Heather Keenan, LCSW
Navigating the Holidays as a First Responder
The holidays are often highlighted as a time of excitement, connecting with our loved ones, beautiful decorations, and we can’t forget.....
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Heather Keenan, LCSW
"Helping Adults Overcome Past Experiences in Order to
Take Control of Their Present & Future."
Are you currently overwhelmed with stress and anxiety? Have you gone through some challenging experiences in the past that are continuing to pose challenges in your life?
Living with anxiety, depression, or PTSD can be difficult, especially when you feel like you are alone. If you answered yes to any of these questions, I am here to tell you that you are not in fact alone.
Following a trauma, we can sometimes feel out of control when it comes to our emotions, thoughts, and physical responses to stimuli. My goal in therapy is to help individuals who have experienced trauma to be able to overcome these experiences and learn to take back control of their lives.
Learn More About How I Help Adults
Live Their Best Lives...
Counseling Services for Adults in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Counseling for Anxiety
Being in a constant state of anxiety can be exhausting. We can often feel lost on what our next step is because we are paralyzed by the overwhelm.
In counseling for anxiety, our main goal is to identify the thought patterns that are exacerbating our anxiety and overwhelm. Whether they are “what if” thoughts or thoughts consumed with whether other people will like us, it is important to get into the habit of challenging what our head is telling us. You will also be provided with additional coping skills, self-soothing techniques, and grounding techniques to help manage your anxiety in the moment.
Counseling for Drug & Alcohol Addiction
Struggling with addiction can feel very isolating. However, you don’t have to deal with this alone. Through counseling for addiction, we work on identifying contributing factors to your substance use. These factors could be anxiety, depression, trauma history, low self-worth, toxic relationships, and more.
Once we figure out what we are self-medicating, we work on finding alternate ways to cope with those emotions and difficulties. During a time that can feel isolating, you will be met with support, understanding, and safety.
Counseling for Depression
Depression can feel very debilitating and as if we were drowning in our thoughts and feelings. People who struggle with depression often report feeling sad, loss of energy or motivation, lack of interest in things they typically enjoy, isolation, poor sleep, feelings of helplessness and sometimes even hopelessness with or without suicidal thoughts.
Through counseling for depression, we will shed light onto the thought patterns we experience that create and/or exacerbate symptoms of depression. We will begin to explore how we can reframe our thoughts to help alleviate the heavy feeling of depression. Coping skills will also be provided to help increase motivation and overall mood.
Counseling for First Responders & Their Loved Ones
First responders experience a unique amount and type of stress that can become hard to manage over time. As a first responder, your body is often operating with a hyperactive nervous system for an extended period of time and it can be very challenging to turn that off after a shift.
Through counseling, we process through difficult experiences you have faced in the line of duty and will provide you with tools you can utilize to decrease the unique stress first responders face. First Responder counseling can help you learn to better manage stress at work and at home within your relationships.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a trauma therapy technique where we rapidly reprocess past experiences that have shaped who we are today. After a trauma, our brain gets “stuck” in the trauma. The brain continues to operate as if that trauma is currently happening.
Through EMDR therapy, we appropriately reprocess these memories so that your brain can operate more from the present than the past. PTSD symptoms will be alleviated and you will feel more in control over your thoughts, emotions, and body sensations.
My Story
I have always known that I wanted to work in a field in which I was helping others. I have always thrived when friends and loved ones came to me for support and advice. It felt natural being able to offer a listening ear and help them find solutions to what they were going through. When I found I can make a career of this, I didn’t think twice about this being something I wanted to pursue.
While starting out my social work career, I was pulled to working with those who have experienced trauma. For these individuals who have experienced life events that have caused them to feel isolated, I wanted nothing more than to be at least one person that they could rely on.
Offering both traditional talk therapy and EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), I have been able to witness individuals overcome their self-defeating thoughts and beliefs that have kept them trapped for a period of time and helped them to continue their lives with a sense of freedom and empowerment.
I know that it takes a lot of courage for someone to be vulnerable and step into the healing journey of therapy. To be able to witness a person’s resilience and ability to overcome these challenges inspires me to continue showing up fully in my work with my clients.
My Background
I received my Bachelors of Social Work at Florida State University in 2016. I then decided to move back to my hometown and complete an accelerated masters program at Florida Atlantic University, where I obtained my Masters of Social Work in 2017. I am currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida.
My post-graduate experience has involved working with those who struggle with substance abuse issues and addressing the underlying issues that have led people to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.
In 2017, I received training in EMDR therapy. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a treatment technique that facilitates the reprocessing of traumatic memory. My most recent position involved creating a trauma program, which entailed facilitating EMDR therapy and trauma-focused group therapy services.
Just For Fun
A few things that make me, “me”:
I love being outdoors! I try to make it a point for me to go on at least one extended walk outside each day.
As part of my self-care, I am big into working out! I do various workouts including yoga, HITT training, and weight lifting. I have always been involved in sports including basketball, volleyball, and softball.
Don’t get me wrong, though. As active as these fun facts have been, I do thoroughly enjoy sitting on my couch and reading a good book or watching some Netflix.
Why Work With Me
In our sessions, I provide an empathetic and comfortable environment for my clients to feel safe in truly being their authentic self. You are the expert of your own life. My style is collaborative and my role is to help guide you in building on the strengths you already have, in order to overcome any current obstacles and struggles.
With everyone having unique experiences and characteristics, I will tailor my style and your treatment plan to your specific needs.
I offer flexible hours and services in-person and through telehealth.
Call me at (954) 391-5305 to schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation to get your healing process started today! For more information visit my website.
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