Heather Lee Leap
LCSW, LICSW, ECMH-E®
Child & Family Therapist
Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist
I am an Independent Clinical Social Worker Licensed in Oregon and Washington State. Currently I am offering parenting support for families through private and small group infant massage classes and Circle of Security Parenting groups in Oregon and Washington. Please contact me to learn more about upcoming classes!
Nurturing Therapy for Families
Specializing in Perinatal, Infant, & Early Child Relaltional Health
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Pregnancy & Parenting After Loss
Play Therapy
Parenting Classes & Parent Coaching
I'm here for you
I believe...
I believe you want what is best for your child, and that loving them, daring to birth them, or bring them into your life in whatever way is unfolding for you, may be some of the hardest things you ever do.
When my birth plan went sideways with my first baby, I had no clear path, no real support to navigate the pain and grief of a traumatic birth and NICU stay. If there were resources out there, I was not aware of them, or thought they did not apply to me. I was managing just fine - on the outside. On the inside, I was driven to be the "perfect" mom, often irritable, and inflexible, just trying to hold it all together. Eventually, I cobbled together supports which allowed me to heal and thrive, but it took longer than it should.
My hope is that for you, things will be different, that you will find the support you need. Whether you are navigating pregnancy and birth concerns, processing a traumatic birth, struggling with your new identity as a parent, experiencing perinatal or postpartum depression and anxiety, or realizing your own childhood issues are impacting your parenting, you deserve to have others by your side.
My plan is to offer perinatal mental health services in the near future, but if you've found this space, chance are you need support NOW!
Please reach out to Baby Blues Connection in the Portland Metro area, or Postpartum Support International through the above links or call the PSI helpline at 1.800.944.4773 (4PPD)
Mindful Parenting & Writing
Wellness & Words...
Mindfulness, writing, and parenting education are some of my passions. Please contact me for private or small group classes.
Infant massage embodies all the components of bonding and developing secure attachments. During massage, you and your baby will connect through all your senses: sight, touch, hearing, smell, even taste. (Babies are always putting their hands - and toes - in their mouths!)
In a 5-week class, you will learn so much more than a series of strokes. You will learn to communicate your love to your baby through touch, develop skills to read your baby's unique cues, strengthen your attachment, and deepen your relationship with your infant.
Circle of Security Parenting is an 8-week parenting group which help caregivers develop skills to better understand themselves as parents and to truly connect with and understand their children in a way that builds connections, and shifts child behavior through strengthening relationships between caregivers and children.
Through story and writing, children, youth, and families learn self-expression and confidence while building creativity and connection with others. Writing can be a path for healing from loss and toward reclaiming our voices.
I am an AWA Affiliate, certified to lead workshops in the AWA method as described in Writing Alone & With Others by Pat Schneider, Oxford University Press. I occasionally facilitate Mindful Writing Workshops through Portland Community College Community Education.
Education & Training
My early training and roles as a prenatal massage therapist, infant massage instructor, and La Leche League Leader formed the foundation of my passion for infant, early childhood, and parent development. My undergraduate degree is in Child, Youth, & Family Studies, and I completed a Graduate Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health (ITMH) while completing my Masters in Social Work. My postgraduate training includes an intensive15-month Advanced Clinical Training program through the Barnard Center for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, an18-month Child Parent Psychotherapy learning collaborative, and training in Perinatal Mental Health through Perinatal Support Washington and Postpartum Support International
Professional Affiliations:
Infant Massage USA
International Association of Infant Massage
AWA Affiliate - certified to lead workshops in the AWA method as described in Writing Alone & With Others by Pat Schneider
NASW - National Association of Social Workers
ORIMHA - Oregon Infant Mental Health Association
Zero to Three
Registered Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) Facilitator
Additional Training
40+ hours of trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness teacher training through the Daya Foundation, Street Yoga, and Living Yoga
Yogajoy 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, with Sarahjoy Marsh
Personal & Professional Values
Eyes to the future...
I am a life-long learner, engaging in regular continuing education, collaboration, and reflective consultation with colleagues to continue to offer the best possible support to families I serve while maintaining my personal wellness.
I find joy in nature and aspire to spend more time on or near water. For fun I read, knit, cook, swim, dance, meditate, practice yoga, study Italian, and spend time with friends and family.
As a long-time mindfulness practitioner, I am always seeking ways to bring mindfulness and self-care into my work supporting families and communities. I am particularly interested in perinatal mental health and how support for families both pre- and postnatally can improve outcomes for infants and young children otherwise at risk for emotional or developmental challenges.
I am passionate about all levels of service: promotion, prevention, intervention, and treatment, and prefer to work in collaborative multidisciplinary teams where I have the flexibility to support families and communities through clinical practice and education.