Therapy that feels different. Because it is.

INTEGRATIVE, EXPERIENTIAL, ATTACHMENT - BASED THERAPY SPECIALIZING IN ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN ORANGE COUNTY.

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Heather Balog of Better with Heather, smiling softly with her hand resting beneath her chin.

I’m Heather.

An Integrative therapist, who skillfully blends several experiential modalities to provide a unique, highly personalized, approach to therapy through a holistic, attachment focused lens.

While I am glad you are here, it means that you or someone you care deeply for is struggling to the point that you are seeking help. We often feel shame around emotional vulnerability and dysregulation, particularly if it is something we cannot understand and feel powerless against. 

This is a tough time in human existence, and we are facing events which we are frankly unprepared to deal with and having difficulty making sense of.  If this is the case, you are absolutely in the right place. Welcome to my therapy.

BetterwithHeather is not just a catchy name, it is the space I create, the work that I do, and a singular commitment not just to help, but to heal. 

I work with individuals experiencing all manner of mental health challenges, inclusive of depression, anxiety, bi-polar, dissociation, personality disorders and self-harm. I specialize in adolescents (humans ages 10-19). As an attachment based, relational therapist I also specialize in healing and repairing family systems/family therapy, as well as adopted and foster youth. I treat all individuals, of all ages, for any complication resulting from your life experiences. 

about me

“All men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why.” - James Thurber

Pink shell with black lines, two dark blue vertical bars, with a dark blue geometric shape below the shell on a black background.

I Address All Manners of Mental Health Challenges

Including but not limited to…

  • Anxiety & OCD

  • Depression

  • Bipolar Disorder

  • Complex Trauma

  • Attachment-based Trauma

  • Disassociation / dissociative disorders

  • Recovering from co-dependency / Narcissistic relationships

  • Suicidal ideation

  • Family systems

  • Eating disorders

  • Substance use

  • Sexual dysfunction

  • Stress-related disorders

I offer integrated trauma therapy.

A personalized, holistic approach which adapts moment by moment - utilizing Coherence Theory, Attachment -Focus, Parts/Family Systems, Somatic, EMDR and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to meet you where you are and create a rhythm of healing, which feels natural and safe.

Shame-free approach.

Every session is tailored to the individual, using different methods as instruments to help you safely process trauma, release old survival patterns, and reconnect with calm, choice, and self-trust.

“I do not believe individuals come with problems. They come with outdated solutions.”

Healing looks different for everyone.

So do our sessions.

  • A personalized, one-on-one space to explore your experiences, build insight, and develop tools for healing and growth. Sessions may be standard, extended, or intensive depending on your goals and needs, with options for children, teens, and adults.

  • Family sessions focus on strengthening communication, repairing relationships, and fostering understanding between family members. Each session is collaborative and designed to create a safe, structured space for healing together.

  • Intensives offer accelerated, highly individualized treatment that allows for deep, focused healing in a condensed timeframe. Using EMDR and integrative methods, these sessions include structured pre- and post-session work to help clients process trauma more efficiently and sustain progress between sessions.

  • Group therapy combines connection and skill-building in a supportive environment with others who share similar experiences. Through guided discussion and experiential exercises, participants strengthen emotional awareness, resilience, and self-compassion.

  • For clinicians and interns seeking growth, these sessions provide a reflective, collaborative space to deepen skills, confidence, and clinical insight. Supervision is tailored to each practitioner’s stage of development and professional goals.

  • Comprehensive evaluations designed to clarify emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Assessments integrate trauma history, personality, and executive functioning to inform treatment planning, academic accommodations, or vocational goals.

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What Clients Are Saying

  • "Having Heather in my life became a rope to grab onto. She pulled me up with all her might, giving me hope with her words, and her strength and her compassion. I felt OK for the first time I could remember. I saw my worth, and the life that I was excited to be living. She gave me perspective, and the tools to see things differently."

    — EP

  • "Heather is so completely different in every way and she truly is a genuine healer. She reaches people on a different level and has an approach that works even when you think all hope is lost."

    — KP

  • "I keep feeling better with each session, gaining confidence in myself and slowly learning to be in peace with my brain and feelings. She’s done a great job for me and I will be grateful for the rest of my life."

    — FR

  • "Heather has an incredible understanding of my daughter's unique needs and always approached every situation with empathy and dedication. Her commitment to ensuring my daughter received the support she deserved will always be appreciated."

    — KH

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Living room with wall decorated with various framed art and quotes, pink upholstered armchair with colorful round art pillow, striped black and white chair with pink knotted cushion, side table with a floral lamp, and pink feather floor lamp.

Get in Touch!

Schedule a free phone consultation now to see if we’re a good fit.

Book a Consultation

What Clients Are Saying

  • "Having Heather in my life became a rope to grab onto. She pulled me up with all her might, giving me hope with her words, and her strength and her compassion. I felt OK for the first time I could remember. I saw my worth, and the life that I was excited to be living. She gave me perspective, and the tools to see things differently."

    — EP

  • "Heather is so completely different in every way and she truly is a genuine healer. She reaches people on a different level and has an approach that works even when you think all hope is lost."

    -N

  • "I keep feeling better with each session, gaining confidence in myself and slowly learning to be in peace with my brain and feelings. She’s done a great job for me and I will be grateful for the rest of my life."

    — FR

  • "Heather has an incredible understanding of my daughter's unique needs and always approached every situation with empathy and dedication. Her commitment to ensuring my daughter received the support she deserved will always be appreciated."

    — KH

Read More