Heather Gillam, MS, NCC, LMFTA is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate working towards licensing in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy in the state of Indiana. She is an Independent Contractor at Dunn Associates, P.C. providing Individual Counseling, Relationship Counseling, and Family Therapy.
Heather graduated in 2017 with Masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy from Capella University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Social Philosophy from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Heather is a member of Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology, Chi Sigma Iota: Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International, Delta Kappa: The International Marriage & Family Therapy Honor Society, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is also a Board Certified Counselor through the NBCC as a Nationally Certified Counselor.
How She Got Into Counseling:
Since Heather was in high school she knew she wanted to be a counselor. The experiences she had growing up and the classes she took throughout her academic career molded her therapeutic approach and practice. Finding herself drawn to relationships she pursued a degree in marriage and family therapy. Throughout her work on her master’s she developed an interest in s*x therapy and plans to continue education and training in this area to facilitate her work with intimate partners. Heather was also particularly influenced by her undergraduated work in social philosophy, a passion of hers to today, and often incorporates concepts such as the good life, grand goals, virtue ethics, values, and stoic philosophy in working with clients.
Heather’s personal experiences have also influenced her career direction. Heather is the wife and caregiver to an Army Veteran. Through her experience with the VA Healthcare system and connections with other wives and caregivers, Heather has chosen to work toward providing services to our nations unsung heroes. She plans to do this by filling in some of the gaps of counseling by offering counseling to caregivers, veteran couples, and veteran families.
What She’s like in Session:
Heather works from a systemic perspective, believing that we are inherently relational and our development is influenced by the people, society, and culture in which we find ourselves. Her approach to therapy is strength based in which she takes a non-blaming, non-judgemental, collaborative perspective. She views your experience as unique, where you are the expert in your life. The problem is viewed as something separate from the client and she believes you have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, and abilities to reduce the influence of the problem. Her approach fosters hope, personal and relational growth, belief in the self, and finding your unique strengths to overcome your challenges.
Heather practices living authentically and congruently, both in and outside the therapy room. As such you’ll find references to books, the world of geek and pop culture, philosophy, and humor within the session. She gets genuinely excited at your successes and looks forward to each and every session. Heather considers it an honor to be your therapist, believing this relationship is unique and sacred.
