About Us

Heather Walders

Heather Walders, MSW, MPH, LCSW
Assistant Director of Outreach and Community Engagement

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Languages in which I conduct therapy: English

My approach to therapy: I am a White, cisgender, heterosexual woman who was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan before moving to the Tampa Bay area, along with my parents and younger brother.  I played on the USF women's soccer team, was in the Honors Program, and earned a BA in Mass Communications at USF in 1998 and came back "home" later in life to get masters degrees in both Public Health and Social Work. Having been a military spouse for the 14 years in between, and moving around frequently, I had the opportunity to travel and work in a diverse array of fields around the globe using my communication and speaking skills in public relations and business management roles before finding my way to becoming a mental health therapist.

As a therapist, my passion lies in providing mental health counseling, outreach, and holistic emotional wellness development opportunities to individuals to take with them throughout the many challenges and adventures life throws their way. Building independence and raising self-esteem towards becoming productive and successful adults and discovering your best selves is my goal for all USF students. My approach to therapy is humanistic and person-centered. I frequently implement mindfulness, meditation, and individual growth and awareness interventions in my therapy sessions.

Approach to Supervision/Training: I use a Competency-based and Integrated Developmental approaches, utilizing related knowledge, experiences, skills, and attitudes that interact in theoretical application.

Professional Affiliations:
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Certified in Public Health (CPH)
Association for University and College Counseling Center Outreach (AUCCCO)
Mental Health First Aid Trainer

Fun Fact: I am a certified yoga instructor and reiki master.