Dennis Heffern has worked in the human services field since 1988. The early part of his career was spent working with at-risk adolescents in residential settings. His work with youth continued in his capacity as a high school teacher and counselor for the Jesuit Volunteers for three years in Belize, Central America.

Upon completion of a graduate degree in Social Work in 1997, Dennis relocated to Denver, CO, and resumed working with youth as the Program Supervisor for Urban Peak, a homeless shelter and drop-in-center for youth under 21. In 1998, Dennis began doing Medical Social Work with a 4-year stint at Denver Health Medical Center, working in both hospital and outpatient clinic settings. Serving a wide variety of medical specialties, a significant portion of this time was spent working with people living with HIV/AIDS, including time with Behavioral Health providing substance abuse treatment.

The majority of Dennis’ career has been spent providing Oncology Social Work services to adults and families affected by cancer at Kaiser Permanente’s Franklin Oncology Clinic in central Denver, from 2002 - 2024. Dennis most recently worked as an Integrated Mental Health Specialist in Primary Care at Kaiser Permanente.

Dennis employs a strengths'-based approach that emphasizes an individual's ability to persevere, in spite of obstacles, and the growth that can arise out of adversity. Emphasis is placed on meeting people right where they are, and doing work together as partners. Dennis recalls a former patient chuckling and commenting at the end of a session, "Wow, that was like having therapy that didn't feel like therapy!" This emphasizes having genuine conversations that offer paying close attention and listening to detail and offering feedback. Too many times, Dennis has heard from clients about less than ideal therapy experiences because the therapist was detached and too quiet.

Education:

• BA Politics, Fairfield University

• MSW Social Work, State University of NY at Buffalo