Heidi Ardern, Ph.D.

How I Work

During our first session, my goal is to start to get to know you, what’s important to you, what you’re experiencing, what may still be lingering from the past, what your strengths and resources are, and to set some initial goals for our work together. Based on the initial session and our collaborative conversation, I will have some ideas as to the approaches that will be likely to help you achieve the change you’re striving for. Because I am an integrative therapist, I am comfortable utilizing a variety of approaches and techniques that will work for YOU – my goal is for the strategies to converge in such a way that a strong framework is built and ready for you to make the change you want. I’m comfortable using a variety of approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, existential therapy, and others. All of my work is trauma-informed.

You’ll find as we work together that I check in with you frequently as to our progress toward our goals, and your experience of the therapy process and in meeting with me. We may change our focus or our approach during our time together based upon these conversations.

I believe that therapy is whatever you want or need it to be – some clients find that engaging in a course of therapy to tackle a particular problem or reach a particular goal, whether for a handful of sessions or for several months, is beneficial. Other clients benefit from regularly scheduled sessions for a longer time frame. Still, other clients make room in their lives for mental health “check-ins” every now and again, to make sure that they haven’t reverted back to old patterns, or simply for a refresher on coping strategies.

My Training

I received my Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2007 from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I also have Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology. As a psychologist, my training focused on understanding the complexities of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors – and how these all intersect with our life experiences, relationships, and goals. Psychologists specialize in providing psychotherapy and psychological assessments – which may include testing and diagnosis – and also tend to collaborate well with psychiatrists and other medical professionals, given our specialized training in the biology of mental health symptoms.

My Experience

It can take a lot to pick up the phone and make that first appointment with a therapist. A lot of clients try to begin therapy several times before making it to the first session; whether the barrier is based on values, anxiety, pessimism, logistics, or another reasons, I believe strongly that I need to work hard to meet you where you are and come equipped to help you from day one.

During my training, and in the fifteen years since, I have worked in a variety of treatment settings (outpatient and inpatient mental health and medical facilities, community mental health, secure facilities, and private practice) with a wide variety of clients. I am equally comfortable working with individuals coming to therapy needing help due to a recent life transition – such as a job change, divorce, or a child leaving home – as I am working with individuals who have struggled with chronic mental health and medical concerns – such as depression or bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, chronic pain, and other chronic illnesses. I am passionate about working with clients from different backgrounds and cultures, and strive throughout the therapeutic relationship to create a safe, non-oppressive, and validating space for all my clients.

These experiences and skills mean that I am ready to start moving forward with you and helping you begin the process of change as soon as you walk through my door!