HEAD to HEART

Hello there! Introductions are always awkward (or is that me?). Let’s keep this simple — Hello, I’m Karena. I am so glad you’re here! I am a Clinical Faculty member in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at an online university and the owner of HEAD to HEART where I provide counseling, supervision, and consultation services.  As a Queer Black/Bi-racial woman, my work centers the experiences of Black womxn and femmes, Queer folx, and however, the experiences where these identities intersect. I love to work with anyone who is feeling anxious, feeling shut down, going through life transitions, has a desire for personal growth, finding their authentic voice, and/or living a more connected and embodied life. It is an honor to serve you, whoever and however you are. I prioritize making our time together safe and supportive. You know your life experiences, body, spirit, and mind and I honor that. We will combine our wisdom in order to find your unique path to healing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELEHEALTH CONSIDERATIONS Be mindful that distance counseling requires a strong internet connection for the best experience. In distance counseling, confidentiality is also the responsibility of the client. Please ensure that you are meeting in a quiet, confidential, and distraction-free space. Eye contact and body language are experienced differently through telehealth software. It can be easy to misinterpret body language or to miss body-based cues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAYMENT INFORMATION HEAD to HEART is out of network with all insurance companies. This might seem odd, however, many people choose not to use their insurance plans because of the added privacy. When insurance is accepted third parties are notified for billing purposes. Service through HEAD to HEART does not inform any additional parties of your choice to seek counseling services. Insurance companies also require counselors to provide a mental health diagnosis. When insurance is left out of the equation, I am not required to label your experiences in this way. Another reason to leave insurance out of our work together is that insurance companies can limit the number of sessions they are willing to cover. Without the involvement of insurance companies, you and I will have more freedom to decide what is the best path to healing. If requested, I will provide a monthly superbill for services rendered to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. If a superbill is provided a diagnosis must be submitted as part of this paperwork. If you would like to investigate the possibility of reimbursement for out-of-network coverage, please check your insurance policy carefully and contact your insurance provider. We can chat about the rest! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPERVISION I provide distance supervision services through HEAD to HEART in order to guide and mentor future LPC’s to trust their intuition in the counseling room, to continue developing their counselor identity, and to find and use their voice in creative, fun, and healing ways with clients. I also throw in a some education on things that I wish I would have learned in during my educational journal and/or early in my career. I am also happy to provide supervision/consultation on an as needed basis for doctoral students who may need support during the exciting, yet trying times of completing a rigorous program. These meetings may include discussions of future employment, dissertation writing and research, discovering who you are as a Counselor Educator, navigating PWI's and academic systems as a BIPOC student, balancing the demands of a doctoral program, etc. ------- CONSULTATION AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS I love to speak to and consult with groups and organizations on a variety of topics, including: Anti-Oppression| Anti-Racism| Human Development | Cognitive Development | Deliberate Psychological Education | Polyvagal Theory and Informed Practices | Nervous System Regulation, Family Systems and Family Dynamics | Self-Care and Wellness | Distance Counseling | Counselor Development | Curriculum Development for Counselor Education programs | Doc. Student Life ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE ABOUT ME, IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED. :) Credentials ------- Licensed Professional Counselor, Virginia Approved Clinical Supervisor ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Education ------- B.S., Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University M.Ed., Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, The College of William & Mary Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, The College of William & Mary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio ------- Dr. Karena J. Heyward is a licensed professional counselor and a counselor educator combining her knowledge of Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Psychotherapy, relational systems/dynamics, community-oriented advocacy, liberation-focused healing, racial identity development, holistic wellness, and sex-positive approaches to provide healing and educational experiences that will move you from head to heart. She is incredibly grateful that her career allows her to hold space for students, supervisees, and clients where they can remember their true essence, connect with their intuition, and practice fierce self-celebration. Her work emerges from a place of safety, collaboration, and authenticity. Her interests include sexual wellness, Polyvagal theory, awkward moments, Transpersonal Psychology, true crime podcasts and movies, somatic counseling, neuroscience, astrology, holistic healing, dream interpretation, being on/in/near water, and all of the *magical* things in life. She can often be heard saying, "Celebrate that shit!", "Breathe and believe!", "What will move you from your head to your heart?", "Take good care of yourself!", "You are exactly where you need to be.", “Thank you for being exactly who you are and how you are.” and also, F-bombs. Lots and lots of F-bombs.