Heather Boynton LCSW

Heather Boynton, LCSW

Heather is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 13 years of clinical experience in the metal health field, and is a therapist who is dedicated and passionate her in work with clients and teaching. She leaves no stone unturned in the process of working with her clients on a variety of specialized levels. Heather is a graduate from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Norfolk State University.

Experience
She has provided individual, family, marriage, and group therapy in multiple settings. Her treatment approaches include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing- Adaptive Information Processing Model), biological interventions that promote brain regulation (Neurofeedback therapy), structural family therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Heather enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults to provide the most innovative treatment approaches available today. It is this dedication to continued education and research in these cutting edge treatments that demonstrate her commitment to providing best practices for her patients. The treatment methods that she uses assist in resolving depression, anxiety, trauma related issues (PTSD), ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and relational issues in the patients she works with at Parker Schlichter & Associates.

She is also a skilled educator who is committed to investing in the professional development of her colleagues to increase awareness and understanding of children and adolescents with mental, social and psychological challenges through her CEU accredited training course Attachment Theory and Interventions Workshop. She also trains therapists how to practice and apply EMDR therapy in their own office settings. These courses are provided through Parker Schlichter & Associates – please contact Heather directly for more specific information on training modules. Heather has contributed to making PSA one of the most significant trauma treatment centers in Tidewater VA.

Ms. Boynton’s Additional Trainings and Experiences:

EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Ms. Boynton has been a practicing EMDR therapist since February 2006. Furthermore she is a Certified Therapist in EMDR and Consultant in Training in EMDR.

• - Completed the  Basic EMDR Training Program in 2006
• - Completed Consultation by Approved EMDRIA Consultant for Certification Requirements in 2009
• - Completed Trauma-Informed Child Treatment Training Course in 2009

EMDR is a therapeutic tool designed for patients who suffer from traumatic events, such as sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse. The goal of EMDR as a trauma therapy is to forge new connections between the unprocessed memory (trauma) and the more adaptive information that are contained in other memory networks. EMDR focuses directly on all the perceptual components of disturbing memories (imagery, cognition, affect, body sensations) and maintains these in a dynamic state while the patient simultaneously engages in a dual attention task (eye movements). Research has shown that eye movement reprocessing decreases the vividness and emotionality of these disturbing memories. New pathways have been demonstrated to correct previously locked down memory circuits to move on with current life challenges.

NFB
Neurofeedback Therapy Ms. Boynton has been a practicing Neurofeedback therapist since July 2005. She is currently working towards requirements for Certification in EEG Biofeedback with the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.

• - Completed 36 hours of the following didactic EEG Biofeedback education in July 2005:
• - Orientation to EEG Biofeedback
• - Basic Neurophysiology and Neuro-Anatomy
• - Instrumentation and Electronics
• - Research
• - Psychopharmacologic Considerations
• - Treatment Planning
• - Professional Conduct
• - Alpha/Theta Training (June 2006)
• - Enhancement Skills in Neurofeedback Protocols Training (July 2007)
• - Consultation is currently being provided by Dr. Roger deBeus for case consultation and for BCIA certification requirements.

Neurofeedback therapy is a form of operant conditioning that rewards the brain for desired frequencies while discouraging activities at other frequencies. The goal of neurofeedback is to calm and stabilize the brain enabling the patient to acquire the skills necessary for self regulation of intense emotions. By training the brain to reduce slower brainwaves and increase faster brainwave activity, symptoms are often reduced in severity and frequency. Over time the improvement in brain functioning allows the new brain behaviors to be learned and maintained. The most common problems for which neurofeedback therapy is used clinically include: ADD/ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, Asperger’s disorder, anger issues, and dissociative disorders. It is also being used to reduce the impact of cognitive impairment suffered by people with traumatic brain injury, improve sleep, and attachment issues.

In August 2001 Ms. Boynton, with Dr. John Hunter, developed a Norfolk-based model for a highly specialized community-based treatment program for adolescents who molest other children. This Norfolk Model for Treatment of Adolescent Sex Offenders has been adopted by other localities in the state, as well as outside the state, as a best practice model.

In addition, Ms. Boynton provides training programs for Therapeutic Foster Care Parents in the community.

We’re very pleased to partner with Heather as part of our comprehensive treatment team at PSA.

Training Notes

EMDR Training Jan 2012 Review This Link

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