About Us
The Practice
Jessica is a born & raised New Yorker and has maintained a private psychotherapy practice for over 14 years in New York and Connecticut. Heather is a Southern California native who has been in New York for over a decade. In 2020, Jessica and Heather joined forces bringing their unique points of view together into one practice setting. Together, they bring years of experience working in all levels of clinical care which has been thoughtfully integrated into their practice of psychotherapy.
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Using an individualized, nurturing, and client-centered approach, our practice goal for clients is to feel a certain level of ease as they step into the feelings and potentially challenging work. As therapists, we primarily use a relational psychoanalytically informed approach to therapy along with the integration of other evidenced-based practices including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). In conjunction with these treatment modalities, we are committed to offering highly individualized concierge care for our clients.
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Our practice has extensive specialized training in eating disorders, body image issues and women’s health and uses a body positive, anti-diet, HAES philosophy. Other specialties include trauma, anxiety, depression, co-occurring addictions, ADHD, and LGBTQIA+.
As psychotherapists, we feel we have the distinct privledge of learning about each of our clients holistically from a biological, psychological, social and spiritual standpoint with the goal of assisting them to recognize their own inner beauty and strength.
Meet the Team
Founder & Clinical Director
Jessica Van Hiel, LCSW-R
She/Her
Psychotherapist
Heather Van Hiel, LCSW
She/Her
Jessica is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in New York with a deep rooted passion for empowering individuals that struggle with mental health issues through the art and practice of psychotherapy. She has been specializing in eating disorders, body image, and women's health issues for over 14 years. She also works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, life-stressors, trauma and LGBTQIA+.
Prior to starting a private practice, Jessica worked in several treatment centers, having hands on experience with all levels of treatment. She acted as Clinical Team Leader at the Renfrew Center of Connecticut, where she was the lead clinician for the Intensive Outpatient Program and provided clinical supervision to other staff therapists. In addition, she also acted as Clinical Team Leader at Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center in New York City, where she assisted with the clinical development and launch of a Day Treatment Program. She has also worked as a consultant and supervisor for Backcountry Wellness in Greenwich, CT.
Jessica obtained a Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in 2008. She also has advanced post-graduate institute training in psychotherapy from The Women's Therapy Centre Institute in NYC.
Heather is a psychotherapist who is passionate about helping others navigate the pressures and stressors of life. The world we live in can feel overwhelming, demanding and overly competitive. Our culture can be harmful when it comes to ideas about happiness, success and beauty ideals. Heather's past work experience in the fashion industry and prior to that, being a Division 1 collegiate athlete, give her a unique insight into common societal pressures we face and the need to manage our mental health as a result. Her goal as a therapist is to help heal and empower individuals to manage the pressures of life and find their own version of happiness.
Her work experience has included individual, group, and family psychotherapy using a variety of modalities. She has a background working in all levels of care including eating disorder residential treatment and intensive outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. In addition to specializing in eating disorders, body image, and substance use disorders, Heather also works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, ADHD and LGBTQIA+.
Heather obtained her Masters of Social Work from New York University with a specialization in Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders.