Inspiring Conversations with Janet Heilbronn of Heilbronn Counseling/The Lotus Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Heilbronn

Hi Janet, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We all have a ‘meaning maker’ inside. Growing up in a divided family marked by dysfunction and mental illness I learned early on how to navigate chaos. My mother, a single parent struggled with her own mental health, and the family dynamics often felt like a shifting tide pulling me in different directions. It was a turbulent environment, but even as a child I found myself drawn to understanding people. I learned how to make meaning out of what was happening in my home through the power of imagination and play. At the age of 10 I invented what I called “the counselor game”, creating imaginary clients and holding pretend therapy sessions in my room. I’d sit with them, “listen” to their problems and offer advice. It was my way of making sense of the world around me. Around that same time I discovered the magazine Ladies Home Journal and its famous column,” Can this marriage be saved?” I devoured the stories of struggling couples and imagined myself as the therapist. What would I have said? How would I have helped them? This curiosity about human relationships planted seeds that would grow over time. By age 13 my life took a different turn. The pain of my circumstances led me to early experimentation with drugs and alcohol, a coping mechanism that quickly escalated. For years I found solace in substance use but by age 25 the weight of addiction brought me to a big breaking point. It was in sobriety that my real transformation began. After undergrad and during my early recovery I enrolled in a masters in Social Work program at Arizona State University. I was then introduced to psychodrama at the Camelback Institute in Phoenix Arizona. For the first time I saw how experiential work could unlock emotions and create profound healing. I was immediately drawn to the raw, transformative and creative power of this process. It was deeply resonate with my own journey of understanding and overcoming the wounds of my past. My first position out of graduate school was at a domestic violence shelter where I supported survivors in navigating the aftermath of abuse and rebuilding their lives. While immersing myself in this work and through the use of experiential technique I began to recognize echoes of the stories I heard in my own family of origin. The patterns of control, fear, and unresolved trauma I encountered in clients began to mirror dynamics I had not yet named in my own life. From there I took a break to raise a family, ever mindfulof the generational impact of trauma and the ways it can be passed down. I then began to explore the part of me that had always been creative and I attended art school. There’s something about the experiential piece of creating art that led me right back to the field of psychotherapy. I began solidly in my career working in substance-abuse and trauma treatment centers which became the best training ground I could’ve ever imagined. These environments exposed me to the complexities of human suffering and resilience since I worked with clients and their famlies facing deep-rooted pain, addiction, and the aftermath of profound trauma. I was able to weave in both therapeutic and creative skills which made my ability as a psychotherapist multi dimensional. It was during this time that I found myself in a transformative journey to Peru to explore sacred healing practices and found this experience deeply humbling and life changing. As I engaged with this journey I began to notice the distinct “voices” or “parts” within me each with its own fears and desires and roles. Some more protective, others were wounded and others carried wisdom and compassion. It was through the beginning of this part of the journey that I began to explore my own inner landscape in a different way. I began my training in conscious connected breathwork, brainspotting, somatic experiencing, family constellations and Internal Family Systems (IFS) work or “parts work”. The combination of these modalities was the perfect path for me. Today as I sit with my clients I bring not only my professional training but also the lived experience of navigating the complexities of life and healing. in retrospect, I can see how my childhood curiosity, the priviledge of parenting my sons, my struggles with addiction, being in sobriety and my exposure and exploration of a variety of experiential therapies as interconnected threads leading me to the work I do today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to becoming my authentic self/a psychotherapist has certainly been a bumpy one. I believe that anyone striving for greater clarity and authenticity in their life must confront their shadow work – the unexamined patterns and wounds that hold them back. Becoming who we are meant to be often feels like a diamond in the rough in the beginning. My own journey has been marked by both struggle and self discovery. Growing up, my early experiences definitely shaped my sense of self-worth, leaving me to navigate the dynamics of codependency, self criticism, and the constant comparison to others – what I know now to be the thief of joy. These internal struggles and the uncertainty they created often slowed my momentum making progress feel harder to grasp. Yet, through my own therapeutic work, I’ve been able to untangle many of these patterns and begin to reconcile more of who I meant to be. This process of a learning and relearning has been both challenging and liberating, reminding me that the power of a personal stories can either hinder or fuel our growth. It is in the willingness to confront and rewrite the narratives that we can truly embrace the person we are meant to be. Even making the transition from working in treatment centers for years to going into private practice was a bit difficult for me. Not because I wasn’t capable but because I believed I might not be capable. Negative self talk and a deeper fear of financial insecurity held me back more than once along the way. However, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life is the value of community and support. It was through the encouragement and belief of my family, friends and colleagues that I finally found the courage to step into private practice and continue working with people in meaningful ways. For that I am profoundly grateful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Heilbronn Counseling/The Lotus Center?
My private practice is dedicated to supporting individuals as they navigate addiction, recovery, codependency and trauma. With a deep commitment to meeting clients where they are, I create a compassionate, nonjudgmental space that encourages self exploration and growth. My approach is rooted in extensive training in a variety of experiential techniques, which allows me to tailor the therapeutic process to each clients unique needs and experiences. By focusing on the mind/body connection and the power of lived experience, I help clients uncover insights and access tools for lasting healing. In addition to my professional training, my lifelong creative journey has profoundly influenced my practice. As someone who has explored visual and fine arts as well as writing, I understand the healing potential of creativity, ritual and self expression. These experiences inspire my work with clients, as I often integrate creative and experiential methods to help them process emotions, access strengths, and rediscover their sense of self. Whether through traditional therapy or innovative techniques, I aim to provide a “container” where clients feel safe to explore and transform their inner world. I bring both personal and professional wisdom to the work I do, blending the lessons from my own story and growth with the knowledge gained from years of training and practice. This holistic approach allows me to connect deeply with clients and guide them and uncovering their own resilience and potential. My ultimate goal is to empower individuals to reclaim their lives, fostering healing and self discovery that extends far beyond the therapy room.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe there are many! But if I were to hold it down to one or two I would say the qualities of compassion and curiosity have been most important to my success as a psychotherapist. Compassion allows me to meet clients exactly where they are, offering them a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore their emotions and experiences. It fosters trust and connection, creating a foundation for meaningful growth and healing. Without compassion I couldn’t fully attune to the challenges my clients face or hold space for their vulnerabilities with the care they deserve. Curiosity is equally essential as it drives me to continually learn, explore, and approach each client with an open mind. It allows me to ask meaningful questions, delve deeper into patterns and dynamics and remain open to the unexpected!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.janetheilbronn.com
• Other: https://www.lotus-center.com

Image Credits
Sam Angel photography