Heidi Strater, LCSW

Heidi Strater is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 25 years of clinical experience supporting adults and older adults through complex mood and mental health challenges. She has spent her career working with clients living with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, offering evidence-based care and steady support across different life stages.

In addition to direct clinical work with individuals, Heidi provides therapy and guidance for caregivers who face the ongoing demands of supporting a loved one. She describes her role as an advocate for people managing chronic mental illness as well as for those who experience episodic bouts of depression or anxiety, helping them find practical strategies and renewed hope.

Heidi draws on a breadth of clinical knowledge developed over decades in practice, focusing on respectful collaboration and tailored treatment plans that reflect each personâs needs and circumstances. Her approach emphasizes listening, validation, and skill-building to help clients navigate symptoms, relationships, and life transitions with greater resilience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Heidi integrates client-centered therapy to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client's perspective guides the work - this approach helps people feel heard and supports exploration of personal values and goals. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve daily functioning. For clients who need skills to regulate intense emotions and improve interpersonal effectiveness, Heidi draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which teaches practical techniques for coping, emotion regulation, and relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Heidi works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they may blend elements from different approaches to form a plan that feels most helpful.

Online therapy with Heidi is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit appointments into busy schedules and varied lifestyles. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from home, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable.