I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor providing virtual therapy for teens and adults across Illinois. I work with clients navigating trauma, ADHD, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the emotional exhaustion that can come from carrying too much for too long.
My style is warm, collaborative, and direct. Therapy with me is a space to slow things down, better understand the patterns shaping your life, and build new ways of responding that feel more sustainable — emotionally, relationally, and practically.
My Approach
I work from a trauma-informed lens, recognizing that many struggles in adulthood are not random. Experiences from childhood, relationships, family dynamics, and chronic stress often shape the ways we cope, communicate, trust, and relate to ourselves.
In therapy, we may explore:
emotional regulation
boundaries
attachment patterns
self-worth
nervous system responses
identity shifts during stressful seasons of life
My goal is to help clients move toward greater self-understanding, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of stability in daily life.
Many of the clients I work with are thoughtful, capable people who have spent a long time adapting to stress, responsibility, or difficult life experiences. They may be used to showing up for others while privately feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, or unsure why certain patterns keep repeating in relationships, work, or daily life.
I often connect well with clients who:
tend to overthink everything and struggle to quiet their mind
feel responsible for other people’s emotions or wellbeing
have a hard time slowing down without guilt
struggle with ADHD-related overwhelm, procrastination, or burnout
are healing from painful relationship experiences
find themselves repeating patterns they want to change
are navigating anxiety, emotional exhaustion, or chronic stress
are learning to reconnect with themselves after years of survival mode
want healthier boundaries but feel guilty setting them
are moving through life transitions that bring uncertainty or self-doubt
I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University and provide virtual therapy for teens and adults across Illinois. My work focuses on supporting clients navigating trauma, ADHD, relationship stress, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions.
Before transitioning into private practice, I worked in community mental health, supporting individuals facing a wide range of emotional, relational, and behavioral concerns. That experience strengthened my understanding of how trauma, chronic stress, family dynamics, and life circumstances can shape the ways people cope, connect, and move through the world.
Earlier in my career, I worked directly with children with autism and developmental differences as a board certified autism technician. That role deepened my understanding of neurodivergence, emotional regulation, and the importance of meeting each person within their unique needs, strengths, and environment.
My professional background also includes work as a licensed massage therapist, where I completed continuing education in Reiki and Shiatsu, as well as a 200-hour yoga teacher training through Chicago School of Yoga. These experiences continue to shape my appreciation for the connection between the mind, body, and nervous system, particularly in the context of stress and healing.
My approach integrates evidence-based therapy with a trauma-informed understanding of how past experiences can influence emotions, relationships, and daily functioning. I aim to create a supportive space where clients can better understand themselves, strengthen coping skills, and move toward lasting change in ways that feel meaningful to them.
Finding the right therapist matters. If you’re looking for a space to explore patterns, heal from difficult experiences, or better understand what’s keeping you stuck, therapy can be a place to start.
Heather Smith (178.032748) is under the supervision of Kelsey Romanoff (180.011199) at Grove Counseling Center in Downers Grove, Illinois
Copyright © 2025 Heather Smith. All rights reserved.