Heidi Arntzen, AASW

Heidi Arntzen is an AASW social worker who offers calm, down-to-earth counselling for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief or addiction. She keeps sessions practical and respectful so people can talk honestly and work at a pace that suits them. Heidi’s manner is warm and steady, which helps clients focus on real change rather than feeling judged.

She has six years’ experience supporting adults across mental health and alcohol and other drug settings. Her work helps people understand themselves better, strengthen coping skills, and build routines that support ongoing wellbeing. Heidi also brings lived experience from supporting a loved one through serious mental health issues and navigating breast cancer, which informs her compassionate approach.

Heidi uses a person-centred, strengths-based and trauma-informed framework. Sessions balance emotional support with practical tools you can use day to day. She often focuses on harm reduction and recovery when alcohol or other drug use is a concern, alongside skills for emotional regulation and stress management.

Common issues she helps with include anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, grief, and challenges around family or relationship stress. She also works with people coping with cancer, caregiver strain, abandonment, blended family dynamics, communication problems, and recovery from domestic or family violence.

If you are unsure whether counselling is a good next step, Heidi suggests starting with a short conversation to see if her style feels like a fit. The first steps can be small and are taken together at a pace that suits you.

How evidence-informed techniques translate to online support

Heidi draws on a small set of evidence-informed techniques to guide sessions in clear, practical ways. Motivational interviewing involves a collaborative conversation that helps people find their own reasons for change and build motivation, which can be useful for substance use or habit change. CBT-informed strategies focus on spotting unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviours, which helps with anxiety, low mood and problem solving. Strengths-based work highlights what is already working in a person’s life and builds on those strengths to support recovery and coping.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. Heidi works with each person to identify which techniques fit their goals and values, and she adapts methods as therapy progresses so the work stays relevant and useful.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also make it simpler to access continuity of care during life changes. Discussing practical needs during your first contact will help plan sessions that fit your routine and preferences.