- Anxiety and stress
- AOD and harm reduction
- Trauma informed practice
About Heidi
Heidi Arntzen is an AASW social worker with six years' experience providing counselling in Australia. She works with adults who are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, grief, depression, trauma and alcohol or other drug use. Heidi names practical coping skills and clearer self-understanding as central aims of her work.
She describes a calm, down-to-earth way of working that focuses on what helps day to day. Sessions are collaborative and paced to suit the client. Heidi emphasises building insight alongside concrete strategies that can be used between appointments.
Her practice includes harm reduction and recovery support for alcohol and other drug use, plus trauma-informed care for people coming through abuse or loss. She also supports people dealing with burnout, compassion fatigue, and major life transitions such as separation or illness in the family.
Heidi draws on person-centred, strengths-based and trauma-informed principles. She uses motivational interviewing and CBT-informed strategies, and includes solution-focused techniques and psychoeducation to develop skills. The focus is practical - learning small changes that fit into everyday life.
She also brings personal lived experience of supporting a loved one with mental health challenges and navigating breast cancer. That background informs her interest in work with caregiving stress, family problems and forgiveness. People who often hold responsibility for others may find it helpful to explore their own needs in sessions with Heidi.
Approaches you might use in online sessions
Heidi works with evidence-informed techniques that focus on skills and motivation. Motivational interviewing is a conversational method that helps people clarify their reasons for change and resolve mixed feelings about behaviours such as alcohol or other drug use. It supports movement toward realistic goals without pressure.CBT-informed strategies help identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and replace them with more useful ways of thinking and acting. These techniques are often used for anxiety, low mood and stress and include practical exercises you can try between sessions.
Finding the right mix of approaches is collaborative. Heidi will talk with the client about their situation, goals and preferences and then experiment with techniques that suit their life. That means the work may combine motivation-focused talking, skill practice, and short practical tasks to test what helps.
The biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins, and remove travel time. It can also let people choose sessions that match their needs for quieter surroundings or not being on camera. Discuss formats when you first book so sessions align with everyday life and goals.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly help with?
She works with adults facing anxiety, stress, depression, grief, trauma and alcohol or other drug issues, plus related problems like burnout and life transitions.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is calm, collaborative and practical, focusing on building insight and usable coping skills rather than directive advice.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of professional experience as a social worker providing counselling in mental health and AOD settings.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an AASW social worker practising in Australia.
Does she run sessions in other languages or accept overseas clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.