Real Therapy
Real Context
Real Change
Science-forward psychotherapy for adults living with chronic illness and anxiety. Queer-affirming and grounded in real life.
Care That is Affirming & Intentional
Therapy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Your body, identity, history, and the systems you move through all matter here.
Health at Every Size aligned
Queer-affirming and gender-expansive
Anti-oppressive
Neurodivergent-affirming
Grounded in evidence and lived experience
You might be here if…
You live with chronic illness and feel like your life has been quietly rearranged around it.
You’re high-functioning on the outside but constantly managing anxiety underneath.
You care deeply about justice, community, and the world and you’re exhausted.
You feel “behind” your peers and don’t know how to talk about it without shame.
You want therapy that challenges you, not therapy that just nods along.
You don’t need to explain your politics, your identity, or your complexity here. We can start from where you already are.
Hi, I’m Dr. Julie Heier!
I’m a licensed psychologist specializing in health psychology, chronic illness, and anxiety. My work sits at the intersection of clinical science and real life; where nervous systems, identities, and systems of power all shape how we move through the world.
I don’t believe in neutral therapy when neutrality ignores harm. I believe in thoughtful, evidence-based care that is collaborative, honest, and practical. Therapy with me is active. We look at patterns. We build skills. We ask better questions. And we make room for complexity.
Areas I Work In
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Living with Chronic Illness
Chronic illness changes more than your body. It reshapes identity, relationships, ambition, and trust in your own system. Together, we work on reducing anxiety, building resilience, and creating a life that feels sustainable, not performative.
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Health Anxiety + Needle Phobia
When your body feels unpredictable, anxiety makes sense. We use evidence-based tools to reduce health anxiety, work through medical trauma, and build practical coping strategies, without dismissing legitimate medical realities.
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Queer Affirming Therapy
Your identity is not a side note here. I provide queer-affirming, gender-expansive care that understands how systemic stress, marginalization, and community strength shape mental health.
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Eating Concerns + Body Image
Body image struggles rarely exist in isolation. We explore the psychological, cultural, and medical influences that shape your relationship with your body, grounded in Health at Every Size principles.
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Activists, Teachers & Community Leaders
If you carry responsibility for others, burnout can feel inevitable. We focus on nervous system regulation, boundaries, and sustainable engagement, so your work doesn’t consume you.
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Burnout and Overthinking
High-achievers often struggle silently. If your mind doesn’t turn off and rest feels unearned, we’ll work on practical tools that reduce rumination and increase clarity.
How I Work
Therapy with me is structured, collaborative, and rooted in research, but never sterile.
Science-forward, not detached
Direct but compassionate
Therapy that builds usable skills
Clear goals and measurable progress
You won’t just “process.” You’ll understand what’s happening in your brain and body, and learn what to do about it.
What working together looks like
01
The initial consultation
A 15–20 minute call to understand what you’re navigating and determine whether we’re a good fit.
02
Thoughtful, science-based sessions
We identify patterns, clarify goals, and apply research-backed tools tailored to your life.
03
Practical tools you can use
Skills for managing anxiety, navigating illness, setting boundaries, and regulating your nervous system.
04
Ongoing support, not pressure
We move at a sustainable pace. Therapy is collaborative, not performative.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re looking for therapy that is intelligent, affirming, and grounded in real life, I’d be glad to talk.