Dr. Heather Case

If you're an adolescent or young adult feeling untethered, like the people around you have shifted, like your effort isn't matching your results, or like you're falling short no matter how hard you try, I want you to know that's exactly what I help with. I'm Heather Case, Ed.D., a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC/LSC) with over 25 years of experience at the intersection of mental health and education. I work with adolescents and young adults navigating identity development, life transitions, anxiety, ADHD, and the emotional impact of learning differently in a system built for one kind of learner, including students navigating IEP or 504 plans. My own experience as a first-generation student with an undiagnosed learning difference shapes how I approach this work: I don't see struggle within a rigid system as a limit on ability. I hold an Ed.D. from USC, and I've worked as a clinical counselor, school counselor, graduate faculty instructor, and student affairs administrator.

My approach is integrative, with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as my primary framework, tailored to each client's specific goals and needs. Together, we make sense of the overwhelm, the self-doubt, and the sense of falling behind, turning them, bit by bit, into clarity, self-understanding, and steady confidence. Sessions typically begin weekly. Whether that means navigating a major transition, understanding how your own mind works, or building the tools to advocate for yourself at school or beyond, we build practical coping skills together, at your pace.

Our first session is really about getting to know each other, not diving straight into what's going wrong. I want to understand who you are: your strengths, what's already working for you, and what you need right now. We'll talk about your goals and hopes, both for our work together and for your life more broadly, and we'll identify the thing you most want support with right away. You don't need to have it all figured out before we start, that's what our time together is for. Sessions are held via telehealth and typically run about 55 minutes. For adolescent clients, I usually include a brief conversation with a parent or guardian as part of getting started, while keeping the therapeutic space itself focused on and confidential to the client, within the limits required by law and safety. By the end of our first session, my goal is for you to feel heard and for us to have a clear starting point to build from together.