From about fifth grade on, Heather Roen, L.P.C., a counselor with Behavioral Health at Eau Claire Riverview Center, knew she wanted to be a psychiatrist. However at age 10, she didn’t realize that her true passion would be in counseling.
“I like helping people,” Roen said. “I like learning about the mind and how it works. Counseling gives me a chance to combine those two loves. I can research different treatments and personalize them to my patients.”
Roen had a long journey to reach her counseling career. She received her bachelor’s in psychology in 1999 and went on to earn her master’s degree in mental health counseling from UW-Stout in 2007. From a case manager to open counseling, Roen said her main focus is to work with patients.
“I like to come up with goals together,” she said. “I can figure out what they are lookingfor and find a way to personalize the treatment. You ask questions like, ‘what’s causing problems in the quality of your life,’ and make goals toward helping that.”
After working for over 15 years in county health service organizations, Roen returned to her hometown to work at Marshfield Clinic.Aside from mental health care, Roen has experience in alcohol and other drug abusecounseling as a certified substance abuse counselor, and she has trained in trauma informed care. Roen said she enjoys workingwith all age groups, especially children.
“I love working with kids and teens,” Roen said. “Children just ended up being a little niche that I didn’t realize I had.”
Roen came back to the Chippewa Valley to work in a community she knows and loves.She appreciates being able to spend more quality time with her family, including herthree dogs and two cats, along with workingin a career she enjoys.
“I want patients to go to the counselor who fits well with them,” she said. “I just love tosee successes – when people are truly getting better.”
her master’s degree in mental health counseling from UW-Stout in 2007.