play, and our way of relating to ourselves and the world. This exploration takes place within a frame of the oppressive structures in which we live (including capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, heteronormativity), and does not focus on shifting the blame for all struggles onto the individual.  No one is 'not ill enough' or 'too privileged' for therapy. Therapy can be to explore, to gain insight, to heal, and to evolve. People who have not experienced trauma and live with relative privilege can still require support in order to make big life changes, explore less known parts of themselves, get into unhealthy relationships, need to learn how to communicate better or to have better boundaries, etc. Some examples of work I've done with clients in the last ten years includes working with them to improve their self confidence, to feel more at home in their identity, to improve their relationship to family (which sometimes includes limiting contact and applying better boundaries), during relationship conflict or opening up previously monogamous relationships, during coming out as queer or trans, and facilitating processing of past events or relationships, including childhood. I also support and mentor my clients to help them improve their communication skills, learn to self-advocate and apply boundaries, improve their self care such as eating and sleeping well, etc.  I sometimes work with men of all sexualities who wish to explore issues around masculinity, the pressure to be 'alpha' and 'strong', difficulties feeling and expressing emotion, issues with relating to self and others, peer pressure, body image, dating, and direction. I provide an empathetic informed space for such explorations.  ​ Please visit my website to learn more about me, the ways in which I work, the process of therapy, and some of the issues I work with, before contacting me. If you then wish to contact me with any questions or to arrange an assessment session please use the Contact Form there.