Heather Petersen, MSW, LGSW

Outpatient Psychotherapist

Hello, my name is Heather Petersen, and I’m honored to serve as a psychotherapist at Inspire Services. I am a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

While my clinical role is newer, I have been part of the Inspire Services team for over seven years as a Mental Health Practitioner in our Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) program. That experience gave me firsthand insight into the everyday challenges people face and deepened my passion for helping others navigate life’s obstacles, uncover their strengths, and build meaningful lives.

I offer therapy in a variety of settings—including in-office sessions, telehealth, in-home visits for clients living in assisted living communities, and weekly school-based support during the academic year. This flexible approach helps meet people not just geographically, but emotionally—removing common barriers such as transportation, mobility issues, stigma, or time constraints. Therapy doesn’t have to happen within four office walls; familiar environments often foster greater comfort, openness, and healing.

My therapeutic style is integrative and trauma-informed, combining evidence-based practices such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)

I also incorporate humanistic and relational approaches, including:

• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Narrative Therapy
• Attachment-Based Therapy



I strive to create a safe, compassionate space for each client to explore emotions, develop resilience, reconnect with their values, and experience genuine growth—not simply symptom relief. Whether supporting a student navigating school stress, a senior adjusting to life changes, or an adult managing anxiety or depression, my goal is always personalized, respectful care centered on building insight, confidence, and emotional strength.

Outside of work, I enjoy gardening and landscaping, exploring history and travel destinations, reading historical non-fiction, and spending quality time with my family.

As I step into this new chapter at Inspire Services, I look forward to deepening my connection with our community and helping make mental health care more accessible, welcoming, and empowering for all.