My Approach to Helping
Unlike larger agencies, I keep my practice small by design. I personally handle every contact and keep my caseload small so as to provide the highest quality service to my patients. My style is integrative, insight oriented and interactive. I practice from primarily a Psychodynamic and Trauma Informed Approach. I firmly believe a "good fit' between patient and therapist is a crucial component to long term success. My objective as a therapist is to collaborate with my patients in identifying what brings them to therapy and develop specific goalsobjectivesstrategies etc. to effectively address these issues in and outside of therapy. Together we will get at what’s underlying your behavior patterns andor emotional distressrelationship discord, and work to improve overall quality of life and have healthier more rewarding relationships.
More Info About My Practice
Life Guidance Associates is a private psychotherapy practice, founded by Heather L. Vargo LCSW in 2003. After a decade working for large behavioral health agencies (where she felt the patients were treated more like a number than an individual) Heather wanted to provide a more compassionate approach for her patients by providing a much more personal experience.
What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist
What I love about being a therapist is seeing my patients get better! I feel so fortunate to be a part of the process of guiding someone through their healing journey. It?s beyond rewarding to witness the growth achieved with commitment and tenacity, and ultimately move forward with improved confidence and success. I?m very fortunate in that I found my calling & love what I do, I think it obvious to my patients and together we get results. It's truly a privilege to have the opportunity to make a such difference in someone's life.
My Therapy Focus
Initially trained with a Solutions Focused approach 25 years ago (due to the rigid demands managed care companies placed on providers) I?ve become very good at getting results. Fortunately, times have changed and clinicians like myself are afforded the time necessary to not only help patients address their presenting problem(s) but ultimately the underlying issues that cause them. My style is Integrative, Psychodynamic, and Trauma Informed. my style interactive.
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
I can't count all the times I had a patient say they tried therapy in the past but didn't find it a helpful experience, or worse, an outright negative one. I think people want an active listener with an objective perspective, not a passive listener with little to no input. Most of my patients don't want to be in therapy indefinitely which is why I employ a more solution focused approach where my patients get the most out of each session.
