Heather Phillips Counseling

Hello, I'm Heather, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a speciality in Perinatal Mental Health (LCSW, PMH-C). I have over fifteen years of experience as a therapist working with women, children, and families. I have been providing specialized care in perinatal mental health for the last five years. In my practice I primarily work with adults and adolescents, and welcome people of any identity. My approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and relational. It is informed by evidenced-based models of care, but centers clients as experts in their own lives, and honors their inherent strengths and self-knowledge. I offer in person support in Portland, OR and telehealth support across the states of Oregon and Washington. My Philosophy I believe in the capacity for positive change and healing in all people, and feel privileged to be able to join with clients and support them through times of difficulty and change. The clients I work with are often seeking support with grief and loss, and/or adjusting to significant life transitions and role changes. These experiences can be very isolating and cause significant distress including relational challenges, and intense feelings of anxiety, fear, loneliness, and loss of trust in self and others. I provide a safe and nurturing space for people to show up as their whole authentic selves, and share their thoughts, feelings, fears, and hopes for the future without judgement. My Experience and Specialties I have experience and training supporting people with mental health and adjustment concerns across the lifespan including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and adjustment disorders. I also have experience and training supporting women and parents who have ADHD, or want to explore a possible ADHD diagnosis. I have specific training and experience in Perinatal Mental Health, and offer support across the reproductive health continuum. "Perinatal Mental Health" refers to mental health concerns related to pregnancy or reproductive health. This includes; fertility, pregnancy, anxiety about birth, depression and/or anxiety in the perinatal period, abortions, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, and processing difficult or traumatic birth experiences. My personal experiences related to reproductive grief and loss and fertility inform my work, and deepen my understanding and compassion for people who are navigating similar challenges. My experience working in OBGYN clinics with Nurse Midwives and OBGYN Providers also provides me with helpful context and understanding of the medical systems people I work with are accessing for care. This experience has provided me with insight and knowledge about our maternal and reproductive health care systems, and put me in a unique position to support people in advocating for themselves within the healthcare system. Through my experience working in a reproductive health care setting, I have also gained an in-depth understanding of how healthcare experiences impact mental health. In addition, I have experience supporting parents navigating high risk pregnancies and complex medical procedures, parents who are experiencing separation from their baby while in NICU care, and parents who are expecting or parenting a baby with significant medical issues. Education and Licensure I have a Masters Degree in Social Work. I am licensed as an LCSW in Oregon and Washington State. I am licensed as a Perinatal Mental Health Clinician (PMH-C) and am licensed as a supervisor for Clinical Social Work Associates in Oregon. Specialized Trainings and Certifications that Inform my Work Interpersonal Therapy for the Perinatal Population (IPT-Perinatal): IPT-P is a structured form of therapy used to address life stage transitions, relational conflict, grief, and role disputes through making meaning of difficult life events and improving communication. -Level A Certification The Incredible Years: The Incredible Years® evidence-based early intervention programs focus on strengthening parenting competencies and fostering parent involvement in children’s school experiences, to promote children’s academic, social, and emotional skills and reduce conduct problems. -Completed Parent and Child Intervention Trainings and facilitated Child Intervention Groups. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR): (EMDR) is a form of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy specifically developed for reducing the power of traumatic memories. It is a structured therapeutic approach that has been used to treat various mental health conditions, traumatic experiences, and distressing memories. -Currently working toward certification I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy in my work. In my personal life I am very fortunate to have a supportive family and be connected to nurturing communities. I find peace in nature, and love flowers and all plants. Tending to my home garden is one of the ways I nurture myself as I do this work, as well as snuggling with my two cats. I value and respect the diversity of individuals, and my practice is rooted anti-oppressive and anti-racist frameworks. I am committed to lifelong learning and cultural humility, and make this a priority in my professional and personal education and growth. I welcome individuals from all cultures, races, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Thank you for reading this and learning about me and the support I am offering. I look forward to connecting if you feel that I would be a good match for you. CRISIS RESOURCES Please note that as a small private practice I am unable to provide crisis care. If you are in crisis or need to talk to someone about your mental health immediately, please reach out to one of the resources listed here or go to your nearest Emergency Department: MULTNOMAH COUNTY CRISIS LINE If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the Multnomah County Crisis Line at 503-988-4888, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room. NATIONAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. Call/Text 1-833-TLC-MAMA. Insurance and Payment Checking your Insurance Benefits: You are responsible for all fees not paid by your health insurance. I recommend that you contact your insurance company and ask the following:  FOR OHP MEMBERS Is Heather Phillips, LCSW covered as a provider with my plan? Note: It is your responsibility to let me know if there are any changes to your plan. OHP coverage can change month to month and I may not be covered under other plans. Important: If you have any other insurance other than OHP that insurance would need to be billed first, and OHP would be billed for the remainder. Unfortunately, as a solo provider I am not able to bill multiple insurances but can provide referrals for providers who are able to do this. FOR PRIVATE INSURANCE Is Heather Phillips, LCSW covered as a preferred provider or are her services out-of-network? (You may need to use my address: 106 SW Woods St. Portland, OR) What is my co-pay or co-insurance for each session? What is my annual deductible and have I met it? Are there limits on the number of outpatient mental health visits covered? If Heather Phillips, LCSW is out-of-network, what percentage of her services does my plan cover? What percentage is my responsibility?