Laurie Heikkenen, LICSW

As Palouse Counseling has grown, I've become more and more involved in running the organization, so I do little therapy these days. I see Employee Assistance Program clients and a few people with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Gender Identity Disorder. I also offer individual and group supervision, including exam preparation, for social workers and other clinical therapists.

My Master's degree in Social Work is from Portland State University (1984), and I graduated from Whitman College in 1980 with a BA in music theory and minor in geology. I achieved ACSW (Academy of Certified Social Workers, the national certification standard for professional social workers) status in November, 1999, and in 2005, became a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I have over five years of experience as a psychiatric social worker on a hospital psychiatric unit, as well as many years of experience in private practice, home health and hospice, and managing mental health services.

Some websites I recommend . . . Hotline Numbers secret shame (self-injury information and support) A Site By and For Survivors of a Loved One's Suicide Some of these sites are about suicide and self-harm. If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, there is help. Call someone. Look under crisis or suicide in your Yellow Pages. You can also try mental health or counseling. Or try the front of the phone book under community agencies for a suicide hotline for your community. This is the best place to call during a crisis (if you are thinking of suicide, it is a crisis). If you cannot find a local crisis number, look for numbers for area hospitals with psychiatric services. If you are in the Walla Walla area, the local crisis number is 522-4278; and St. Mary Medical Center (525-3320) has a psychiatric unit. St. Mary Medical Center and Walla Walla General Hospital (525-0480) both have emergency rooms where you can get help--go there. Here are a couple websites that may be helpful too: Suicide: Read This First What To Do When You Have Thoughts About Suicide		Books I often recommend to my clients . . . (including links to more information or to purchase at Amazon) Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types This wonderful book helps people understand themselves and others in a positive and constructive way. There are a non-threatening test, easy scoring instructions, and fascinating, detailed explanations of the results! I Hate You-Don't Leave Me: Understanding the Borderline Personality Borderline Personality Disorder is painful and generally sadly misunderstood. This compassionate book offers insight, support, and help to people with BPD, their loved ones, and their treatment professionals. Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them Forget the flaky title of this book. It's a soul saver for women in relationships with controlling, emotionally abusive, or physically abusive men. It's not about male-bashing--it's about understanding the relationship and making choices about it that work for you. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2000 Most the people I see don't know what they want to do when they grow up any better than I do :-) This is the best book in print for helping figure it out! Solid advice on understanding your strengths and pursuing your dreams.