Heidi Johnston, M.Div., M.A., AMFT

Heidi Johnston earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. She also holds a Master of Divinity and has completed extensive Clinical Chaplaincy Education, including internships and residencies in medical and psychiatric hospitals, emergency departments, oncology, and hospice settings.  Her graduate education includes advanced coursework in psychotherapy, group dynamics, substance abuse and chemical dependency, trauma, and death and dying. Heidi is an ordained minister, a retired psychiatric chaplain, a faculty member at Pacific Theological Seminary, and is currently practicing as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in California under supervision.

Heidi’s professional life has been dedicated to walking alongside people during crises, transitions, and grief to foster healing and transformation. For over twenty-six years, she has served as a psychiatric chaplain, counselor, educator, and program developer, integrating psychological, spiritual, and creative approaches across diverse clinical, cultural, and institutional settings. Her journey reflects a lifelong commitment to collaborative, holistic healing rooted in compassion, evidence-based practices, and a deep respect for each human story, meeting clients where they are.

Heidi works with individuals, couples, children, and families addressing grief, loss, trauma, stress, life transitions, spiritual issues, depression, anxiety, end-of-life concerns, medical and mental health issues, and crisis intervention. She has extensive experience in individual and group therapy in inpatient, outpatient, hospice, school-based, and community mental health settings, working with military, veterans, multicultural, and interfaith populations.

Heidi’s therapeutic approach honors the emotional, psychological, spiritual, and relational dimensions of healing. She incorporates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, trauma-informed care, and attachment-based methods. When appropriate, she also uses creative modalities like art and therapeutic rhythm to support emotional expression and regulation. Therapy with Heidi is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each client’s needs.

Heidi is registered as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She serves as a faculty member in the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Department at Pacific Theological Seminary. Throughout her career, she has collaborated across interdisciplinary healthcare, academic, and community-based systems, partnering with physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, educators, and spiritual care professionals to support evidence-based, holistic, and coordinated care.

Heidi has been a resident of Southern California for over twenty years. Originally from New England, she has traveled extensively across the country as a Navy wife before her husband retired to San Diego. She is committed to service, healing, and creative expression through teaching, guest lecturing, leading workshops, and mentoring. Outside of her professional pursuits, she leads therapeutic drum circles, makes jewelry, creates homemade jams, and travels abroad with her husband. She also values spending quality time with family and friends, especially over a good meal. Her core values encompass faith, creativity, connection, and shared experiences, all of which she considers essential for achieving balance and well-being.

Heidi’s dedication to healing is rooted in walking alongside individuals through moments of struggle, loss, and transformation. She believes that even in the face of profound challenges, hope can arise through compassionate presence, genuine connection, and collaborative, trust-based relationships, fostering a sacred space for healing. She values the integration of spirituality and psychology as vital sources of meaning, strength, and healing, and she aims to create a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel seen, encouraged, and empowered to reconnect with their resilience, purpose, and hope for growth. Her lifelong work reflects a deep commitment to addressing human suffering, grounded in presence, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that healing is always possible, even in the most difficult circumstances. 

“When we become aware that we do not have to escape our pains, but that we can mobilize them into a common search for life, those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of hope.”  Henri Nouwen