Expertise

Professional Experience:

2006-Present Private Mental Health Counseling Practice (Redmond, WA). Therapist.
  • Provide mental health counseling to clients. Specialties include: adolescents, working with parents, individuals experiencing transitions, depression, anxiety, and helping individuals achieve balance.
  • Approved Supervisor. Provide clinical supervision and consultation to licensure candidates.
  • Author of North Star Girls Group (4th edition published 2008). Developed, implemented, and published this psycho-educational support group for adolescent girls regarding self-esteem, body-image, and being true to yourself.
2006-Present North Star Offices, LLC (Redmond, WA). Owner.
  • Created North Star Offices, which offers private and shared office space in a community-oriented environment for individuals with flexible work schedules who are starting their own businesses or who need a part-time office.
  • Continue to manage, operate, and supervise all aspects of the business.
1996 – 2006 Youth Eastside Services (Bellevue, WA). Youth and Family Therapist.
  • Clinical Supervision: Supervised both clinical staff and master’s level clinical interns.
  • School-based program: Clinical counseling with youth and their families at school sites; facilitated groups; worked in three Bellevue middle schools; some program management.
  • Out-patient program: Clinical counseling with youth and families.
  • Parenting workshops: Classes on Raising Healthy and Confident Daughters.
1995 – 1996 Ruth Dykeman Youth and Family Services (Burien, WA). MSW clinical intern.
  • School-based program at Sea-Tac and White Center elementary schools: individual counseling, development and implementation of therapy group for fourth-grade students on family issues/conflicts, co-facilitator of KLUE (Kids Like Us are Everywhere) group for fourth through sixth grade youth with substance abusing parent(s).
  • Out-patient Program: Clinical counseling with youth and families.
  • Co-facilitator of community-based PATH (Partners in Action for Teen Health) pregnancy prevention group for seventh-grade students.
1994 – 1995 United Cerebral Palsy (Seattle, WA). Social Interaction Specialist.
  • Worked closely with residents living at the United Cerebral Palsy Residential Center who had severe cognitive and physical disabilities. Assisted with physical therapy, recreation, counseling, and communication programs through one-to-one, small group, and community-based training.
1993 – 1994 Rehabilitation Services of Northern California: Westcom Industries (Richmond, CA). Rehabilitation Specialist.
  • Worked with developmentally disabled adults in a vocational rehabilitation program. This sheltered workshop provided a supportive, educational, and transitional setting for DD adults.
1992 – 1993 Stiles Hall Community Service Organization (Berkeley, CA). Project Coordinator.
  • Coordinated UC Berkeley student volunteer program at Napa State Mental Hospital. Duties included selection, placement, and continued supervision of thirty volunteers; maintaining close contact with hospital administrators and therapists; and working directly with both child and adult patients in the hospital.
1991 – 1993 Transitions of Berkeley: Head Injury Recovery Center (Berkeley, CA). Life Skills Counselor.
  • Worked in residential treatment program for the rehabilitation of clients with both physical and cognitive impairments due to brain injuries.
1991 – 1992 Affect Sharing Study (UC Berkeley). Research Assistant.
  • Development and refinement of study, investigating the formation of emotions in infants at different ages.

Education & Licensure

2014
Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator (CDWF)
2006 Washington State LICSW Approved Supervisor
2001 Washington State Children’s Mental Health Specialist
2001 Washington State Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
2000 Washington State Certified Social Worker
1997 Master of Social Work. University of Washington.
1993 B.A. Psychology with high honors. University of California at Berkeley.
1996 - 1997 Certificate Program in Children’s Mental Health (UW School of Social Work Continuing Education): One hundred hours of professional training.
1995 - 1996 Certificate Program in Clinical Mental Health Supervision (UW School of Social Work Continuing Education): One hundred hours of professional training.

Honors & Professional Associations

2006 - present Member of the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Workers (WSSCSW)
1996 - present Member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
2001 - 2005 Advisory Board Member of Friends of Youth Shelter Program
1998 & 2001 Nomination for Youth Link Community Leadership Award from Bellevue Youth Link.
1993 Western Psychology Conference for Undergraduate Research. Invited to present senior honors thesis, Gender and Communicative Style in the College Classroom, at Santa Clara University, CA.
“Everybody has a calling. And your real job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you were meant to be, and to begin to honor that in the best way possible for yourself.” — Oprah Winfrey
Heidi Arizala Showman, MSW, LICSW ~ heidi@northstaroffices.com