I work with adults who struggle with very challenging emotional experiences. They may feel stuck, overwhelmed, out-of-control, anxious, angry, unhappy, depressed, alone, defective, or broken. This may translate into engaging in behaviors that both soothe them and hurt them, whether these involve food, alcohol, drugs, self-harm, unhealthy relationships, or even being over-busy or a perfectionist. They may also suffer from chronic pain, whether from digestion issues, muscle pain, or a medical condition.

If any of this resonates with you, I would love to offer you my attention, presence, and guiding skills to help you explore and make sense of your inner experiences while learning to access more calmness, clarity, confidence, compassion, and connection with yourself. I believe that you have the ability to not only feel and cope better, but to thrive.

From my experience, clients often find that unresolved life experiences are at the root of what they are struggling with today. These may be past abuse or neglect that led to complex trauma. Or these may be anything else that had a negative impact on the way they felt or thought about themselves, others, or the world. For example, you may have been impacted by painful situations like family dysfunctions, judgment/bullying, betrayal, separation/divorce, work stressors, accidents/illnesses, or grief/loss. Often, we do not realize how much experiences such as these have affected us.

I am convinced that healing and lasting positive changes are possible, and I love facilitating such changes. I give the utmost attention to creating a space where you feel heard, understood, and supported, so that you may safely process and heal from any unresolved experiences that are getting in your way. Approaches that I find most helpful in creating that space are based on mindfulness and somatic awareness, so that you may process not only what you are aware of but also what your body may implicitly hold. That is why I got certified in Brainspotting, trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), as well as in Applied Polyvagal Theory, including the Safe and Sound Protocol.

That being said, I am continuously learning and growing to better serve my clients. Whichever path you take on your journey towards growth, healing, and thriving, I will be honored to walk alongside you with compassion, curiosity, and hope.

Heidi Hoarau earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 and a Certified Grief-Informed Professional. She practiced counseling in schools, community health clinics, and private practices. She is on the board of the Houston LPC Association (HLPCA) and is bilingual in English and French. Heidi also holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Software Engineering and worked 15 years for an international corporation, managing multicultural teams from the U.S., Norway, and the U.K., before transitioning into the field of counseling. Outside of work, Heidi spends time with her family and friends, takes care of herself by practicing yoga, and loves traveling, going to art festivals, and watching movies, especially animations like Inside Out.