Heidi Summers, LMFT

Heidi Summers is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 26 years of clinical experience. She earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino in 1998 and brings specialized training in trauma treatment, including certification in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

Her professional practice has included both individual and group therapy for adults facing a range of concerns, such as childhood sexual abuse survival, sexual assault and domestic violence recovery, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, parenting challenges, relationship and family difficulties, and life transitions. Heidi combines clinical knowledge with an empathetic, accepting counseling style and draws from multiple therapeutic orientations to tailor care to each person she sees.

Heidi aims to foster a warm, respectful environment where people can explore their experiences and develop practical strategies for coping and growth. Her own life history - including the loss of a first spouse to cancer, raising young children as a single parent, later marrying a career U.S. Marine and navigating relocations and deployments - informs her understanding of grief, resilience, blended family dynamics, and the stresses of parenting and military life. She invites prospective clients to consider working together and to learn more about her approach.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with Heidi Summers

Heidi Summers uses client-centered therapy to prioritize each person's own goals and strengths, offering a supportive space where clients can explore feelings and build insight; this approach often helps with self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life transitions.

She also employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns and developing practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, and mood-related difficulties. CBT is action-oriented and useful for learning coping strategies that can be applied between sessions.

Trauma-focused therapy is another key element of her work, including trauma processing methods that address the impact of abuse, assault, and loss. This approach helps people work through traumatic memories and reduce the ways those experiences interfere with daily life.

Finding the right combination of approaches is a collaborative process. Heidi will work with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, adapting techniques over time so the care fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer flexibility for scheduling and let clients connect from their own homes or locations that work for them. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to access therapy alongside work, family, and other commitments.