Welcome! I'm Heather D. Vest, LPC, NCC. With over 12 years of experience, I offer personalized therapy to help you uncover your authentic self and heal from trauma. My background includes extensive work in trauma therapy and training in CBT, DBT, and EMDR, ensuring a compassionate and effective approach tailored to your needs. I provide flexible virtual and phone counseling to fit your lifestyle, creating a safe space where humor and compassion are integral to the healing process. Together, we’ll explore your concerns, develop coping strategies, and foster resilience. Let’s embark on this transformative journey to personal growth and well-being. I look forward to supporting you.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we'll create a warm and welcoming environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings. We’ll begin by discussing your reasons for seeking therapy and any specific concerns you’d like to address. I’ll ask questions to understand your background, including any past experiences that might be influencing your current situation. This initial conversation helps me tailor my approach to suit your unique needs. We'll also explore your goals for therapy, whether it's healing from trauma, managing stress, or simply seeking personal growth. I’ll explain my therapeutic methods, including how we might use techniques from CBT, DBT, EMDR, or ACT, so you know what to expect moving forward. Finally, we'll establish a plan for our sessions, ensuring that you feel supported and empowered throughout the process. My goal is to lay a strong foundation for our work together and help you feel hopeful about the journey ahead.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Here are some of my greatest strengths as a therapist: Empathy and Compassion: I create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can express yourself freely. I genuinely care about your journey and well-being. Humor: I believe laughter can be a powerful tool for healing. I incorporate humor into our sessions to lighten heavy moments and help you feel more at ease. Authenticity: I bring my true self into our sessions, encouraging you to do the same. This genuine connection fosters trust and openness, allowing for deeper exploration. Tailored Approaches: With expertise in various therapeutic modalities like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and ACT, I customize our work to fit your unique needs and goals. Experience with Trauma: Having over 12 years of experience, I am well-versed in trauma recovery, helping you navigate your healing journey with understanding and skill. Flexibility: I offer virtual and phone counseling to accommodate your lifestyle, making therapy more accessible and convenient. Resilience Building: I focus on equipping you with practical tools and coping strategies, empowering you to face challenges with confidence and strength. Together, we'll embark on a transformative journey filled with laughter, authenticity, and growth!
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I best serve individuals who are ready to break free from past wounds, discover their inner resilience, and build a life aligned with their values. With a strong focus on trauma recovery, I work with adults, veterans, and those dealing with complex stress, anxiety, or self-doubt, helping them uncover deeper patterns and gain tools to navigate life's challenges. I use evidence-based approaches—CBT, DBT, EMDR, and ACT—tailoring each session to meet you where you are with warmth, humor, and genuine support. Whether you’re facing personal obstacles, career stress, or the impact of past experiences, I’m here to guide you toward healing and self-discovery.
About Heather Vest
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
In our work together, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you stop battling difficult thoughts and start living with greater intention and authenticity. Rather than trying to “fix” uncomfortable emotions, we work on embracing them with compassion, seeing them as part of the human experience. ACT guides us to reconnect with what you truly value, so you can take purposeful steps toward a life that feels fulfilling, even in the face of challenges. This approach empowers you to live more freely, aligned with what matters most.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In our sessions, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand and reshape unhelpful thought patterns that may be holding you back. Together, we explore how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected, working to replace negative or limiting beliefs with healthier, more empowering ones. CBT is a practical, action-oriented approach that not only addresses current challenges but also builds lifelong tools for managing stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. This process allows you to approach life with greater confidence, resilience, and clarity.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
In our work together, I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support you in building practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and navigating life’s ups and downs with greater balance. DBT combines mindfulness with strategies for regulating emotions, handling distress, and communicating effectively. By learning to stay grounded in the moment and respond to challenges thoughtfully, you can break free from cycles of emotional overwhelm. This approach is especially effective for those who feel emotions intensely, helping you find stability and peace while staying true to who you are.
EMDR
I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients heal from past trauma and difficult experiences. EMDR is a powerful, research-backed approach that guides you in reprocessing painful memories so they lose their emotional charge. By engaging both sides of the brain through guided eye movements or tapping, EMDR allows us to revisit these memories safely, helping to reduce their impact on your present life. Through this process, clients often find they can move forward with a renewed sense of peace, resilience, and emotional freedom.
Psychodynamic
I use a psychodynamic approach to help you explore how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape your present feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. This approach allows us to uncover and understand deeper influences—such as early relationships and hidden beliefs—that may be impacting your life today. Through compassionate exploration and insight, psychodynamic therapy fosters self-awareness, helping you make more intentional choices and build healthier, more fulfilling connections. It’s a journey of discovery that leads to greater self-understanding and emotional freedom.