About Heather
Heather Zarate Santiago is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California with seven years of clinical work. She focuses on helping people cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, parenting pressures, self-esteem challenges, and ADHD. She speaks English and Spanish and aims to make therapy approachable and practical.
Her style is warm and culturally responsive. She listens for personal strengths and patterns that get in the way. Sessions are collaborative - she and the client set goals and try real strategies that can be used between meetings.
Background and approach
Heather often helps people who are dealing with caregiving stress, communication problems, separation or divorce, and the fallout from domestic violence. She also supports people facing immigration-related challenges, infidelity, jealousy, or questions about life purpose and self-love. Practical coping skills and clearer communication are common focuses.
In trauma-related work she offers steady, paced support aimed at safety and stabilization before moving into deeper processing. For anxiety and phobias she works on small, manageable steps to reduce avoidance and build confidence in everyday situations. Her bilingual approach lets Spanish speakers discuss difficult topics in their preferred language.
Heather uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and adapts them to each person’s cultural background and daily realities. The goal is to help people reconnect with strengths and move toward the life they want.
How evidence-based techniques translate to online care
Heather draws from evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills. One common approach she uses centers on gradual exposure and behavioral practice to address anxiety and phobias; this involves small, stepwise tasks that help reduce avoidance and build confidence in everyday settings. Another common strand emphasizes stabilization and pacing for trauma-related symptoms; sessions start with grounding and coping skills before moving into deeper processing to support emotional regulation and safety.Choosing the right approach happens together. Heather works collaboratively with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and cultural context. She reviews options, tries strategies, and adjusts plans based on what is helpful and workable in daily life.
Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit sessions into busy routines. Video lets people see verbal and nonverbal cues for richer conversations. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is low or when someone prefers audio only. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, step-by-step coaching, or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options increase flexibility and help people access regular care from different locations.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English, Spanish
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