Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heather Cobbs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Heather, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear stories from your time in school/training/etc.

My schooling was a long process. I completed 1 and a half years of junior college after high school and then moved out on my own, so bills became priority. Then I became a mother at 22, I was making good money in the nightclub scene but as years passed by I started to realize I needed more security and stability for my daughter. It wasn’t until I was about 32, that I decided school was the only way to achieve my goal of being a professional therapist. It helped to know exactly what I wanted to be in order to implement a laser focused plan of making my dream a reality. It was daunting and overwhelming to think of the process in its entirety. I knew I would need a masters degree on top of a bachelors and I would have to endure 3 years of obtaining licensing hours, so that totaled 7-8 years of work before I became an actual therapist. So instead of being discouraged and saying forget it, I told myself the time was going to go by anyway! And at least at the end of that time I will have accomplished an education that no one could take away from me, the security and stability my daughter could be proud of, and a way out of the night scene and into a professional career helping people. So I only focused on each step of the process. First, the year I needed to complete in junior college in order to transfer to a University, then the two years of undergrad majoring in Sociology, then applying for grad school, then the three years it took to obtain my Masters degree in Social work, and then finding an entry level Position where I could also receive hours towards my licensure for the next 3 years. Even saying this now, it sounds exhausting and I can’t believe I did it! All while being a single mom and working at night! But I did it, it’s over, and now I’m living my dream of being a therapist in private practice. It was a long process, but it was worth it. I believe in education.

Heather, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into therapy because I wanted to help people through being depressed, anxious, and help them to build a loving relationship with themselves. I was depressed as a child and young woman, I was in toxic relationships, I wasn’t treating myself well, and I found my way through therapy, prayer, mindfulness, journaling, affirmations, all the tools I offer my clients. I’ve truly been there, so I know the pain, but I also know the joy and contentment on the other side of the work. I think what sets me apart from Other therapists is my personality, my experience, my approach, and my sincere interest in my clients. Every therapist is unique because we are all unique individuals. Of course I want to help every client but I recognize that every therapist isn’t for every client. It’s got to be a good fit based on skill set and the clients presenting issue and treatment goal, as well as personality and approach. I believe the client is the expert on themselves, they know much more about themselves than I do, I’m there to support them in filtering through their thoughts, fears, emotions, and help them either change the narrative, shift their perspective, talk to themselves with more compassion, use tools to get out of the maze of destructive negative self talk, and recognize their contribution to where they are in life. I offer validation, encouragement, tools and accountability as needed, but mostly just space to be heard.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A pivot in my career was when I made the leap to leave Kaiser, a job I thought I would retire at, a place I thought was my dream job and took 4 years to manifest. However, after 3 years of working there, I realized my vision had stretched to entrepreneurship and I no longer wanted to be an employee, even for a company as great as Kaiser Permanente. Actually, I now work with them instead of for them, because I am contracted with them to accept overflow of clients that need therapy services.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think my entire story is one of resilience. I am proud to have persevered through my own mental health issues, to have been able to leave a long unhealthy relationship and be resilient enough to remain open to love and not allow fear of being hurt again to block me from trusting my now husband with my heart. I am proud to have been able to fulfill my responsibilities as a mother while being single and working at night, and then being able to recognize the need to create stability and security and do the work without giving up. I have always bounced back. Resilience is in my DNA.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.ihearttherapy.com
• Instagram: Iheart.therapy