What’s it like to be in therapy with Heather?
Have you tried therapy with other therapists, but didn’t feel like you “fit in” in at other practices?
I pride myself on making my therapy space a space where misfits, fit! Maybe you’re non-religious in a largely religious community? Or the opposite — looking for a therapist who can hold space for your unique spiritual identity? Maybe you’d like to feel the freedom to swear like a sailor in your sessions as a way of expressing yourself authentically? Maybe you’d feel most comfy with a therapist who appreciates your unique way of expressing yourself through your appearance, or your ever-changing hair and your new piercing or tattoo? If any of these sound like you, I feel connected to you already!
I’m also a member of the LGBTQIAP+ community, and I love creating an affirming space for my Queer siblings. I have worked with over a hundred Transgender and Gender Diverse clients and helped with steps for both social and medical transition, including WPATH letters to start hormones or access gender affirming surgeries. Not sure what’s up with your gender, sexual, or relational identity? Questioning who you are? That’s totally okay…I love supporting people through their personal growth journeys!
Have you perhaps left therapy sessions feeling relieved that someone listened and cared about your problems, but didn’t feel like the bigger picture in your life was changing in a meaningful way?
The way I work in therapy is just right for people who are ready for active, goal-focused change. While traditional "supportive therapy" (where the primary focus is venting or processing stuff that happened during the past week) can be helpful, my style is more like a guided expedition. We will set milestones, track your progress, and work through a structured framework to get you unstuck.
My approach to therapy might be the right fit if:
You have specific goals you want to achieve…or you are at least open to exploring specific therapy goals with me. It’s okay to not know your goals right now, as long as you know you’re committed to change!
You want a therapist who provides feedback and challenges you, but always in a collaborative way that doesn’t force or coerce you.
You are ready to practice new skills outside of our sessions. It’s really hard (if not impossible) to change your life by just “venting” for an hour now and then, so the work I focus on works best for folks who are ready to time and effort changing their thoughts and behaviors between our sessions.
And to be honest, I might not be the best fit if:
You primarily want a safe space to vent without interruption or being encouraged to try out some changes.
You prefer a hands-off approach from a therapist mostly listens.
You don't have time, energy, or interest in trying new skills and doing things differently in your daily life.
Do you honestly kinda dread the idea of going to therapy, but also think it’s probably a good idea for you?
I totally get it. I have been you before. The first time I was forced to attend therapy as an adolescent, I spent the whole hour refusing to talk! (So it’s honestly pretty ironic that I ended up becoming a therapist!) Asking for and accepting help is hard. Changing things in your life can be even harder. If you need a therapist to be patient with you, you got it. If you need plenty of time to build trust and feel comfortable in therapy, no problem. If you need someone open to sharing about their own lived experience and mental health journey at times, I’m often happy to share my personal strategies. And especially if you need help getting change to “stick” so that your life improves in the long term instead of just feeling a bit less painful for a little while…I got you.
Are you looking for a therapist who’s a true expert in working with Trauma/PTSD, Depression, Suicidal Feelings, Self-Harm, or Anxiety?
If you’re someone who is interested in the kinds of therapy I offer, I am highly trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I’ve been working in the field of mental health since 2003, and I have spent literally thousands of hours earning a master’s degree, a license, and a number of certifications. I’m always engaged in continued training because I love to learn!
Above all else, I am a trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive therapist. That means that I assume every client walking into my office has experienced trauma in some form, even if you aren’t ready to tell me about it. Most of my focus of ongoing training has been in treating trauma/PTSD using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), Trauma-Focused ACT (TFACT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). But whatever therapy approach we choose for our work together will be a team decision, a collaborative effort…I’ll never try to force a treatment on you. And if you come into therapy and you’re not ready to focus on trauma yet, that’s okay. We can work on a goal of helping you build trust in our work together so that you feel safe and ready to tackle your trauma.
To be fully transparent, if you think you’re mainly dealing with an eating disorder or OCD, I might not be the expert you need simply because I don’t have a lot of training on those conditions. But I’m still happy to chat with you about whether we could be a fit, or recommend one of my trusted colleagues who can help!
A few things to know about Heather
Labeling my identity has been a little tricky for me because I only really got to explore it in the last 10 years. The labels that feel like the best fit for me are asexual, panromanic, and tomboy (she/they pronouns).
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my spouse, our dog, and our two cats and riding my e-scooter around town. I love reading adolescent and young adult literature. I love sewing, crafting, and making art, and I recently learned to crochet. When I can, I enjoy traveling to expand my understanding of the world, of nature, and the beautiful people who live in it. My favorite places I’ve visited are Arches National Park in Utah and Istanbul, Turkey! I collect t-shirts and quirky, funky earrings. When I need to just have a day of taking it easy, you’ll find me lounging around home in my jammies, crafting something, and listening to forensic psychology/true crime podcasts.
I live with several disabling conditions that impact my life in varying ways from day to day — rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, vestibular dysfunction, asthma, and Auditory Processing Disorder. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, as well, and I’m learning to harness the superpowers that come with being neurodivergent!
I proudly serve as the Resource & Community Coordinator for the Rose Dynasty Center. I have been also a volunteer for Kathleen High School, serving on their library media committee for several years.