Heather Showen

Heather Showen is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with seven years of professional experience in Ohio and West Virginia. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and life changes. Heather emphasizes clients' strengths and respects each person's perspective on their own story.

She uses a mix of practical talk and evidence-informed methods. Sessions focus on identifying what matters to the client, learning skills to manage distress, and addressing patterns that get in the way of daily life. Heather draws on acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values, cognitive behavioral strategies to shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and mindfulness practices to increase present-moment awareness.

Heather also applies approaches that target intense emotional reactions and traumatic memories. Dialectical behavior techniques are used to build emotion regulation and interpersonal skills. For clients with trauma history, EMDR may be included to process disturbing memories when appropriate.

People who come for help often bring issues like attachment wounds, caregiving strain, chronic illness or pain, communication breakdowns, divorce, guilt, shame, impulsivity, or questions about life purpose. Heather frames work as collaboration, focusing on concrete steps and skills that fit daily life.

Her practice speaks to adults navigating midlife questions, men facing role and identity concerns, and anyone coping with panic, mood disorders, or post-traumatic stress. Sessions are conducted in English and based in West Virginia and Ohio.

How Heather's approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. In practice this can look like setting modest goals and experimenting with actions that feel meaningful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors that maintain anxiety or depression. That usually involves short practical exercises to try between sessions. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is aimed at reducing the intensity of traumatic memories; it uses structured sets of processing with attention to memory sensations and emotions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Heather partners with clients to determine which methods fit their needs and preferences. She adapts strategies based on goals, symptoms, and how someone responds in early sessions so the plan evolves collaboratively.

The original profile does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also let clients use practices and exercises from their everyday environment, which can make skill-building feel more practical and directly applicable.