(she/her)
Hi, I'm Heather! I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been working in the mental health field since 2013. Throughout my career I have had the privilege of serving individuals throughout the lifespan using many different therapeutic approaches based on the needs of the client I'm working with. *Please note that I only offer individual therapy at this time (no family therapy or couples counseling).
Prior to our first session I will take time to review your intake paperwork to get an idea of who you are. While intake paperwork is helpful, hearing you tell your story helps me get a much better understanding of who you are and how I can support you. During our first session I'll guide you through sharing as much of your story as you're comfortable sharing while we get to know one another. I'll ask questions to learn more about why you're seeking therapy at this time and work with you to identify goals for our work together. I also encourage clients to take time to reflect on how they feel they connect with me as a potential therapist. Having a good connection with your therapist (what therapists refer to as a therapeutic alliance) is one of the most important factors in your success in therapy! Having a good therapeutic alliance means we trust and respect one another. If that foundation is there, you will feel comfortable being vulnerable when needed, trying new strategies, and telling me what's working (and not working!) for you. Without a strong alliance, progress in therapy is incredibly challenge. So, if we meet for a session or two and you find I'm not the right fit for you, please feel free to continue looking for a therapist you have a better connection with!
I strive to offer my clients a safe, comfortable space to let down their guard and finally explore the issues that have been preventing them from building the life and relationships they want. I am gentle, empathetic, and compassionate while also being directive and challenging when I notice that my clients are getting in their own way. Folks often tell me I am authentic, a good listener, and gentle. I am also a curious and driven person and place high expectations on myself as a provider. This means I am continually learning about better ways to support my clients through reading, consultation, and attending trainings so I can offer evidence based support.
Early in my career I spent about 4 years working with teenagers in the psychiatric residential treatment setting. The clients I worked with often had diagnoses such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and reactive attachment disorder. I’ve also spent time working with children who are neurodivergent (having diagnoses like developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD) in several different capacities. I have also supported folks who are experiencing abuse and domestic violence. In the last few years I transitioned to splitting my time between working in the pediatric medical setting and offering telehealth psychotherapy via private practice. I feel this gives me optimal work-life balance, allowing me to bring the best version of myself to each session. My experiences in residential, medical, and private practice settings have helped me develop an adaptive skillset, allowing me to support a wide range of folks. My residential experiences helped lay the groundwork for my understanding of how humans are affected by trauma, including issues related to adoption, attachment, and sexual abuse. I find great fulfillment in accompanying folks as they heal from past trauma and find confidence and hope again. While working as a medical social worker I have worked closely with children (and their families) coping with a variety of kidney issues, including those preparing for and recovering from transplant. I currently offer mental health support to medically complex children who reside in a pediatric nursing home. This role challenges me to be exceptionally creative and adaptive in how I work with clients and has given me a good understanding of how individuals and families are impacted by illness. In my private practice work I find that I often work with young adults, although I also really enjoy working with teenagers and older adults. Themes I commonly explore with the folks I work with include exploring gender and sexual identity, race/discrimination, life transitions, separation from a partner, coping with chronic illness, domestic abuse, mood disorders, anxiety, coping with past trauma etc.
I often incorporate the principles of ACT in my work with clients, especially mindfulness and cognitive de-fusion. I enjoy using an ACT workbook in conjunction with discussing its concepts in sessions when clients are open to this.
I am incredibly passionate about the use of EMDR in my practice! EMDR is a wonderful, body based modality that can be used to help address a client's negative core beliefs that may not have been fully addressed through traditional talk therapy. EMDR is relatively new to my practice. I am currently working toward being "trained" in EMDR. I have completed a lengthly online training in EMDR and attended a 40 hour in person training in November 2024. I am now completing the required consultation hours that will allow me to be fully "trained" in EMDR. Being "trained" in EMDR means I am qualified to use EMDR in sessions, but am still a beginner at practicing this modality.
CBT is a core part of my practice and is interwoven throughout sessions. I help clients begin to recognize how their automatic negative thoughts about themselves and the world may be impacting their feelings and actions. Once clients begin to recognize these pattern they are more equipped to take steps toward making changes in the way they think and feel. These changes in cognition can lead to transformation in our self-concept and how we interact with others.
I enjoy incorporating aspects of DBT skills training (mindfulness, emotion regulation, frustration tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness) into the work I do with clients. I encourage clients to maintain a daily diary card between sessions to build self monitoring skills and implement the skills we develop in session.
Motivational interviewing is another tool I frequently use in session with clients. MI can be used to help clients build commitment in their desire to change a behavior and increase their confidence in their ability to make this change.