Hela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and PATH Intl Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning who specializes in trauma-informed, relational therapy that integrates horse-human connection, mindfulness, and nature. Hela is intentional about creating a compassionate space where people can engage in meaningful self-exploration, strengthen their mind-body awareness, feel empowered to be their true selves, and create lasting change. Hela believes that authentic and attuned relationships are at the center of therapeutic work, and is intentional about nurturing the emotional, relational, and somatic well-being of both horses and humans in her sessions.

Hela provides individual and group therapy, as well as community wellness workshops. She primarily works with teens and adults who want to better understand themselves and how they move through the world, process trauma and loss, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, manage stress and emotions with more ease, heal relational wounds, and cultivate joy in everyday life. Using a LGBTQIA+ celebratory and neurodivergent-affirming approach, Hela strives to meet each person where they are in their journey and works collaboratively to map out opportunities for growth while also nurturing their inherent resilience. 

Hela started volunteering at Cloverleaf in 2015 and joined the staff in 2019, and has over 20 years of experience in various equine-assisted services settings. She has specialized training in Trauma Focused Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP), Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness, Nature-Informed Therapy (NIT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Person-Centered and Attachment-Focused Therapy, and Masterson Method (equine bodywork). Hela is independently licensed and a board-approved clinical supervisor in the Commonwealth of Virginia.