Heidi Colton, LCSW

Background 
Heidi has been a clinical social worker in the child welfare, mental health and integrated health field since 2004.  Heidi completed her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from Bradley University in Peoria, IL and her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois – Champaign-Urbana, IL.  Since then, Heidi has gained expertise in early childhood intervention, therapeutic play, parenting skills, advocacy, DCFS foster care/adoption (adoptive family, adoptee and birth family therapy), grief and loss, personality disorders, trauma, marital issues, neurodivergence (ADHD and Autism Spectrum), depression and anxiety disorders as well as working with the LGBTQI+ population.  She enjoys and has experience in working with children, adolescents, adults, and the older adult population.    

Approach to Therapy 
Heidi has been in private practice for three and a half years, but has been in practice for 21 years. She has provided crisis services, grief and loss support, and trauma processing in both individual and family therapy settings. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as primary, evidence-based treatment modalities.   

Heidi values on-going learning and has completed a Certification in Pathological/Persistent Demand Avoidance which helps to understand certain personality and behavioral profiles of neurodivergent individuals with diagnoses of Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  Heidi leads from an optimistic, strength-based perspective, loves humor and is accepting of all people. 

About Heidi 
Heidi is a mother of two young adults.  She was raised in the Quad Cities and understands the dynamics of midwestern living.  She loves music, concerts, traveling to the beach or the mountains, and loves enjoying a good book.  She values her relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and the greater community.  She is warm, inviting and strives to leave people in a better frame of mind by the end of her sessions.