Isaiah Heterbrink (He/They)
Clinical Therapist
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #164833 Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #23434
Supervised by: Ami Koide, Clinical Supervisor (CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #136634)
Phone: 714-253-4124
Email: isaiah@gatherandgrowoc.com
What is your role at Gather and Grow OC?
As a dual-licensed (Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor) therapist at Gather and Grow OC, I provide comprehensive mental health services from a person-centered and intersectional perspective. My two main therapeutic approaches are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Narrative Therapy. They allow me to take on a more guiding, collaborative role with my clients and help them integrate mindfulness practices into their daily lives.
School and Training History
I graduated from CSU Monterey Bay with a Bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology, and from CSU Fullerton with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through a program that strongly emphasized social justice and intersectional thinking.
Individual Focus
I bring a collaborative approach to therapy, including developing treatment goals, deciding which interventions to use, and prioritizing the issues and experiences in the room. I strongly believe you are the expert on your own life, meaning that while I may have the knowledge and tools to guide you, ultimately you are the only one who knows where you want to go. Working with the LGBTQ+ community is a passion of mine, and I am always seeking ways to uplift marginalized communities so that their stories have a chance to be honored as they were always meant to be. I consider myself to be an eclectic therapist. I am always willing to bring in techniques or interventions from various therapeutic approaches based on what the client needs or requests. The two approaches that I gravitate toward the most are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Narrative therapy. I believe these approaches give me a strong toolkit to get to know and appreciate the inner workings of a client’s life. I love helping clients figure out what matters most to them and reignite passions that may have been lost or never discovered in the first place. I think that everyone is a collection of many intricate stories that come together to create their worldview. Through deconstruction and reauthorization of these stories, we can work together to heal old wounds, gain a sense of empowerment, and allow ourselves to grow in ways we never would have thought possible.
What excites you about being part of the Gather and Grow OC community?
I like that Gather and Grow OC is a small, tight-knit community that works overtime to support each other through whatever issue of the week may be. There is so much passion for this line of work on display here that it reinvigorates me as a therapist and makes me want to put my best foot forward with every client I encounter. I love that Gather and Grow is a safe space to work with the LGBTQ+ population, and that being here lets me continue pursuing my passion for uplifting the queer community.
Currently scheduling clients Monday-Wednesday + Friday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. (virtual), and Thursday from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. (virtual) and 3 p.m.- 7 p.m. (virtual or in person)
You can contact Isaiah directly at 714-253-4124 or isaiah@gatherandgrowoc.com. View other therapist profiles HERE.
A Letter from Isaiah
Hi, I’m Isaiah!
I work at Gather & Grow as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC). I became interested in psychology from a young age when I realized how complex and intricate people’s lives are. I have always enjoyed people-watching and applying psychological theory to the experiences I observe to help me gain a deeper understanding of the different lives people lead.
I started studying clinical psychology at West Hills Community College when I was 19 and went on to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University Monterey Bay. During my time at Monterey, I worked as a psychology intern for a research team that was developing a mental health manual to better understand and work with former gang members seeking a second chance at life. I initially wanted to be a psychology researcher, but my experiences working with this population inspired me to want to sit down and have more face-to-face conversations with the people whose stories I was typically only able to read off a piece of paper. That's when I knew I wanted my career in the mental health field to be much more relational than clinical. From there, I went on to get my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from California State University: Fullerton. I had an absolute blast during my time in the program, which prided itself on its commitment to social justice and serving disadvantaged, marginalized, and impoverished communities. The program allowed me to work at the LGBTQ Center OC as an MFT trainee, where I met so many amazing clients and colleagues who inspired me to always put my best foot forward in my line of work. I believe in the healing and transformative nature of therapy, and I love how flexible therapy can be. It is so much fun to sit down with clients and figure out an approach to therapy that is tailored to their specific wants and needs.
Moving forward, I would like to gain more training in DBT and EMDR to better support clients with significant trauma. I would like to continue my studies into how best to advocate for clients who have survived religious trauma, as it is a passion area of mine.
I love working with the LGBTQ+ community, and I have a strong desire to put them first with whatever work I am doing. I think there is so much knowledge within the community that is not only important to them but to broader society as well.
I am a strong believer in mindfulness activities and building powerful connections to oneself and others that can be called upon in times of distress. I think it is so important to maintain a sense of “whimsy” in life, and I always encourage clients to focus on the things that make their life worth living. Life is so much better when we can find our pockets of joy no matter how few and far between they might be. I am ecstatic to meet new clients here at Gather & Grow and support them in whatever healing, growth, and/or change they are seeking!
~lsaiah