Kimberly Heine

I am a licensed Profession Counselor with more than a decade of experience in the mental health field. I have been working in a variety of settings since 2012, providing counseling to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Throughout my career I have worked with a wide range of mental health diagnoses as well as substance use concerns. My clinical focus and the area I am most passionate about is trauma. I am nationally certified in Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), with an additional training and clinical experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Aggression Replacement Training. My therapeutic style is compassionate, genuine, and highly individualized. I believe in meeting clients where they are and working together to determine what they need from therapy. Sometimes that means learning new skills, sometimes it means having a safe place to talk and be heard, and sometimes it means a little bit of everything. My goal is to help clients feel safe, supported, understood, and genuinely empowered, not managed. I truly believe that having a place where you can feel safe and relaxed is often the first step toward healing. When we have the opportunity to let our guard down and feel accepted for who we are, we can begin to process what we've been carrying and work toward letting go.

Outside of work, life is busy and lively with my husband, out two children and our collection of pets. We have two cats, two dogs, and a rabbit. Animals have always been one of my main coping skills and self care. I am happiest when surrounded by them. I am also usually happiest in the middle of a DIY project, even if I'm not entirely sure how it is going to turn out when I start.

I believe therapy starts with meeting clients where they are. Every person comes into therapy with their own experiences, challenges, strengths, and needs, so I don't believe therapy should look the same for everyone. For me, building a genuine connection and strong rapport is the most important part of the therapeutic process. I want my clients to feel comfortable being themselves and to know that they have a safe, judgment free place where they can show up exactly as they are. Once the foundation is established, I work with each client to figure out what they need from therapy. Sometimes that means learning now skills or developing coping strategies. Sometimes it means having someone who will simply listen while they let go. Sometimes they need validation, encouragement, support, perspective, or help working through a difficult situation. And sometimes they needs a little of it all. I truly believe that having a place where you can feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed is often the first step toward healing. When we finally have a space where we can breathe, let our guard down, and feel genuinely heard and understood, we can begin to process the things we've been carrying and, over time, learn how to let some of them go.

Starting therapy can feel a little uncomfortable, especially when you're meeting someone for the first time. My goal is to make that first session feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. During our first session, we'll spend some time getting to know each other. I'll ask questions about what brings you to therapy, what you've been experiencing, and what you'd like to get out of our time together. I'll also want to learn about what's going will in your life, your strengths, your support system, and the things that are important to you. You don't need to have the perfect words or know exactly where to start. You don't have to come in with everything figured out. We can take it one step at a time , and I'll help guide the conversation when you need it. I'll also explain how I approach therapy and answer any questions you may have about the process. Most importantly, we'll begin figuring out what you need from me. Maybe you need a safe place to talk and vent. Maybe your looking for comping skills, support, validation, or help making sense of what you're experiencing. Maybe your not even sure yet, and that's okay too. My goal isn't to judge you, diagnose you based on one conversation, or immediately start telling you what you need to change. My first priority is getting to know you and creating a space where you feel safe enough to be yourself.

So, if you're nervous about your first appointment, that's completely okay. You don't have to know what to say. Just show up as your are. We'll start there.