Rate Heather Schumer

Hello! I'm Heather, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in South Florida. Let me share a bit about my journey. I started off my education at the University of Florida, where I majored in Biochemistry and Gender Studies. Life took me on a different path, however, when I realized pharmacy wasn't my calling. So, I headed back to school and in 2016, I earned my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Florida International University. I’ll always be a Gator, though!

How many times in the last week have you said something along the lines of, “Are you fucking kidding me?” or "Why do I keep doing this shit over and over?" Clients that work well with me have probably said them a bunch of times.

Are you part of Gen Z and struggling with anxiety and/or depression because of the socioeconomic and political climate in the US? Maybe you’re a millennial trying to balance being perfect in your career, maintaining friendships (likely by making plans to make plans), attending friend’s weddings/baby showers, and scrolling the dating apps trying to find the love of your life (maybe this time you reactivate your account will be different!). Perhaps you’re just trying to grapple with the millionth ‘once in a lifetime’ event that happened this week, or you’re a parent wanting to heal the trauma from your own childhood so you don’t traumatize your kid(s) the way your own parent(s) traumatized you. Or — you’re a first responder, a therapist, or even a ‘regular’ person simply struggling to navigate your daily reality and its complexities.

I've had the privilege of working with clients struggling with a diverse range of issues, including trauma/PTSD, anxiety/panic attacks, body image concerns, perfectionism, emotional detachment, low self-esteem, phobias, and much more. More specifically, my expertise includes working with survivors of mass shootings and community-based traumas, millennials, individuals experiencing panic attacks, fellow mental health professionals, first responders, pre/post-op bariatric patients, and parents looking to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

My approach to therapy is all about creating a space for clients to develop bottom-up coping skills and healing from trauma. I firmly believe that many of the challenges people face today can be traced back to unresolved childhood experiences. But here's the good news: I believe everyone has the potential to heal and build a happier, more stable future.

I view participation in counseling as a partnership between the client and therapist. Clients define the problem(s) to be worked on and therapists use specialized knowledge to help their client bring attain their goals. While this sounds easy, clients often struggle to make changes, especially early on - change is uncomfortable, so it often feels easier to avoid. Most of the progress made in therapy is done outside of and between sessions, so what clients do between sessions will impact the sessions themselves.

When I am not working, I spend my time at stand-up comedy shows, playing board games, going to live metal shows, playing with my pets, spending time with friends, and scrolling social media.