Qualifications & Education:

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist # 52379

Master’s Degree:

John F. Kennedy University

Bachelor’s Degree:

Mills College

Clinic:

Berkeley

About Julien Heart:

Growing up in Modesto, CA, I witnessed firsthand the power of resilience. My father, a Brazilian immigrant, arrived in the US at 15 without English or a high school education, and my mother navigated life as a single mom raising three children without completing college. These early experiences, coupled with our financial struggles, instilled in me a profound drive. I became the second person in my family to graduate college and the first to earn a Master’s degree and a professional license.

Despite personal challenges with anger in my youth, I channeled my energy into sports, education, and full-time work in restaurants to self-finance my schooling. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in International and Ethnic Studies from Mills College.

My career trajectory solidified after college when I discovered a deep passion for helping and inspiring youth and young adults in a residential treatment program. Witnessing their journeys to overcome past mistakes and mental health struggles ignited my commitment to becoming a Mental Health Counselor. I pursued this goal relentlessly, working and interning with children, adolescents, and families within the foster care system in both residential and outpatient settings while attending John F. Kennedy University for my Master’s in Clinical Psychology. To broaden my expertise, I gained diverse experience in substance use programs, child development centers, inpatient hospitals, county public health, and private practice. This extensive background reflects my passion for understanding life, people, and the world around me.

For the past five years, my focus has been on empowering LGBTQQIA youth and young adults in both rural and urban areas. I support them in achieving personal and educational goals, coping with mental illness, discrimination, trauma, and social anxiety often rooted in experiences of oppression and fear. I am thrilled to be a part of BACA and am actively pursuing EMDR certification and further studies in Nutritional Psychology. Outside of my practice, I enjoy the outdoors—swimming, hiking, biking, carpentry—and vegan cooking. My love for animals led me to establish my own bunny and bird rescue.