Dr. Naharia Heard, LPC

Dr. Naharia Heard is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia with a decade of clinical experience supporting individuals, couples, and families. She combines military life experience as an Army veteran and her perspective as a mother with advanced clinical training to address a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, substance use, relationship and family difficulties, grief, and intimacy-related issues.

She holds a Doctorate in Mental Health Counseling, a doctoral-level degree focused on advanced counseling practice and research, and is a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor in addition to her LPC credential. Dr. Heard applies an integrative approach, drawing on client-centered techniques that prioritize each person s goals, cognitive behavioral strategies to address unhelpful thinking and behaviors, and skill-based methods for emotion regulation and interpersonal change. Her work also includes coaching around career and parenting challenges and attention to compassion fatigue for caregivers and professionals.

Dr. Heard provides therapy through individual, couples, and family modalities and works with clients on issues such as anger management, life transitions, marital and premarital concerns, and co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions. She aims to create a collaborative space where practical coping skills and deeper exploration of patterns come together to support meaningful progress.

Approaches that guide online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and supporting clients to identify their own goals. It helps people who want a collaborative space to explore values, relationships, and personal growth while feeling heard and understood.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It uses practical exercises and skill-building to address anxiety, depression, stressful life transitions, and patterns that get in the way of daily functioning.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers tools for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. It can be especially useful for clients who struggle with emotional regulation, relationship conflicts, or self-destructive coping.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. Dr. Naharia Heard works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan over time based on what proves most helpful.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people with busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or limited local options. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver consistent support and practical strategies while making therapy more accessible across different life circumstances.