Introductions are always awkward (or is that me?). Let’s keep this simple — Hello, I’m Karena. I am so glad you’re here! I am a Clinical Faculty member in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Southern New Hampshire University and the owner of HEAD to HEART where I provide a number of services. CREDENTIALS: - Licensed Professional Counselor, Virginia - Approved Clinical Supervisor - Certified Sexologist, The American College of Sexologists International - National Certified Counselor EDUCATION: B.S., Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University M.Ed., Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, The College of William & Mary Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, The College of William & Mary BIO: Dr. Karena J. Heyward is a licensed professional counselor, a certified sexologist (ACS), and a counselor educator specializing in empowering folx to live in embodied connection to themselves, others, and the world around them. Her approaches to counseling, supervising, and teaching are grounded in contemplative practices, sex-positive approaches, Humanistic/Person-Centered applications, developmental perspectives, Family Systems theory, applied Polyvagal Theory, cultural sensitivity, social justice advocacy, and Transpersonal perspectives. She is incredibly grateful that her career allows her to hold space for clients, students, and supervisees where they can show up exactly as they are, connect with their intuition, and practice fierce self-care and self-celebration. Her interests include authenticity, sexual wellness, vulnerability, Polyvagal theory, awkward moments, Transpersonal Psychology, trauma-informed expressive arts, somatic counseling, body psychotherapy, dismantling oppressive structures and systems, astrology, archetypes and all of the magical things in life. She can often be heard saying, "Celebrate that shit!", "Breathe and believe!", "What will move you from your head to your heart?", "What's your favorite failure?", "It's a data point and nothing more.", "Take good care of yourself!", "You are exactly where you need to be", “Thank you for being exactly who you are and how you are.” and "Oops". ------- INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING As mentioned above, my work is grounded in approaches that treat clients holistically. My services are great for anyone who is experiencing symptoms of anxiety or mild depression, life transitions, and/or has a desire for personal growth, finding their voice (in the context of relationships), or living a more connected and embodied life. It is an honor to serve you, whoever and however you are. I prioritize making our time together safe, inclusive, and supportive. Remember that in counseling, you are an expert, too! You know your life, body, and mind and I honor that. We will combine our areas of expertise in order to find the best path to your goals. IS DISTANCE COUNSELING FOR ME? This really depends on your comfort level with technology, your location, and your personal needs and desires for attending counseling. I am currently only working with adult clients in individual counseling sessions. Individuals who are experiencing suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, intimate partner violence, psychotic symptoms, and other mental health needs that require intensive services are not suited for distance counseling. If you are experiencing any of these concerns please call 911 or contact one of the emergency resources listed below. CONSIDERATIONS Be mindful that distance counseling requires a strong internet connection for the best experience. In distance counseling, confidentiality is also the responsibility of the client. Please ensure that you are meeting in a quiet, confidential, and distraction-free space. Eye contact and body language are experienced differently through telehealth software. PAYMENT INFORMATION Payment for services is required at the beginning of each scheduled appointment. I use SimplePractice to collect payments from all major credit cards. Insurance is not accepted. This might seem odd, however, many people choose not to use their insurance plans because of the added privacy. When insurance is accepted third parties are notified for billing purposes. Services through HEAD to HEART do not inform any additional parties of your choice to seek counseling services. Insurance companies also require counselors to provide a diagnosis of a mental health disorder. When insurance is left out of the equation, I am not required to label your experiences in this way. Another reason to leave insurance out of our work together is that insurance companies can limit the number of sessions they are willing to cover. Without the involvement of insurance companies, you and I will have more freedom to decide what is your best path to healing. If requested, I will provide a monthly superbill for services rendered to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. If you would like to investigate the possibility of reimbursement for out-of-network coverage, please check your insurance policy carefully and then contact your insurance provider. Please note that submitting for insurance reimbursement may void some of the above "perks" of private pay. ------- LPC LICENSURE SUPERVISION Calling all soon-to-be and official Master’s of Counseling graduates! Are you planning to complete LPC licensure hours in the Commonwealth of Virginia? Is supervision not an option at your place of employment? You’re in luck! I provide distance supervision services through HEAD to HEART in order to guide and mentor future LPC’s to trust their intuition in the counseling room, to continue developing their counselor identity, and to find and use their voice in creative, fun, and healing ways with clients. We focus on finding your specialty areas and integrating approaches that are congruent with your counselor identity. 4,000 hours sounds like a lot, but you’ve got this and I would be honored to support you on your journey! ------- CONSULTATION/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS I love to speak to and consult with groups and organizations on a variety of topics, including: Human Development Cognitive Development Ego Development Deliberate Psychological Education Contemplative Practices Somatic Psychotherapy Polyvagal Theory and Informed Practices Nervous System Regulation Family Systems and Dynamics Self-Care and Wellness Distance Counseling Counselor Development and Education