Individual Therapy

I integrate my backgrounds in occupational therapy and counseling to consider the whole person—development, emotions, routines, relationships, and the body. This helps me better understand how challenges manifest in everyday life.

Every child and family is unique. Therapy provides a safe, supportive space for children and adults to explore feelings, build new skills, and gain confidence in daily life.

Are you feeling like you’ve tried everything, but something still feels missing? Do you need someone to truly listen and support you on your path to healing? I’m here to help individuals who’ve explored many options yet feel held back. Together, we’ll uncover the root causes and create a pathway for meaningful progress.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Through a holistic approach, we’ll identify barriers, provide tailored treatment, and work towards lasting empowerment. As a licensed professional counselor and occupational therapist, I collaborate with you while incorporating my medical and mental health experience to provide a plan you feel comfortable with.

I specialize in supporting individuals, families, and children to address the underlying issues that keep them stuck. I’ll help you connect the dots, leading to clarity and understanding.

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

pediatric, play, child, pre-teen, family, play therapist, child behavioral therapist, trauma, ADHD, OCD, EMDR, anxiety, play therapy

Play Therapy

Play therapy is especially effective for children ages 2-12 because it uses the natural language of childhood—play. Since young children often lack the words to express their feelings, play offers a way for them to process emotions more deeply. Through play, children can better understand their world, work through their feelings, and develop new skills in a safe, supportive environment.

In play therapy, a variety of tools may be used, including art, toys, games, sand trays, role-play, and puppets. These activities help children express themselves in ways that feel comfortable and natural.

I am certified in Synergetic Play Therapy as the foundation for my sessions, an approach that respects each child's unique pace and style of healing.

stress, anxiety, occupational therapy, pediatrics, sensory integration, neurodivergent, autism spectrum, ADHD, OT

Occupational therapy (OT) supports children and adults in developing or restoring the essential skills necessary for full participation and independence in daily life activities. For children, this involves enhancing motor coordination, sensory processing, attention, self-regulation, and play skills, which are foundational for their growth and learning. OT helps individuals of all ages acquire and maintain the abilities needed to perform everyday tasks effectively and confidently. Through hands-on activities, guided practice, and personalized interventions tailored to each person's unique needs, I create comprehensive treatment plans focused on achieving important early developmental milestones and promoting long-term functional success.

Occupational Therapy

Therapeutic Listening is a sound-based intervention that uses specially modified music to support sensory processing, attention, and self-regulation. It is often integrated with traditional occupational therapy activities or incorporated into the home environment to help "tune" the nervous system. The benefits of this approach include:

  • Improved focus and attention

  • Increased emotional regulation

  • Enhanced coordination and balance

  • Better body awareness

  • Greater ability to manage transitions

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Therapeutic Listening

pet therapy

Animal-Assisted Therapy is a goal-directed intervention in which a trained animal is incorporated into a therapeutic session. Benefits of animal-assisted therapy include stress reduction, emotional regulation, improved self-confidence, and mindfulness. In addition, animal-assisted therapy promotes trust and improves social skills.

Bristol is a Cockapoo and a certified Canine Good Citizen and Pet Partners Animal Therapy Dog. Participation in animal-assisted therapy is voluntary and provided at your descretion.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Heather Dunlap

With over 25 years in the healthcare and human services field, I integrate my medical knowlege as an occupational therapist and my counseling experience to consider your history, development, emotions, relationships, and habits. I have worked in a variety of settngs including hospitals, home health, mental health facilities, and outpatient clinics.

A highlight of my carrer was being able to provide healthcare and mental health services while volunteering in China, India, and serving in the Peace Corps in Mongolia.

In my free time, I enjoy nature and love being surrounded by trees and near a river or creek. I love listening to podcasts, skiing, and playing games.

Education:

B.S. Occupational Therapy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio

M.A. Clinical Mental Health, Adams State University, Alamosa

 

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