Heather Dinneen
Hi! My name is Heather and I am a Licensed Social Worker from Massachusetts. I work with children, teens and adults using a variety of therapeutic techniques including Play Therapy, TF-CBT, CBT, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
I work with children, teens and adults using a variety of therapeutic techniques including Play Therapy, TF-CBT, CBT, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
I really enjoy supporting clients in understanding their struggle / worry points and working to not only process those, but also to build skills that can be used to work through them and help with resiliency for the future.
First session
The first session is really about getting to know you and your child and helping everyone feel comfortable. There is no expectation that you or your child will come in knowing exactly what to say or where to begin. We’ll talk about what has been going on, what you hope might be different, and what is already working well for your family. With children, I focus on building connection and trust at their pace. Depending on their age and comfort level, this might include talking, playing, creating, or simply exploring the therapy space together. Parents and caregivers are an important part of the process, too, and we’ll begin thinking together about how I can best support both your child and your family. Most importantly, I want you and your child to leave the first session feeling heard, supported, and with a clearer sense of what therapy can look like moving forward.
Strengths
I have a wide variety of experience from working with clients with mild anxiety to significant and complex trauma. I especially enjoy working to uncover past attachment wounds and supporting clients in healing them so they can be more resilient in the future. As a Play Therapist, I use a number of virtual tools to engage children and teens in sessions that are hopefully more "fun" than just talking on a screen. With adults, I work to identify patterns of behavior and discuss ways to change thinking and behavior to interrupt future struggles.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are children, teens, and families who may be going through a difficult season and need a little extra support. Your child may be struggling with anxiety, big emotions, challenging behaviors, trauma, changes within the family, or simply having a hard time putting their feelings into words. Sometimes parents know their child is struggling but aren't quite sure what is going on or how best to help—and that's okay. I especially enjoy working with children who communicate and process their experiences through play, creativity, and connection rather than traditional talk therapy. I believe behavior often tells us something important, and therapy can help us better understand what a child may be trying to communicate. I also value working closely with parents and caregivers. Together, we can better understand your child's needs, build on their strengths, develop practical strategies for home and school, and help your child feel more confident managing big feelings and challenges. My goal is for therapy to be a place where your child feels safe, accepted, and understood—and where you feel supported as a parent, too.
Treatment methods
Play Therapy
I am an experienced Play Therapist, working with children and teens with a variety of clinical needs
Trauma-Focused CBT
I am certified in Trauma Focused CBT and have a lot of experience working with children and adults using this therapeutic modality.
Attachment-based
Much of my work is focused on healing trauma from an attachment lens
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions10 Valley St, Lee, MA 01238, Suite D
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- MassachusettsLicense LICSW127058