Heather Hollysmith
she/her
Therapy is an opportunity to carve out time for self-exploration.
Connections with others is a key to our well-being, and yet often our previous experiences or simple communication issues can get in the way of having the connections we so deeply desire. Working with a therapist gives you the opportunity to engage in self-reflection with the assistance of an uninvolved third party. Your therapist can help reflect your beliefs and desires in ways that can provide clarity and guidance around areas of growth and change in your life. Therapy can also provide a safe space to process and unpack current and historical experiences.
Specialties:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship Issues
- Trauma and PTSD
- LGBTQ/Transgender
- Parenting
- Fertility/Family Planning
I have experience working with a wide range of people. My clients exist across the lifespan of ages, hold many diverse identities, and experience a wide range of issues and difficulties in life. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, my passion lies in working with families and couples; specifically, I am drawn to (and have substantial experience working with) families and couples with LGBTQ+ identities. Additionally, I am passionate about addressing issues associated with the struggles of parenting and family planning.
I am trained and licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in large part because my core beliefs are centered in systemic thinking. I believe that so much of our behavior is rooted in our deep desires for connection and belonging as well as our fears of rejection. Often, we have found strategies to manage these feelings that no longer work for us or that actually get in the way of our growth, happiness and connection. In my work with individual clients, I work to create a strong relationship with my clients, helping to provide a secure place to explore prior wounds and stuck points. From there, I am able to challenge my clients to work through stuck points and help them connect to the best versions of themselves. I like to balance time exploring feelings and deeper meanings with focus on action and concrete goals.
I utilize several therapeutic approaches and draw heavily from attachment theory and the work of Susan Johnson's Emotionally Focused Therapy. I am also trained in Gottman Relationship theories/treatment.
In addition to my training from Northwestern University, University of Connecticut, and Northern Illinois University, I am Level II Gottman certified and am also a certified Prepare and Enrich facilitator. Other applicable experiences/training include my work as a job coach for individuals with developmental disabilities, experience working in a high-paced crisis call center, and working in home health care, gaining knowledge related to end-of-life care and senior planning.