Heather Updegraff, MA, LPC

A Bit About Me

Being a parent has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of advocacy. I have witnessed the profound impact of effective communication, understanding, and support, not only for my child, but for our entire family. This personal experience allows me to connect with my clients on a deeper level, offering empathy and insights that can help you feel understood and supported.

My journey began with a deep passion to help others navigate their challenges and discover their strengths. Throughout my career I have encountered a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, trauma, and life transitions. Each experience has enriched my understanding of the human experience, enforcing my commitment to providing support for each client.

The poem, Welcome to Holland, is metaphor for the experience of raising a child with additional needs, and has been the inspiration behind Rembrandt Family Counseling.

Welcome to Holland

I've always wanted to go to Italy. And finally, I booked a trip to go. I bought a bunch of guidebooks and made wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. I may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. I packed my bags and off I go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland?!?" I said. "What do you mean Holland??

I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there I must stay. The important thing is they haven't taken me to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So I must go out and buy new guidebooks. And I must learn a whole new language. And I will meet a whole new group of people I never would have met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after I've been there for a while and I catch my breath, I look around... and I begin to notice Holland has windmills...and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone I know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of my life, I will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But...if I spend my life mourning the fact that I didn't get to go to Italy, I may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland.