Heather McDowell

she/her

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Anxiety, Coping Skills, Emotional Disturbance, Dual Diagnosis

Individual Counseling

Online in North Carolina

25 years in practice

Ages served: 18-64

Accepted insurance

Heather accepts 30 insurers

Aetna

Aetna Medicare Advantage

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Anthem

Cigna | Evernorth

Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Plan

Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Plan

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina | BCBS

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina | BCBS Medicare Advantage

Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

Carelon

Caresource

Cigna | Evernorth - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Compsych

Devoted Health | Medicare Advantage

Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network

First Health Network

HealthSpring | Medicare Advantage

Humana Medicare Advantage

JP Farley Corporation

Medcost NC

Medicare NC

Multi Plan PHCS

Optum Serve

Oscar Health

Quest Behavioral Health

State Health Plan | North Carolina

UMR

United Healthcare | Optum

United Healthcare | Optum - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

United Healthcare | Optum Medicare Advantage

Uprise EAP

Self pay

Self pay costs

Out-of-pocket session costs for clients who don’t have insurance or aren’t covered by their insurance for mental health services.

$200

first session

$160

subsequent sessions

About Heather

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor with 22 years of experience helping adults navigate depression, anxiety, grief, and major life transitions. My goal is to create a safe, supportive environment where clients feel empowered to explore challenges and find growth through self-awareness and emotional regulation. I believe in using therapy as a collaborative process that fosters healing, balance, and personal transformation.

I earned my Master’s in Counseling from the UNC-Charlotte. My therapeutic approach blends cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness-based strategies. This combination allows clients to develop greater control over their thoughts, manage emotions, and stay present in the moment.

If you are considering therapy, I commend you for taking this important step toward caring for your mental health. Continue showing up for yourself by scheduling a session and prioritizing your emotional well-being just as you would your physical health. Healing begins when you give yourself permission to grow.

"Like much else in life, you get out of therapy what you put into it. What you do outside of the therapy session is just as important as what happens in the session, as you have the chance to take responsibilty for your own treatment and apply what you have learned."

Get to know Heather

What's one thing you wish all clients knew about therapy, mental health, or the healing process?

Change does not happen overnight, and If you do nothing, nothing changes.

What can clients expect in their first session with you and in the early stages of therapy?

The first session will mostly consist of gathering information about the client's previous experience in therapy if any, what brought the client to therapy, what they hope to get out of therapy, and potentially goal setting; as well as rapport building.

How do you tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs?

I meet people where they are, and I ask what brought them to therapy and what they hope to get out of therapy.

Other areas of focus

SpecialitiesAnxiety, Coping Skills, Emotional Disturbance, Dual Diagnosis, Depression, Grief, Life Transition, Peer Relationships, Stress / Mental Stress / Work Stress, Social Anxiety, Women’s Issues, Self Esteem

ApproachesAny / Eclectic, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBCT), Humanistic / Rogerian, Person-Centered Therapy, Positive Psychology, Strength-Based Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)