About Heather
Heather Zarate Santiago is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. She has seven years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, parenting strain, and self-esteem concerns. Heather works in both English and Spanish and aims to make therapy approachable and practical for everyday life.
She focuses on clear, collaborative work. Sessions often look at patterns in communication and daily routines. Heather helps clients build skills that reduce overwhelm and improve focus, including strategies useful for people with ADHD.
Background and approach
She keeps explanations simple and actionable so parents and caregivers can use them right away. Heather takes a culturally responsive and compassionate stance. She listens for how background, immigration experiences, and relationship dynamics shape current struggles.
That perspective guides how she helps people sort priorities and set realistic steps toward change. Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns beyond anxiety and parenting. Common topics include caregiver stress, impulsivity, grief from separation or infidelity, and post-traumatic stress.
Heather works with clients on concrete tools for communication, emotional regulation, and rebuilding self-worth. Sessions are designed to fit into busy lives. Heather offers a warm, nonjudgmental space where people can reflect, practice new skills, and regain a sense of direction.
The aim is steady progress through small, manageable changes.
How therapeutic methods translate to online care
Evidence-based techniques Heather uses include practical skill-building that targets day-to-day challenges. These methods focus on teaching concrete strategies for managing anxiety, improving attention, and reducing impulsive reactions so people can try new habits between sessions.Another common approach is trauma-informed support that helps people process difficult events at a comfortable pace. This work emphasizes pacing, grounding skills, and rebuilding a sense of safety in everyday routines, which can be especially helpful for those coping with past abuse or post-traumatic stress.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Heather works together with each person to identify goals and try methods that fit their life and learning style. That means adjusting techniques and pacing based on what works best in subsequent sessions rather than assuming a single path from the start.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction and visual cues for coaching. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging let people check in between sessions, do shorter check-ins, and keep momentum when schedules are tight. These formats make it simpler to fit therapy into busy family or work routines while still getting consistent support.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English, Spanish
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