PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

HB Portrait of Heather Burgess
Online therapist

Heather Burgess

Calm guidance for family and parenting challenges

Credentials
LCMHC
Experience
5 years
Licensed in
North Carolina
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Heather

Heather Burgess is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) practicing in North Carolina. She began counseling after earning her master’s degree in 2018 and brings five years of professional experience to her work. Heather focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, and related issues.

She aims to provide straightforward support and practical steps rather than just talking about problems. Heather uses an integrative approach grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Background and approach

She combines that with skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness. Sessions tend to be action-oriented with clear goals and concrete tools to practice between meetings. Her background includes work with community crisis services, men’s residential substance use programs, and in-home therapy for families where a child faces risk of out-of-home placement.

Those roles involved coordinating with schools, social services, and legal systems while using systems-based interventions. She has also provided education on topics such as sex trafficking. In individual work she supports people aged 13 and up, addressing depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, anger, personality concerns, and life transitions like divorce or relocation.

Heather emphasizes collaboration and respects each person’s expertise about their own life. Clients can expect a supportive, nonjudgmental clinician who sets specific treatment goals. Heather likes to create practical, personalized plans and celebrates small steps toward change.

Therapeutic approaches for online family and parenting support

Heather frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical steps, which can reduce anxiety and improve daily routines. ACT helps people notice difficult feelings and commit to values-based actions, which can be useful for parenting stress and life transitions.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when appropriate to teach emotion regulation and healthy communication. DBT skills are practical tools for managing anger, strong emotions, and relationship conflicts that often come up in family situations.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and the problems they bring to sessions. That means trying tools together and adjusting the plan based on what helps most.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules, follow up between appointments, and use different formats for check-ins and skill practice. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to remote formats so progress continues outside the room.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Heather address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, family and parenting issues, anger, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, ADHD, and related problems including caregiver stress and communication problems.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Heather uses an integrative, action-oriented approach rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and informed by mindfulness and acceptance methods. Sessions focus on practical skills and clear goals to try between meetings.
How long has she practiced clinical counseling?
She has practiced since 2018 and has five years of experience in counseling roles across community and residential settings.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, credentialed as NC LCMHC 14387, and practices in North Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Heather offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for online work.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Heather?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Next step

Talk to Heather

  • Takes a few minutes to look through
  • Nothing to set up just to read
  • Stop at any point