You’ve Outgrown “Doing Fine”
Individual coaching with a licensed psychologist for physicians, academics, researchers, and veterinary and lab animal professionals ready for more.
Most of my coaching clients aren't in crisis. They're generally doing well, but they're tired in a way that's starting to show up in their work and their relationships. They want to feel more present, communicate better, and stop running on autopilot. This is about moving from, “I’m doing fine” to truly thriving.
“I look back on the time I spent working with Heather as one of immense growth and development, something that I attribute largely to her. As a counselor, Heather is incredibly observant and never fails to help me pin-point the root of my anxiety in a given situation. She always gives honest, kind feedback paired with actionable items that are tailored to a person’s needs. She is also very approachable and never judgmental; she pushed me without ever making me feel uncomfortable.”
Physicians make up a significant share of my coaching practice, alongside academics, researchers, and animal care professionals. Sessions are collaborative and one-on-one, built around your specific goals, not a generic template. Common topics include stress management, burnout, work-life balance, mindfulness, and resilience, as well as compassion fatigue and moral stress for those navigating high-stakes, high-empathy work. Here’s what’s included:
Weekly or as-needed sessions, held virtually or in person in Philadelphia
A structured intake to map your goals
Assignments between sessions to keep momentum going
The same confidentiality and ethical standards I practiced as a licensed therapist
Custom rate based on scope
Individual Coaching Services
Thinking beyond yourself? If you're a leader looking to bring this kind of support to your team, department, or organization, I offer discussion groups and organizational well-being assessments for groups, too.
For the Rest Of Your Team
Are you a psychologist?
Yes. I have a doctorate, and I'm a licensed clinical psychologist with three decades of experience. For me, coaching and therapy both draw on that same clinical training, but they serve different purposes: coaching is forward-focused, built around specific goals rather than diagnosis or treatment. What carries over directly is the ethics — clear boundaries and honesty about whether I'm actually the right fit for what you need. If I'm not, I'll tell you and point you toward someone who is.
How do I know if you’re the right coach for me?
If you're a physician, academic, researcher, educator, or veterinary or lab animal professional, I likely understand your world first-hand. I offer complimentary discovery calls for prospective clients so we can talk through what you're navigating and whether I'm the right fit. There’s no obligation to move forward afterward.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes. While I am always happy to meet with clients local to Philadelphia in person, most of my coaching is conducted virtually.
Is our work confidential?
Yes. I hold coaching to the same confidentiality standards that I held as a therapist.
You Have Questions…I Have Answers
“Heather is a rock star in life coaching and well-being in Philly.”
Who You’ll Be Working With
I'm Dr. Heather Hersh, a licensed clinical psychologist with three decades of experience helping people in academia, education, medicine, and animal care research feel more present and get more out of their work and their lives. My background spans university counseling centers, a department of psychiatry, and community mental health work with adults across every age and setting. That experience shapes every session I lead.
Getting Started Is Easy
Book a free discovery call — a no-cost, no-pressure conversation to see if we're a good fit.
Once things are official, we’ll start with an intake conversation to map your history and your goals.
From there, we’ll meet regularly, with real assignments between sessions to keep momentum going.
It’s Your Time To Thrive
You don't need to have it all figured out before you reach out. That's exactly the purpose of our first call. Worst case, you leave the conversation with a little more clarity than you came in with. Best case, we start working together, and you move from managing your days to thriving in them.