PuttingFamilyFirst

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

HS Portrait of Heather Summers
Online therapist

Heather Summers

Hopeful, practical care for lifes hard moments

Credentials
LMHC
Experience
12 years
Licensed in
Florida
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Heather

Heather Summers is a licensed mental health counselor in Florida. She has 12 years of experience and focuses much of her work on trauma survivors and on people facing depression and anxiety. Her style is down-to-earth and direct, aimed at helping clients make practical changes one step at a time.

She draws primarily on cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. When needed, she also uses other methods such as dialectical behavior therapy and motivational interviewing to match the moment and the clients goals.

Background and approach

Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, with chances to practice new skills between meetings. Heather emphasizes building a trusting connection first. She listens actively and without judgment, and she also offers gentle challenges when that will help someone move forward.

That mix of support and accountability is meant to help people feel safer trying new ways of coping. Her background includes a long period in nonprofit settings, which exposed her to many life circumstances and stressors. That experience shaped her ability to adapt approaches to fit different needs and situations.

She prioritizes clear, practical steps that people can use in daily life. Many people come to address loss, relationship strain, parenting stress, or big life changes. Heather aims to help clients find more balance, manage symptoms, and reconnect with what matters most to them.

Common therapeutic methods and how they fit online

Heather most often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people notice unhelpful thought patterns and practice small behavior changes. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many day-to-day problems because it focuses on clear steps and homework practice.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills and motivational interviewing when they fit. DBT skills teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance for strong feelings. Motivational interviewing helps clarify personal goals and build readiness for change when someone feels stuck.

Choosing an approach is a joint process. The therapist will talk with each person about needs, goals, and what feels helpful, then try a method and adjust as progress is made. That collaborative stance means the plan can shift if something isnt working.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversations from home, phone sessions remove travel time, and live chat or text messaging can support short check-ins or skill practice between sessions. These options make it easier to fit consistent work on coping skills into a daily routine while keeping therapy accessible.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Heather address?
She works with trauma and abuse, grief, depression, anxiety, stress, anger, self-esteem, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting and family problems, and related areas such as infidelity and divorce.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a practical, conversational style centered on cognitive behavioral therapy while adding other techniques as needed. Sessions combine listening and support with occasional challenges to help clients try new ways of coping.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She is a Florida-licensed mental health counselor with 12 years of experience, and she spent much of her career working in nonprofit settings with diverse populations and mental health needs.
Where is she licensed and what are her credentials?
Her credential is LMHC, licensed in Florida as FL LMHC MH11917.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different preferences and schedules.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How does someone begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Next step

Talk to Heather

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