Therapy in Phoenix That Feels Human
Rooted in strength. Moving with the waves.
Therapy shouldn't feel like sitting across from someone who's analyzing or judging you.
At Oak & Wave Counseling, you'll find experienced, evidence-based therapy with a therapist who shows up as a real person, too. A place where you can laugh, cry, swear, be messy, change your mind, and talk about the things you don't say anywhere else.
No judgment. No pretending. No need to have it all figured out.
Come as you are. We'll start there.
15+ years of social work experience. Real-world perspective. Zero judgment.
There's space for you here.
You don't have to fit neatly into a diagnosis—or a box—to belong in therapy. Maybe you're overwhelmed, questioning something, navigating a relationship, figuring out who you are now, or simply realizing you're ready for something to change. Wherever you're starting from, there's space for you here.
Therapy for Women
Being a woman comes with layers. Relationships. Motherhood. Career. Identity. Mental load. Body image. Boundaries. Aging. Expectations. Hormones. Caregiving. And somehow still remembering that everyone needs more toothpaste. Whether you're becoming a mom, rediscovering yourself after motherhood, navigating a major transition, completely burned out, or just wondering when you disappeared from your own priority list—this is a place to put some of it down.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy
You shouldn't have to educate your therapist before you can actually start therapy. Oak & Wave is an affirming space for LGBTQ+ clients across identities and stages of life. Your identity isn't something we're here to fix, debate, or explain away. Maybe it's part of what you want to talk about. Maybe it has absolutely nothing to do with why you're here. Either way, you get to show up as your whole self.
Polyamory, ENM & Relationship Therapy
Relationships don't have to follow one particular structure to deserve thoughtful, skilled support. I work with individuals and couples practicing or exploring polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, open relationships, and other consensually non-monogamous relationship structures. Communication, jealousy, boundaries, attachment, sex, trust, transitions—we can talk about all of it without starting from the assumption that your relationship structure is the problem.
Hi, I'm Heather.
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker—and I'm also a real person.
I believe good therapy starts with connection. You can have every clinical tool in the world, but if you don't feel comfortable with the person sitting across from you, it's pretty d*mn hard to be vulnerable with them.
My style is warm, direct, collaborative, and human. I'm not going to sit silently across from you taking mysterious notes while you wonder whether I'm judging you. We'll talk. I'll ask questions. I'll challenge you when it's helpful. We'll notice patterns together. Sometimes we'll laugh. Sometimes things will get heavy. And sometimes you'll say something and I'll help you realize, "Okay…yeah, maybe I do this sh*t to myself a little bit."
Underneath that very human approach is years of clinical experience and evidence-based practice. I draw from established therapeutic approaches while tailoring therapy to the actual person sitting in front of me.
Because therapy isn't something I do TO you. It's something we do TOGETHER.
Therapy That Meets You Where You Are
You don't need to know exactly what's wrong, have the perfect words for what you're feeling, or show up with a neatly organized list of therapy goals. You just have to show up. We'll figure out the rest together.
Individual Therapy
Sometimes you know exactly why you're coming to therapy. And sometimes it's more like, 'I don't know. I'm just f*cking tired.' Individual therapy is a space that's actually yours. A place to talk about anxiety, relationships, identity, motherhood, stress, grief, burnout, boundaries, trauma, major life changes—or the things you haven't quite figured out how to name yet. We'll look at what's happening now, understand the patterns that got you here, and work toward changes that actually make sense for your life.
Explore Individual TherapyCouples & Relationship Therapy
Relationships are complicated because people are complicated. Whether you've been together for twenty years, you're figuring out what commitment looks like, you're stuck having the same d*mn argument over and over, or you're exploring a different relationship structure, therapy gives you somewhere to slow things down and actually understand what's happening between you. I work with couples and partners across relationship structures, including monogamous, polyamorous, open and ethically non-monogamous relationships. The goal isn't to tell you what your relationship should look like. It's to help you build one that works for the people actually in it.
Explore Couples TherapyFamily Therapy
Families come with history. Sometimes a lot of it. Family therapy provides a space to work through communication, conflict, changing roles, boundaries, transitions, and patterns that keep showing up even when everyone genuinely wants things to be different. We're not looking for the family member who's 'the problem.' We're looking at the relationships, patterns and dynamics—and figuring out how your family can move forward differently.
Explore Family Therapy
Therapy in Phoenix & Online Across Arizona
Oak & Wave Counseling offers in-person therapy in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as online therapy for clients located throughout Arizona. Whether you prefer sitting together in the office or talking from your own couch, the goal is the same: therapy that feels safe enough to be honest, useful enough to create change, and human enough that you don't dread showing up.
Schedule an AppointmentQuestions You Might Be Wondering
What if I've never been to therapy before?
That's completely fine. You don't need to know how to 'do therapy.' There's no preparation required and no correct way to show up. Our first few sessions are about getting to know each other, understanding what's bringing you in, and figuring out what you'd like to be different.
What if I've tried therapy before and didn't like it?
Then you already know something important: the therapist-client relationship matters. Sometimes therapy doesn't work because the approach isn't right. Sometimes the timing isn't right. And sometimes you simply don't connect with the person sitting across from you. I believe therapy works best when you feel comfortable enough to actually be yourself.
Are you LGBTQ+ affirming?
Absolutely. Oak & Wave Counseling welcomes LGBTQ+ clients across identities, relationships and stages of life. You don't have to explain, defend, or minimize who you are here.
Do you work with polyamory and ethical non-monogamy?
Yes. I work with individuals, couples and partners who are practicing, considering, or navigating polyamory, open relationships, ethical non-monogamy and other consensually non-monogamous relationship structures. Your relationship structure isn't automatically treated as the problem.
Do you only work with women?
No. Women's therapy is an area I'm particularly passionate about, but Oak & Wave Counseling works with clients across genders and identities.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. Telehealth appointments are available to clients located throughout Arizona.
In their own words.
From our very first session, Heather created a space where I could be completely safe, honest, vulnerable, and myself. She listens deeply and asks incredibly thoughtful questions that helped me grow at my own pace, without force.
What stands out most is how human she is. She doesn't make you feel like you're talking to someone above you who has all the answers — she is there with you, with humility, kindness, and authenticity.
I leave sessions feeling supported, encouraged, and empowered rather than "fixed" or judged. I am smiling more, laughing more, and I feel more like myself than ever.
After four years of therapy with Heather (and counting), I could write a whole book about my experience — and it would still fall short in capturing the immense impact she's had on my life. I came to her with debilitating anxiety, unprocessed trauma, low self-esteem, and no idea what to address first. Over time, Heather helped me heal old wounds, navigate real-time life transitions, and — most importantly — discover and love my true self. She has validated my feelings while also holding me accountable, and fueled my growth while respecting my pace. Walking into her office for the first time was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself.
For 42 years, I resisted therapy. I couldn't justify the cost and kept telling myself I didn't need it. Now it's one of the most valuable investments I've ever made in myself. What amazes me most is how Heather remembers everything — even seeing her once a month, she picks up right where we left off and makes me feel truly seen. She doesn't just listen; she gives me practical tools and perspective I can apply to everyday life. If you've been hesitant to start, I hope you'll give her a chance. Taking that first step changed my life.
Heather has been an integral part of my healing journey. I began therapy primarily to process my parental stressors, and I did not expect to confront my negative thinking patterns and become the person I am today. I love the person I am today, and I cannot believe the amount of change one year can make. She helps me choose myself and brings the perfect balance of care, concern, and challenge to her sessions. I cannot recommend her enough.
My partner and I have been seeing Heather for years, and she has helped us through times that really felt insurmountable. She makes a safe space for all kinds of love — and all the other complicated feelings that come with it. Throughout our queer, trans, and poly journey, we always look forward to our sessions as growth checkpoints; they're just not long enough!
Shared with permission. Identifying details have been withheld to protect client confidentiality.
Come As You Are.
You don't need to wait until everything falls apart.
You don't need to have the perfect explanation for why you're here.
And you definitely don't need to have your sh*t together before coming to therapy.
Bring the anxiety. The questions. The relationship stuff. The exhaustion. The identity stuff. The things you're embarrassed to say out loud. The parts of yourself you're still figuring out. Bring all of it.
Come as you are. We'll start there.
Phoenix Magazine
Healthcare Heroes of 2025.
I'm deeply honored to have been recognized by Phoenix Magazine as one of their Healthcare Heroes of 2025 — an acknowledgment I share with every client who has trusted me with their story.