About Heather
Heather Zarate Santiago is a licensed marriage and family therapist with seven years of clinical experience. She works in California and supports people facing anxiety, stress, trauma, and parenting challenges. Heather speaks English and Spanish and aims to make therapy approachable and practical for everyday life.
She focuses on what people need right now. Sessions commonly address anxiety, ADHD-related struggles, self-esteem, and the aftereffects of trauma and abuse. Heather also helps with parenting strain, caregiver stress, and relationship concerns such as communication problems and separation issues.
How Heather works
Her style is warm and culturally responsive. She listens for each person’s story and looks for everyday patterns that get in the way. Then she helps clients try new ways of coping and communicating that actually fit their life.
Heather uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide sessions. Conversations are practical and skill-focused so people can use what they learn between meetings. She emphasizes building resilience, improving self-love, and finding clearer life purpose.
Many people work through painful events such as post-traumatic stress, domestic violence, immigration-related stress, or infidelity in therapy with her. Heather also addresses social anxiety, phobias, impulsivity, jealousy, forgiveness, and broader family problems. Her bilingual ability helps Spanish- and English-speaking clients connect and feel understood.
What Heather works with
The areas below are the ones Heather selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
Also listed
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 7 |
| Languages | English, Spanish |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Evidence-based approaches and flexible online care
Heather uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and healing from trauma. One common approach she applies helps people learn coping skills for anxiety and stress through short exercises and step-by-step practice. Another approach focuses on processing traumatic or painful events in ways that reduce symptoms and help people regain control in daily life.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Heather works together with each person to match techniques to their goals, life situation, and preferences. She checks in regularly and adjusts methods as progress unfolds so therapy stays useful and relevant.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video works well for face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter check-ins, quick guidance, or when writing feels more comfortable. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or busy caregiving schedules.
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Common questions
What concerns does Heather commonly address?
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How much clinical experience does she have?
What are her credentials and where is she located?
Which languages are available for sessions?
What formats are available for online sessions?
How is cost handled for sessions?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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