- CBT and DBT skills
- Trauma informed care
- Queer affirmative practice
About Heather
Heather McGovern is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida with 11 years of experience. She works with people feeling stuck, unheard, or boxed in by social norms and expectations. Her practice includes helping with anger, anxiety, stress, depression, relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, and trauma-related concerns.
Heather uses practical, down-to-earth methods in sessions. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), attachment-based work, and client-centered approaches. Sessions focus on skills people can use right away to reduce reactivity and handle tense moments more clearly.
Her background includes extensive work with complex trauma and with people exploring sexual and gender identity. Heather identifies as queer (she/they) and has experience supporting clients through religious trauma tied to identity. That experience informs how they talk about boundaries, shame, and reclaiming trust in relationships.
In sessions she aims for straightforward conversation, practical exercises, and occasional humor. She helps people notice patterns that lead to angry responses and then practices alternative choices, like emotion regulation skills and clearer communication. Heather leans into clients' strengths while offering challenges that move things forward.
People who prefer a relaxed, candid style may find her approach fits well. She emphasizes collaboration and keeps the work focused on concrete skills, coping tools, and steps that make day-to-day life less reactive.
Heather’s practice also addresses adoption and foster care issues, attachment worries, autism spectrum concerns, body image, codependency, caregiver stress, and other family-of-origin topics. Her work commonly includes attention to intimacy-related issues, ADHD, and coping with big life changes.
How her approaches translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and values, then taking action toward what matters despite uncomfortable feelings. ACT can help people handle anger by clarifying what matters in relationships and committing to smaller actions that reduce conflict. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches specific skills to identify triggering thoughts and test them with real-life experiments. CBT is useful for spotting patterns that escalate tension and practicing different responses.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Heather treats the choice of methods as collaborative and will help figure out which combination fits each person's needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions often mix skill-building, reflection on relationship patterns, and work on emotions that fuel anger.
The therapist's profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so people can attend between other commitments. Heather uses practical exercises that translate to phone or video work and focuses on tools clients can use immediately during and after sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of anger or related concerns does she help with?
She works with anger tied to stress, relationship conflict, parenting strain, resentment, and trauma-related reactivity.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is solution-focused and client-centered with practical skills, occasional humor, and direct conversation.
How much experience does she have working with trauma?
She brings 11 years of clinical experience and considerable work with complex trauma and related reactions.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Florida and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What formats are available for sessions?
The original profile does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and starting therapy work?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.