Therapist Heather Friend Photo

Heather Friend, LMSW, LCSW

Stress, Anxiety Relationships Trauma, Abuse Grief Parenting issues
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About me

Looking for someone that truly listens and also helps you to move forward?

I am Heather Friend, a licensed clinical therapist with over a decade of experience helping individuals move through trauma, anxiety, relationship challenges, parenting stress, and deep emotional pain.


Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin, I offer a space that is calm, compassionate, and judgment-free.


I specialize in helping adults who are managing:

*Complex trauma and PTSD

*Parenting or caregiving of children with ADHD, autism, or behavioral challenges

*Anxiety, grief, depression, and emotional dysregulation

*The weight of growing up in abusive or unstable environments

*Difficulties in Relationships and setting healthy boundaries with others

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You don't need to show up perfect. You just need to show up.

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My approach is grounded in warmth, respect, and clarity. I integrate tools from Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, somatic trauma work, mindfulness, and psychodynamic healing based on your needs. We can help you rebuild trust with yourself and create lasting change.


Clients tell me they feel understood, supported, and encouraged to grow without pressure. Clients also state that they are happy to have found a therapist that not only listens but also guides them to create positive changes in their lives.

If you're someone who has always taken care of others and is finally ready to be cared for — I'm here.

You deserve to feel safe, supported, and to have your experiences truly seen and understood.

You deserve to experience peace and to feel empowered to create positive changes that last for a lifetime.

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If you’re in crisis and need immediate support, help is available 24/7:
Call or text 988
Crisis Line: 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
US National Hotlines:
**National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
**National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
**National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
**Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
**Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
**Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, PRESS 1 or text 838255
**CDC National HIV and AIDS Hotline: 1-800-232-4636

Professional experience

8 yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Relationships Trauma, Abuse Grief Parenting issues

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Antisocial personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant personality, BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Fertility issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hearing impaired, HIV / AIDS, Hoarding, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Phobias, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic brain injury, Trichotillomania, Visually impaired, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems

Services offered

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License information

MI LMSW 6801117005

IL LCSW 149026353

CO LCSW CSW.09927984

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Heather Friend. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

Heather has provided excellent, comforting and helpful advice. I really appreciate our sessions.

Written on Jun 09, 2025 after therapy with Heather for 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd

She’s helpful and knowledgeable!

Written on May 23, 2025 after therapy with Heather for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue

Heather is nothing short of amazing. Creative and attentive and compassionate.

Written on Apr 16, 2025 after therapy with Heather for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, and compassion fatigue

Great help, compassionate and thoughtful approach.

Written on Apr 03, 2025 after therapy with Heather for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd

Heather has been a wonderful bright light in my path to finding and finding out about myself. She listens to me, gives suggestions, and is otherwise a welcome part of my day when we meet up. Thank you for all you do Heather!

Written on Jan 07, 2025 after therapy with Heather for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd

Heather Friend is a very caring and insightful therapist. She always gives any issue I’m working on the upmost attention and proper explanation to put it to a comfortable conclusion.

Written on Jan 06, 2025 after therapy with Heather for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, trauma and abuse, grief, and coping with life changes