Hello, I'm Heidi

Heidi is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and co-founder of Haelen Mental Health. She was first drawn to mental health nursing as a student, listening to community members share their stories of recovery. Their courage and openness revealed how deeply mental health touches us all, and their transformations set the course for her nursing career. #OurStoriesHavePower

Heidi earned her Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of Auckland in 2004, her Master of Nursing Education from Oregon Health & Science University in 2017, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Rush University in 2021. She completed Basic EMDR training in 2023, an Advanced Practice Psychotherapy Fellowship in 2024, and is currently advancing her expertise through the Integrative Psychiatric Institute Certificate program along with the Emotion Connection Psychotherapy Fellowship.

Over the past two decades, Heidi has worked across diverse healthcare settings, including medical-surgical, cardiac, and rehabilitative units, as well as adult and adolescent psychiatric units. She spent six years at Craig Hospital on both the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury units, where she witnessed the resilience of patients and the power of empowering families in recovery. She has also worked closely with the veteran community.

As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Heidi provides outpatient care for children (6+), adolescents, and adults. Her approach is integrative, combining evidence-based psychiatry with psychotherapy, EMDR, motivational interviewing, mindfulness-based therapy, and lifestyle interventions. She partners with each patient to create individualized treatment paths that emphasize healing, resilience, and long-term wellness.

Beyond her clinical work, Heidi is an educator and speaker, sharing her expertise with both professional and community audiences. She remains committed to lifelong learning to ensure her patients benefit from the most current advances in mental health care.

Outside of work, Heidi enjoys time with her family, the outdoors, and a good book—always with a strong cup of coffee nearby.