Exploring Life & Business with Elliot Helt of Elliot Helt Therapy

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Elliot Helt.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My interest in becoming a therapist originates from my own experience, that of a struggle to find a therapist who was a good fit for me. Unfortunately, I experienced a great deal of invalidation and lack of affirming experiences in the past when I sought help for my mental health.

Despite this, I stayed persistent in my belief that mental health care matters and is impactful. I let the disappointment and frustration that came from my experiences motivate me to create something better. I saw firsthand the negative consequences of therapists without cultural competence and humility, as well as a homogeneity of lived experience in the field. My undergraduate education in gender studies expanded my awareness of social (in)justice and the ways in which societal systems work against people of socially oppressed backgrounds. I became enraged. I became passionate.

I became inspired to pursue a way to help people where I could bring a radically new perspective. When I started my graduate education in marriage and family therapy, I quickly learned more about the limitations of the field through the educational system. As a queer, disabled, neurodivergent therapist-in-training, I was upset with the lack of critique, accountability, and examination of the mental health system as it historically and currently stands, but I found camaraderie amongst my peers. We had conversations with each other and were creative and inspired in our approaches, which gave me hope for change with the new generations of therapists and healers entering the field.

I surround myself now with these voices and perspectives in my colleagues and see an immense shift on the horizon that I am dedicated to being a part of. It took a lot of work and perseverance to establish my practice today, but the benefit I have witnessed through my work with clients is more than enough to keep me inspired. I am continuously dedicated to learning through community, contemporary therapy practices, and advocacy that I believe not only the field of mental health will gain from but I know provides better care for those with whom I guide through this expansive work.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have had my hurdles in pursuing this career and calling to be a therapist, which has mostly stemmed from navigating the systems of higher education and mental health care as someone who actively pushes against norms both in my embodied experience and identity, as well as an advocate for others.

I left graduate school in the middle of my program because I felt that it was too overwhelming all that had to be called to attention, both for my own sake and the safety of clients. This time off was important because it not only gave me the space to regroup but allowed for my own growth to bolster my ability to reorient towards the discipline of hope.

It is easy and justified to become jaded when dealing with oppression and inequality, especially when confronted by these within systems that are meant to help. I don’t think that being a therapist with radical insights is a perfect solution for change but it was the way that I found to contribute what I have. I want to transform my rage into healing for myself and for those who participate in therapy when they come to me with trust and the hope to heal.

I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Elliot Helt Therapy?
I have an in-person and virtual private practice in the Cap Hill neighborhood of Denver. I work with a variety of clients ranging from adolescents to adults. I work individually with relationships and families in my practice. I center on working with clients of socially marginalized backgrounds, especially those who are queer, trans, neurodivergent, and chronically ill/disabled.

I utilize my knowledge and experience to provide collaborative therapy from an affirming, anti-oppressive lens. In addition, some of the modalities that I draw from include Narrative Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and EMDR. I am unique in that I bring a radical approach to therapy through cultural humility and acknowledgment of the ways in which systemic trauma, relational trauma, and socio-political oppression impact our holistic well-being.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I’m not sure I believe in luck, but I believe in privilege and opportunity. Foremost, I had the privilege of accessing higher education, and more ease in navigating it was granted to me due to the social identities that I hold. I’ve also had access to incredible opportunities for learning through a community that has supported my growth and progress in and outside of this field.

Additionally, I believe that I benefit from my creative interests and skills in how they’ve impacted the growth of my business and how I’ve been able to reach and connect with prospective clients. However, I also have put in a lot of hard work and time into growing my practice and showing up every day as my whole self, which benefits my work overall, but this wouldn’t be possible without the support of my close friends and family.

Pricing:

• Sliding Scale: $100-$135
• Full-rate therapy: $150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elliothelttherapy.com/
• Instagram: @elliothelttherapy