Heather Zaorski
LMHC, she/her
Heather Zaorski is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and related challenges in children, teens, and families. She received her Master’s degree from the University of Washington in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology: Treatment and Prevention, where she developed a strong foundation in developmentally informed, evidence-based treatments.
Heather completed her clinical practicum at Rogers Behavioral Health, a Partial Hospitalization Program providing intensive treatment for OCD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trichotillomania, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). She went on to complete a post-master’s fellowship at the Evidence-Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, where she received advanced training in gold-standard interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Parent Management Training (PMT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Additionally, Heather is a trained provider in several parent-based treatment models, including SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) and Parent–Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), and is a certified provider of PEERS, an evidence-based social skills intervention for neurodiverse adolescents. She is deeply committed to ongoing training and lifelong learning as a way to continually deepen her clinical work and refine her skills. Her current professional development is focused on advanced training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and she participates in ongoing consultation and mentorship.
Heather holds a second Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her work is grounded in the belief that mental health is not only about reducing distress or treating pathology, but also about intentionally cultivating strengths, resilience, and meaning. Positive psychology complements traditional approaches by focusing on how skills such as engagement, self-efficacy, and resilience can be cultivated not only to ease suffering but also to build a meaningful life.
My Therapeutic Approach
My work is grounded in evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Foundational to my work is a mindful self-compassion approach. I support clients in learning to notice thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns without becoming overwhelmed or defined by them. Together, we build awareness, kindness, and intentionality, practicing new ways of responding that are aligned with long-term goals and values.
I take a whole-person, strengths-based, and skills-building approach to therapy. While diagnosis can be a helpful tool for understanding patterns and guiding treatment, I do not view children, teens, or parents through a pathology-based lens. Instead, I understand symptoms and challenging behaviors as signals of unmet or underdeveloped skills, skills that all humans continue to develop throughout their lifespan. Core areas of skill development in my work include emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, psychological flexibility, and values-based decision-making.
I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, transparent, and tailored to each individual and family. I view clients as the experts in their own lives and see my role as a curious collaborator, offering structure, science-backed tools, and a safe, nonjudgmental space for growth. I am deeply committed to culturally responsive and affirming care and approach each client and family with humility and respect for their unique lived experience. In addition to working with children and teens, I am especially passionate about supporting parents through coaching and guidance that honors the complexity of modern family life while helping families not just manage challenges, but truly flourish.
