Licensed to practice in California and accepts 49 insurances. Specializes in Life Transitions, Peer Relationships, Trauma and PTSD
Heather Byrd
Clients say this provider is
About me
I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) based in southern California. I work with individual adults only, mainly utilizing Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) in treating those suffering from traumatic events. I also do a lot of relational work assisting with learning how to set healthy boundaries and prioritize your values in relationships. Areas of treatment: Anxiety, Depression, Life Stressors/Adjustments, Relational issues, Trauma/PTSD. Hours for sessions: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 7AM-7PM.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In the first session we would review information provided in your intake paperwork and discuss what challenges you're having and want to address. We would talk about different approaches we might take in reaching your goals and collaborate on what your specific goals will be along with some initial steps.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I like to focus on what your values are in life, encouraging you in areas you feel weak, and brainstorming what baby-steps you can start taking to have the life you're striving for. I utilize elements of Relational therapy, ACT, CBT, Solution-Focused, and EMDR in helping clients make the changes they need to reach their goals. I would say I do well at helping clients see the bigger picture and highlighting new perspectives, insights, and/or blind spots that they weren't aware of.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am well suited for self-reflective, motivated clients that can be consistent and give therapy a real chance. I find a good fit is also clients who already have an established therapist and are only seeing me short-term for EMDR. PLEASE NOTE: For EMDR, you will need to be in your home or an office, on a computer or tablet. Sessions in a car and/or on your phone are not a good fit. ***NO Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters ***NO Court-Ordered Therapy or Letters for Court ***NO Letters for Work/School Accommodations ***NO Substance Use Disorders or sober less than one year if in recovery *** Anything regarding DISABILITY/DISABILITY BENEFITS, you will need to seek from a medical doctor/psychiatrist.
Specialties
Top specialties
Life Transitions
Peer Relationships
Trauma and PTSD
Identifies as
Christian
White
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Licensed in
California
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
AvMed
Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Cash - $160 per session
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
EMDR
I completed basic training to use EMDR for trauma. I am comfortable with low acuity (mild to moderate symptoms) clients who want to reduce their trigger responses and have some healing from trauma. Complex cases with severe symptoms may not be a good fit at this time, especially if unable to regulate nervous system or emotions. Most clients I've used it with experience reduced triggers and gain new understanding of past events, allowing them to move forward and not feel stuck anymore. However, like any type of therapy, EMDR does not work for everyone.
15 ratings with written reviews
August 26, 2026
An excellent treatment session-medical encounter. All my concerns and issues were fully addressed. I give her my enthusiastic rating - an excellent therapist!
Verified client, age 65+
August 18, 2026
This was my first appointment with Heather, but I feel like she and I are compatible. She was very warm and attentive listened as I talked not just ask questions.
Verified client, age 45-54
July 30, 2026
I had the intial intake and then the first EMDR session and it was TERRIFIC. I felt a great deal calmer after the session. She is very kind and caring and an excellent therapist - looking forward to MORE sessions! She even gave me a link for FREE EMDR you can do on your own online - I'm going to do it once an hour every day in addition to my sessions with Heather!