MEET DR. GAHAGEN
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Dr. Heather Davis Gahagen
(she/her/hers)
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Heather Davis Gahagen is a skilled and highly experienced Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in trauma therapy, sleep treatment, and stress recovery for professionals in high-demand careers. Her clients include healthcare workers, nurses, physicians, veterinarians, first responders, military service members and officers, legal professionals, and others in trauma-exposed or high-stress roles. Many of her clients appear capable and composed on the outside while internally struggling with chronic stress, burnout, insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, perfectionism, or work/life imbalance.
Dr. Gahagen partners with her clients to explore how trauma exposure, workplace stress, and past experiences have shaped their current patterns. Her approach is collaborative and practical, focusing on small, sustainable changes that create lasting transformation. She supports people in reducing the impact of these past events so they can feel grounded, rested, and in control again. "We can identify small changes you can make that will have ripple effects on your life each day, building to greater change over time." She provides her clients with tools to regain a sense of empowerment and well-being, ready to take on the next chapter.
Dr. Gahagen is trained and certified in evidence-based trauma and sleep therapies, including CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), STAIR (Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation), CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia), IRT+NT (Image Rehearsal Therapy + Narrative Therapy) for nightmares, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and Advanced Safety Planning Intervention (ASPI). She enjoys working with individuals of all racial, socioeconomic, and sexual orientations and gender identities. She has specialty experience working with military Veterans, first responders (firefighters, police, EMT), students (college, graduate school, medical school), federal employees, and retirees. Due to her location, a great deal of her recent work has been with rural populations and individuals who have transplanted to rural areas from larger cities. Dr. Gahagen is one of our D.I.V.E. therapists and a member of our Veteran C&P (Compensation & Pension) evaluation team. She is a proud partner of The Headstrong Project, which offers free PTSD treatment for Veterans.
Outside of work, Dr. Gahagen loves doing crafts such as knitting, painting, and cross-stitch. She takes good care of herself so she can take good care of her patients. She enjoys reconnecting with a sense of awe and wonder by traveling, visiting theme parks, and trying new foods
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Dr. Gahagen graduated Magna Cum Laude from James Madison University with her B.S. in Psychology. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Ohio University. She completed her Doctoral internship at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and her Postdoctoral Residency at Tifton VA Outpatient Clinic, where her work focused on individual and group therapy with Veterans. She has since held supervisory positions and led Behavioral Health teams and programs in complex medical care systems.
LICENSURE
Dr. Gahagan is currently licensed to practice in the state of Georgia. Additionally, she is authorized to practice via telehealth in a number of states via PSYPACT offering accessibility across the country. See the Telehealth tab for more information.
