We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heather Akers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Heather, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My journey toward finding my purpose was influenced by a passion for neuroscience and the desire to understand the human psyche, which led me to pursue a bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters of Social Work from North Carolina State University. Throughout my time in service and University schooling, my deep-seated interest in mental health and the ways people navigate life’s challenges grew exponentially.
From a young age, I was inspired by a deep sense of service that ran through my family. With a long lineage of military service, I knew that dedication to something greater than myself would play a central role in my life. Driven by a desire to serve, I enlisted into the Army National Guard in 2013. The experiences from October 2013 – October 2022, shaped me profoundly, and in ways I will never forget. One experience being the loss of a squad member—a battle buddy—to suicide. This tragedy opened my eyes to the critical importance of mental health support within the military community and beyond.
Determined to make a difference, I worked to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Today, I am committed to providing person-centered care, and hope to individuals navigating their own battles. My work is a reflection of my personal journey—honoring those I’ve lost, uplifting those who are struggling, and carrying forward a mission of healing and service.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a trauma-informed therapist at Nurture and Nature Therapy Center, a holistic and integrative therapy practice dedicated to treating the whole person. At our center, we honor the interconnectedness of neuroscience, culture, and individual lived experiences to support lifelong healing. We believe in the power of research, the resilience of individuals, the strength of community, and the transformative impact of therapy.
Therapeutic modalities I enjoy utilizing in session include, Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and a personal favorite for helping clients process trauma and build resilience is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The population I serve include teens, adults, and Veterans/First Responders (including Law Enforcement and EMS), recognizing the unique challenges and strengths that come with each population.
One of my core goals is to reduce suicide rates by supporting clients through meeting them where they are, fostering connections, and empowering a renewed sense of self. I am honored to walk alongside my clients as they heal, grow, and reconnect with themselves and the world around them.
Our company currently offers, Continuing Education Trainings (CEU), Community Education, Professional Development Workshops, Psychodynamic Team Development Groups, Keynote Speaking for events, and podcast, Life as a Therapist.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Never stop learning. A desire to learn keeps you adaptable, not just informed. In any career, being curious and constantly upgrading your skill set makes you harder to replace and more likely to be trusted with responsibility. From a young age to my current age, my mother and father remind me to “Have a great learning day”, because everyday is an opportunity to expand perspective and your education.
Find mentors. Finding a mentor that you admire can be challenging, luckily, I had a few military and civilian influences to look up to. From an early age, one military mentor was Dr. Bruce Akers, DVM, Retired Chief Warrant Officer, CW4, and my father. My father and mother always encouraged me to work hard everyday, lead by example, and love what you do. Another military inspiration and someone I look up to, Lt. Col Tina Griggs, Psychological Operations, Fort Bragg, NC. She inspired and helped me to understand that one can do it all with the right mindset, she is an incredible mother, wife, decorated Psychological Operations Officer, and professional cake baker. My civilian mentor was Eileen Haase, Ph.D., LPC, NCC. I had the privilege to work with her personally and professionally. She greatly impacted my educational and career path, supported me through unexpected challenges, and always encouraged me to speak up to advocate for myself and others.
Take Time to Reflect. Too often I found myself rushing to get to the next goal or objective. Once the next goal and objective was met, it was on to the next. With time and experience, I began to implement advice Dr. Eileen gave me years ago, spend time intentionally creating awareness to see the joy in the journey and to allow yourself permission to be happy where you are.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Our company believes collaboration drives change—and your voice, mission, and expertise matter. We believe sustainable change in mental health and supportive resources takes collaboration, trust, and shared vision. If you’re in this space, we’d love to connect and learn more about your work. We would be ecstatic to partner with Community Programs, Universities, Mental health professionals (therapists, psychologists, counselors), educators and trainers developing courses, curricula, or workshops related to trauma, resilience, maternal health and brain health. If this mission resonates with you or your organization, let’s explore how we can work together to bridge the gap.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nurtureandnaturetherapycenter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurtureandnaturetherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurtureandnaturetherapycenter
- Other: Podcast Link: Life as a Therapist https://open.spotify.com/show/1QHRtVHB5sgpKp9g8NNpdr?si=bc0439e5d6b24778
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
