Now that I have a good client-therapist match, I am appalled at my treatment by Heather Burns, LCSW. I came to her for depression and some other very serious concerns. I am almost afraid to review her as I read her other "response" to a negative review where she insinuated the client was Severely Emotionally Disturbed. Maybe, maybe not, but it really seems Heather was unprofessional in dealing with this client, and with her subsequent response to the client's heartfelt review on Yelp. I suspect you will all be told (gently, of course) that Heather cannot reveal my diagnosis but that she is saddened by my inaccurate review, or something like that. My own experience with Heather was very negative. She literally told me that I was "sitting too aggressively", and when I asked what that meant she said I was sitting too close to her (she was way across the room from me, but yes I was leaning forward with my elbows on my knees to be able to connect with her and to hear her better)! It turns out I had been "doing this" (as in, sitting wrong) for 2-3 sessions before Heather told me I made her uncomfortable. I left that session in shock, especially after Heather told me that aggression is related to my depression and that they were one and the same. Actually, I am almost too passive- so to be told I was aggressive, because I was depressed, was comically inaccurate. Furthermore, I wrote Heather a lengthy note which I gave to her my second or third session (I think we had a total of 5-6 sessions). In it, I described my excitement to meet her and begin the healing process. I also mentioned something about how I will always respect her boundaries. Well, she really fixated on that and asked me if I have problems with boundaries! I was simply trying to put it out there that I would like to forge a respectful, trusting relationship with Heather. I wrote her a nice note and apparently that was not OK?! I also have some trouble with concentration. So one day I forgot to bring along the door code number to get into Heather's office. I knocked lightly but I think there was a sign out front asking for quiet. Regardless, I waited outside for Heather to let me in and when she finally came to the door 20 minutes or more into our session, she looked in a huff and ready to leave. I apologized profusely, as is my tendency to do, but Heather obviously did not like the surprise of me suddenly appearing when she was set to leave for my "no-show". She sat in what seemed an angry silence for our session that day. To add insult to injury, Heather terminated our therapy. I realize now that was a blessing because I found a good therapist who calls me on actual shit, not weird stuff like "you are giving me a weird look right now" (to the other reviewer who "blinked funny"- you are not alone)! I do think Heather feels she is a good therapist, and she appears to put effort into her work. I do not doubt she may be a good match for a select few clients. But I honestly, in my heart, feel that Heather Burns is in the wrong line of work. I am not bitter, nor angry, as I write this review. And I do not deserve a passive-aggressive "response" by Heather who severely hurt my feelings already. It has taken me a long time to get over Heather's strange and unprofessional therapeutic treatment of me. I am so pleased I have moved on in my therapy, and in my life! P.S. I find it telling that the glowing reviews are not by "lay people", i.e. they are reviews by a fellow therapist and a therapist-hopeful, and by folks who have reviewed NO other businesses. Hmmm... Reviews are filtered for a reason. read more

I saw Heather for an initial intake. I provided her with the range of fee that I could pay over the phone. Heather stated that that seemed doable and that I should come in. I attempted to get a price at the start of session but Heather stated we would discuss it after we talked about why I was coming in. At the end of the session, she stated I would need to pay her full fee (double my ability to pay) and seemed shocked I didn't have the cash on hand. I've since spoken to a therapist friend who stated that this is considered unethical! read more

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Heather Burns, and I have personally and professionally referred others to Heather as one of few local quality clinicians. I find Heather to be: * HELPFUL * Professional * Bright * Empathetic * Good humored * Conscientious * Accommodating I have just read a review by another yelper, and I am pretty surprised. My experience was quite the contrary. There are plenty of clinicians that are not of good quality...just as in any trade; however I do find Heather to be a QUALITY therapist. Each person's experience with a given clinician will vary, depending on a variety of factors and flexibility of the clinician. I found Heather to be FLEXIBLE and accommodating. She specifically asked me what I would like out of therapy, just as most good clinicians would. She also inquired as to what I found most helpful from her versus not. As a result of these inquiries, she tailored a specific individualized treatment plan that worked best for me. She also inquired periodically to ensure that her technique was a good fit and that I was comfortable on the path we were taking. The therapeutic process can be uncomfortable at times; however this discomfort is also often necessary for necessary change to take place. My therapy with Heather led to my ultimate relief, insight, and changes for the better. I felt SAFE with Heather, and I am extremely pleased with the outcome of our work together. She helped me to directly face my challenges more quickly and flawlessly than any other therapist has. I aspire to be the kind of clinician that Heather is. I often suggest to friends and potential clients that when beginning therapy, it is best to "interview potential clinicians," giving the relationship three trial sessions before determining whether the fit is good or not. I recommend that you do that with Heather, if you are looking for a local therapist. Good luck to all yelpers in your identification of a quality clinician and successful journey to wellness. -Dra. Joy Former client of Heather's and Practicing mental health clinician and Doctor in Psychology P.S. In addition, I would like to offer that in some cases, a client requires medication in conjunction with therapy. In these cases, therapy can prove quite difficult until the medication regime has been implemented. DR; TL: If you are looking for a QUALITY clinician in the area, Heather is definitely worth the three session trial! ;) read more

I have had many therapists in my life, and Heather has been one of the most demonstrably helpful of all of them. I came to her during a very difficult time in my life when I was navigating some extremely painful and complicated situations. When I started, everything felt like a untenable mess that I could not navigate, and by the time we were done my life and relationships were healthier and completely manageable on my own. She didn't just help me understand what was going on, she gave me actual practical tools and advice to live a healthier life. I only stopped therapy because I realized that she had equipped me with what I needed to continue to do the work on my own. I joke to my friends that I would do anything that Heather told me to do, because she has never steered me wrong. I am really grateful to Heather for her expertise and skill at what she does, and would highly recommend her. read more

I am suffering from PTSD and went to see Heather in her Castro Valley office during a recent crisis period. My cat was ill and not fixable in addition to my anxiety and depression issues. During my 1st session, I explained my issues, especially trying to deal with the upcoming loss of my cat. I didn't feel any compassion from Heather. In my 2nd session I advised her of the additional trauma I experienced during the loss of my companion of over 13 yrs. I still don't understand how someone could listen to what I experienced and not offer a shed of compassion, much less welled up themselves. My 3rd session confirmed that Heather is unable to express any compassion to her clients. She told me time was up, when it was actually up, in the midst of my tears and my expressions. I left trying to wipe my tears and compose myself. She said that next time she would advise me 5-10 minutes earlier. I think this is standard practice with any therapist, so I really don't understand what happened here. Throwing me out in this state was completely unnecessary and counter-productive to my recovery. I felt like just a number in her list of clients and nothing else. Best of luck to you in your search for a quality therapist in the east bay. Ruth D read more

I've come back to my review of Heather Burns because someone who had a similar experience with her sent me a note on Yelp. This gave me the opportunity to see Heather's updated response to my original review, as well as the responses she's made to the other negative reviews. All I really have to say about this is is that the way Heather presents herself on Yelp is a pretty fair representation of how she conducts herself as a therapist. So if you're contemplating making an appointment with her, hey--you've got lots of information to work with. To ensure this update meets Yelp's "Relevance" standard, I'll give you one additional data point about my time with her. Between two sessions, I had started to try a self-help protocol based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which posits that depression is the result of distorted negative self-talk. In CBT, you work to train yourself out of these distortions by writing down your thoughts and how they are distorted. You might write "I am a born failure and will continue to fail at everything I do," and then rewrite "Everyone fails sometimes; I can work on changing the future." It's a simple exercise, but it can be quite emotionally intense. Anyway, I'd tried doing this and thought it would be useful to bring in my notes to discuss with Heather, because she was my therapist and I thought notes about my inner landscape would be relevant. Instead of reading them, Heather fanned the notes out in front of her face and immediately told me I had brought them in as a means of chastising her. Unconsciously, she said, I was angry with her and wanted to "school her" in doing her job by bringing in evidence of "extra work" that I had been forced to do on my own. (Not because I was deeply depressed and trying to do everything I could to help myself.) This session was one of a couple with Heather where I, like another reviewer, "left in shock"--but looking back, it just seems absurd. A depressed client tries to talk about what they're doing between sessions to help themselves, and the therapist finds a way to make it about her. As for me, it's been well over a year since I stopped seeing Heather. I'm doing great--right now I'm preparing to apply to graduate school and start a new chapter in my life, and I've been loving California more and more (I'd recently moved when I started therapy and was so depressed it took a while to fall for this beautiful state!). I've taken huge strides in making the kinds of positive changes in my life and my character that I was desperate to make when I went to Heather. I'm doing so well that about a month ago my physician and I decided it was a good time to transition off my antidepressant. It's been interesting taking note of the subtle differences between me on medication and me sans medication, but there have been no emotional ill effects. When I first reviewed Heather, I changed my Yelp name and photo to keep my identity somewhat private--I'd said a lot that was revealing, and I wasn't sure I wanted anyone to know who I was. But I don't really care about that much anymore, so I changed my name back, and the picture you now see is the same one I use on a bunch of other websites. In fact, here is a link to something I wrote about the changes that have manifested in my life in the last year and a bit: http://coyot.es/dispersalrange/2014/01/01/a-good-year-long-past-due-my-2013/ I'm happy to stand by my experience, and in general, I'm just happy. If you are searching for a therapist because it feels like things will never change, I want you to know that they can and do--and I hope things turn around for you, perhaps sooner than you expect. read more

As a former client of Ms. Burns' , I am glad to have this opportunity to submit a review, and to note that most other reviewers have had a similar experience to mine- that is, a positive one. Ms. Burns was client-centric from the beginning. What this feels like as a client is a feeling of control over the direction of the session (philosophical, symptom-focused, crisis intervention, etc..), and an 'open agenda' for what was on your mind at the moment. Her clinical impressions were based on keen observation and focused listening, current research in the field, and she had a great memory for past conversations. She was also never afraid of asking clarifying questions to make sure she was on the right track. I experienced Ms. Burns as genuinely validating- not in a 'blowing sunshine' kind of way, but a genuine affirmation of what everyone deserves- love, support, safety and happiness. Her ability to hold and remind me of these high standards for me and my loved ones when I felt undeserving was truly transformative. I also appreciated Ms. Burn's humor- the difficult work of therapy needs a little levity here and there, and she helped me laugh at myself when it was appropriate. She was able to bring real-life perspectives and impressions into the work, and sometimes, in real life, you just have to laugh! One last bit of praise- with Ms. Burns' back up, I was able to take huge risks in my life towards my own health and well-being. I TRULY would not have been able to do it without her. In fact, I wouldn't have even known about the 1) unhealthy patterns and 2) options for moving forward. Ms. Burns is not just a compassionate therapist but a genuine advocate for her clients. No therapist is perfect, but Ms. Burns is extremely adaptable, because she puts clients in the driver's seat. I am extremely grateful and far better off having found and worked with her. read more

I have had the pleasure of working with Heather in consultation. She was the family's therapist and I was the individual therapist serving one of the family members. I found Heather to be professional and compassionate. She really took the time to consider all sides as she helped the family navigate some very rocky waters. I was impressed with her ability to stay mindful throughout it all. Therapy is a strange thing. There are a number of variables that enter the therapy room. It takes a skillful eye to provide the containment necessary to produce growth. Sometimes this can feel uncomfortable and meet with resistance. That is just the nature of the beast. Heather is a great therapist. I would send my friends to her any day! read more

I read a few other reviews, and wow. I don't see how is possible to review Heather Burns in a negative way. My wife and I have seen her over the past two years. Off and on. She is highly intelligent, professionally composed, and offers suggestions/thoughts that turn a problem into a non-issue. I am 48 years old, and have gone to counselors over the years with past girlfriends, and the results were that the relationships ended. I have been with my wife for 7 years now, and Hands down Heather is far better than anyone I have ever seen in the past. She is not there to take sides. She listens, and offers thoughts to help. Every time we leave her office, we both look at each other and say ''She is good''. Not once have we left her office and felt she let us down. read more

Heather was my therapist for just over 1 year. I have heard countless stories from friends and family members about the arduous 'hunt' for a good therapist, or at least a good fit with one. Arguably, no where is this harder than in the Bay Area where clinicians, yogi's, healers, etc., are a dime a dozen. This just made me feel all the more grateful for finding Heather. From the gate Heather was at once responsive and unflinchingly accepting. Without fail she held, for the entirety of our work together, a remarkably warm, compassionate space that both nurtured and supported me in some very crucial growth/work. Her skill in 'client-centered' therapy is truly noteworthy. With a flexible combination of open/supportive listening, reflective feedback and poignant insights, her overall focus seemed to be on facilitating a process wherein therapeutic 'progress' or 'growth' was, in a way, self-directed. The impact of this process was huge. Almost every time I left the office I was in awe of what had just happened. I would leave feeling altered, kind of rocked, shaken up in the most grounded and deeply satisfying way possible (even when it hurt or left me a bit disoriented). Since then I always look for the opportunity to recommend her. As evidenced below, I'm sure she's not the best fit for everyone. But I could not have imagined a better fit for me. While all is going well for me now, I do long for the day when I continue my work with her. read more