Heather Friend, LCSW

About me

"Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come."
-Zig Ziglar

Working towards change, growth, and a fulfilling life requires courage. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support you on a path of positive change.

My therapeutic approach is strength-based, collaborative, and person-centered.
I believe that deep down, every person is a true expert about themselves and knows how to improve their life; it simply takes the right person to offer a safe space, a listening ear, and unconditional positive regard to create the process of positive change.

My therapy style is warm, authentic, sincere, and interactive. I treat my clients with respect, acceptance, sensitivity, and compassion. I do not engage with stigmatizing labels, stereotypes, cultural biases, or judgmental attitudes. We can tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs.

New to Therapy? Please understand that beginning therapy for the first time (or even a second or third time) can feel intimidating and overwhelming. I work hard to create a safe and comfortable space for you. This is a JUDGEMENT-FREE zone, and there are absolutely no exceptions to that! I am not offended easily and have worked with many different clients with a variety of needs. If you have concerns about how you are feeling while beginning therapy please feel free to let me know. It is important that you have what you need in therapy.

I work with a highly diverse client base and a breadth of mental health issues related to trauma, parenting, fostering children, attachment, adjustment, work-related stress, acute anxiety, sexual violence, and interpersonal issues. I approach intercultural exchange with cultural humility, curiosity, and a systemic, anti-oppressive lens. Respect, open-mindedness, and compassion are at the core of my practice. I fully respect the autonomy of my clients, and I view each client as an expert on their own life.

I believe in the team approach during therapy; we can collaborate to gain new perspectives, learn new skills, and build on your strengths to overcome challenges. I believe in meeting you where you are and moving at the correct pace. I respect your autonomy and your freedom of choice.  I am committed to promoting your well-being.

My Background:

I am a Licensed therapist (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with a Master's degree in Social Work. I have practiced at a non-profit mental health agency, in community settings, and at-home therapy sessions. I have experience providing mental health consultation to teachers in childcare centers, elementary schools, and preschool settings.

I work with individual adults, children, adolescents, and caregivers (parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, family kinship, families involved with the child welfare system, and grandparents raising grandchildren). I also have extensive experience working with individuals involved or previously involved in the foster care system.

Other areas of need:
Attachment issues, emotional disturbance, dissociative disorders, PTSD, Complex PTSD, trauma, complex trauma, domestic violence, parental separation, anxiety, grief and loss, ADHD, mood disorders, OCD, sensory processing challenges, parenting, caregiving, family conflict, behavioral issues, personality disorders, self-esteem, coping skills, depression, postnatal depression, pregnancy, and more.

For Parents and Caregivers (including foster/adopt and kinship): If you are struggling and feel helpless in knowing how to support your child/adolescent best, there is hope. Parents and children can repair past rifts and develop new, positive opportunities for connection.
Parenting classes and parent coaching is available.

The first step is always the hardest and the hardest usually leads to the most exceptional outcome! I am here to answer any questions or concerns about my services. I would love to work with you on the path of growth, resilience, healing, and positive change!


If you find yourself in a state of crisis, please contact your local crisis hotline or the following resources:

Colorado Crisis Services:
Call or text 988

1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 38255

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

National Sexual Assault Hotline
(800) 656-4673

National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800) 799-7233

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
(800) 422-4453

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline
(800) 662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line
(800) 273-8255, PRESS 1
Text 838255

CDC National HIV and AIDS Hotline
(800) 232-4636

Professional experience

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, 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, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Fertility Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and Shame, Hearing Impaired, Hoarding, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Immigration Issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation/Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Men's Issues, Midlife Crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Money and Financial Issues, Mood Disorders, Multicultural Concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks, Paranoia, Personality Disorders, Phobias, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic Stress, Pregnancy and Childbirth, 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: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

License information

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.