Heather Gould, LICSW, LADC
I have been in the counseling field for over 20 years and have had the privilege of working with many people in a variety of settings which include community mental health, outpatient substance abuse treatment, inpatient and outpatient hospital, and private practice. I have extensive experience working with people who suffer from chemical addiction, depression, a variety of anxiety disorders, adjustment issues, trauma, and interpersonal problems. I am both a licensed clinical independent social worker and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. I graduated from Springfield College with a degree in psychology and earned a Masters in Social Work from Boston University. I also completed a fellowship at Harvard University Medical School Division of Addictions after my graduate work.
I believe feeling stuck, frustrated, and unsure how to navigate life is part of being human, as is needing some support, skills, and guidance. I strive to create a positive connection with people and work to help each person be his/her best self. I use a variety of techniques and tailor my approach to the individual. Some of these techniques are cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and client - centered therapy.
One area I tend to focus on is self-care. Self-care is the act of protecting your wellbeing and happiness which is imperative in improving one’s health. This is something that is key no matter what issue someone is dealing with or looking to improve. Learning how to take care of your whole self is important no matter what brings you to therapy. I always focus on a person’s strengths and use a strength-based approach to build on the positive attributes that already exist. Identifying the tools someone already possess in conjunction with the tools and strategies I bring to the therapeutic relationship is key in this process.
I also act as a private life coach for those who are looking to balance work and life better and identify a purpose or passion when feeling they are not sure what to do next in one or more aspect of life. Although this is often a part of therapy, life coaching it is not about clinical symptoms, but about identifying and reaching goals in any area of one’s life such as career, health, time management, and interpersonal skills to name just a few.
I strongly believe anyone can make positive changes and that all steps, no matter how big or small, have a positive impact and improves one’s quality of life. I bring this belief to everyone I have the privilege of working with and consider it an honor to be part of this process both as a therapist and a life coach.