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Hi there, I'm Cheryl Heinla and I am a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) residing in the Bay Area. I work with adult individuals, adolescents, and couples. My key areas of interest and experience are anxiety, grief, couples dynamics, family of origin impact, life transitions, relational challenges, and trauma history.
My approach
My approaches are based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-focused, short-term solution-focused; and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with couples. In grief work and complicated grief, I have found that underlying personal and family dynamics are often key to understanding and healing.
My focus
I work with adolescents and young adults with anxiety and life transitions, mid-life+ and life transitions, grief and complicated grief, healing from trauma history, and couples.
My communication style
I find it valuable to normalize issues for individuals as a starting point. I allow clients to lead with their challenges and goals; and collaborate to find a path to understanding and healing. Often activities or "homework" can have a positive effect during or in-between sessions for clients to focus on their feelings, thoughts, and needs.
My journey to mental healthcare
I became a therapist later in life. I had a career for many years in the recruiting and staffing field. I found this level of work with people both intimate and interesting; and the role that psychology played. I realized I wanted to work deeper with individuals. I also have a keen interest in my own family of origin and personal experiences in couples' work; and why it can be so challenging to create and maintain emotionally stable connections.
My goals for you
It is important to start with learning and self-awareness of where you are at the beginning of a therapeutic relationship. From there, we can work together to determine where (realistically) you want to be; how you want to feel, function, or make decisions.
My first session with you
I typically start with what you are seeking from therapy. I will listen first, and then provide inquiry into history or challenges to begin putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Often this is illuminating for clients. It helps with understanding where we come from and how our experiences shape our psychology and interpersonal relationships.
