Heather Willard,License Professional Counselor

I have been in the mental health field since getting my BS in Psychology at UNC Asheville in 1996. Since that time, my experience working with clients who have a large variety of mental health issues ranging from severe to mild has taught me the importance of listening and compassion in helping others achieve their goals. When I saw how important a good therapist is to this process I sought a Master's in Marriage and Family Counseling degree and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2017.

I approach therapy with my clients from an Adlerian perspective. I believe that not only do past experiences shape personality and how one chooses to approach life's problems, but they also influence how one behaves, feels, and thinks in daily life. Together with my clients, we explore how past experiences and current circumstances contribute to their difficulties and strengths as well as devise strategies and change perspectives so that they can be healthier and more effective in their life. I do this by applying techniques mainly from Psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, IFS, and Person-Centered approaches as well as others. I tailor my approach to each individual client and their needs in therapy. I often use metaphors and word pictures to help clarify concepts, teach skills, and change perspectives on difficulties. I will use humor and other creative interventions as needed to help clients ease into the process of therapy.

Clients who benefit most from my approach are ready for change, recognize that what they have been doing has not been working, and are looking for help to not only understand themselves better but also to work together as a team to make the changes needed to improve and grow.I strive to create a comfortable, safe, and supportive atmosphere filled with compassion and genuineness. Starting therapy is a hard decision, and my goal is to work with clients to build a trusting relationship where they are comfortable talking about what brought them to therapy in the first place.

I have specialized training in dealing with trauma, specifically childhood trauma, as well as specific training in DBT and CBT techniques. I work collaboratively with clients to empower them to make meaningful changes to build relationships, find peace, and discover meaning. I will teach them new skills and help them explore abilities they already have to improve their lives and reduce symptoms.

In the first session, I work with clients to identify the current problems they are having and explore the areas of concern that bring them into therapy. I strive to keep this session informative about the treatment process without unpacking all the details of the emotions so that clients can feel comfortable rather than exposed by the end of the first session. This sets to tone for trust and a slow exploration of problems that is most effective in building healthy mental health.