Heather Breems, LCSW

Heather Breems is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Illinois. She focuses on helping people who are wrestling with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting challenges, and life transitions. She also supports those coping with grief, trauma, addiction concerns, sleep problems, anger, and low self-esteem.

Her style is direct and compassionate. Heather listens first and then helps people set clear, practical goals. She uses straightforward tools rather than jargon so clients can try things between sessions. Her approach is collaborative and paced to each person’s needs.

Heather combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with attachment-informed and client-centered ways of working. That means she looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact, while also paying attention to how relationships and past experiences shape feelings. Mindfulness and emotionally focused ideas are also part of her toolbox when they fit the goals.

She has 11 years of professional experience in social work and brings that background into session planning and problem solving. Heather aims to help people build coping skills, improve communication, and manage strong emotions with practical steps.

Sessions emphasize real-world changes, like adjusting daily routines, practicing new conversation skills, and testing small experiments to reduce anxiety. Heather encourages questions and regular check-ins so plans can be adjusted as progress unfolds.

How Heather’s approaches work in online sessions

Heather draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment-Based and client-centered ideas to guide online work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety or depression. Attachment-based work looks at how early and current relationships shape emotions and patterns, useful for relationship and parenting concerns. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation where the person’s goals lead the pace of change.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. Heather will talk with clients about their needs, goals, and preferences and then try strategies that match those priorities. She adjusts plans based on what helps most and checks in regularly so the work stays practical and relevant.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people read facial cues and practice communication skills in real time. Phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skills practice, or keeping momentum between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to use techniques consistently.