Heather Varnau is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in Individual and Couples Counseling and Psychotherapy, and maintains a private practice in Olympia, Washington.

Heather has been in the helping profession for over 10 years. She has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings as a counselor/psychotherapist, including: Highline-West Seattle Mental Health Center, The South Sound Attachment Clinic, The Lifelong AIDS Alliance, The University of Colorado Counseling and Psychological Service Center, and The Boulder County Safehouse for Domestic Violence. She has been recognized with awards for her work in community service and scholastic achievement.

Education: Heather has unique graduate training in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. In her graduate studies, Heather received intense clinical training in the psychological traditions of the West and Buddhist philosophy. She received her Bachelor's degree from Western Washington University.

Additional Training: Heather is currently pursuing certification in Internal Family Systems Therapy, a Mindfulness-Based and Relational psychotherapy. She has been a practitioner of Insight (Vipassana) Meditation for 9 years and receives ongoing training from Rodney Smith at the Seattle Insight Meditation Society in Seattle, Washington. Heather is passionate about staying current with the most up-to-date, effective, and relevant forms of psychotherapy. 

Professional Activities and Memberships: Heather is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Southwest Washington Association of Behavioral Health.