Louise- Co-founder & Psychotherapist

J. Louise Newton, MSW, LCSW, SEP (she/her) is a co-founder and a practicing clinical psychotherapist at Obsidian Care Collective, PLLC. Louise is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Lic# C008151) in the State of North Carolina. Louise has over 20 years experience of paid labor in the provision of mental health care, substance use recovery programming, and clinical education and advocacy.

Louise holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to earning her MSW, Louise worked in court and prison settings offering individual and group treatment services in a restorative justice program with trauma-informed treatment programming; addressing the intersection of mental health, addiction, and trauma. For several years, Louise was the Community Outreach Director at Girls Rock NC at which time she worked with founders and key stakeholders on expanding the camper and volunteer community to people of all genders. Louise also worked at the UNC School of Medicine as a residential therapist.

Prior to co-founding Obsidian Care Collective, Louise held the position of Clinical Director of Psychotherapy at large mental health practice as well as the co-founder and Clinical Supervisor of the Gender & Sexual Diversity Program in Durham, NC.

Louise has been a clinical supervisor for 16 years. She has supervised several Associate level LCSWs and has been a field instructor for the UNC School of Social Work, NC State University School of Social Work, and Smith College of Social Work graduate programs.

Louise has advanced training in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cultural-Relational Therapy interventions and clinical applications of both 12-step programs and harm reduction. She is a queer identified psychotherapist and has been a clinical educator and advocate of access to treatment for LGBTQI+ communities since 2001. Louise is a member in good standing with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and specializes in working with transgender and non-binary folks, many of whom are seeking assistance removing barriers to medical care. Louise practices within the informed consent model for gender affirming care, health at every size (HAES), and values body autonomy in many contexts.

Louise also holds a certificate as a Somatic Experiencing© Practitioner, Teaching Assistant, and Beginning Session Provider through Somatic Experiencing International. Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a potent psychotherapeutic treatment utilized to address complex, developmental, and single incident shock traumas and their resulting mental health symptoms. Additionally, Louise has completed Dr. Diane Poole Heller's Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe) four-module somatic attachment intensive training program.

First and foremost, Louise is a mother. When she is not providing care at Obsidian Care Collective, Louise enjoys gardening with her young Pekingese and son in tow, spending time with chosen and bio-family, and seeing live music. In a previous and almost fully integrated decade, Louise sang in punk rock bands, toured with friends, and was an unapologetic accomplice and agitator.

Louise’s Areas of Expertise:

• Therapy for therapists

• Clinical Supervision for new and seasoned therapists

• Somatic Experiencing and Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe)

• Posttraumatic Stress, Developmental Trauma, & C-PTSD

• Psychotherapy for adults with anxiety, depression, and other mental health experiences

• Addictions and dual diagnosis

• Psychotherapy for queer, transgender, and non-binary folks

• Support for folks oriented to non-monogamy and polyamory

• Court support for complex custody and divorce proceedings

• Consultation for Organizations & Speaking Engagements

• Celebratory psychotherapy for fat folks, femmes, community organizers, and neurodivergence

May 2024: Louise has no openings under the Enrollment Plans discount and has selective openings for new patients paying full fee. You are welcome to complete the “Request an Appointment” form and she will be in touch within 1-2 business days to discuss your care needs and therapy goals. Please complete the contact form at the link HERE to schedule a no cost consultation.