Title: 1) Psychotherapist, Clinical Instructor and Behavioral Health Director; 2) Professor
Company: 1) PeaceHealth Family Medicine Clinic; 2) National University
Location: Vancouver, Washington, United States
Heidi L. McKinney, PhD, Psychotherapist, Clinical Instructor and Behavioral Health Specialist at PeaceHealth Family Medicine Clinic, and Part-Time Professor at National University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Healthcare Professionals for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Mental Health Care, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Higher Education.
With a distinguished career spanning over 20 years in the healthcare industry, Dr. McKinney is celebrated for her expertise in the therapeutic process toward neurological change. Her professional journey is marked by a commitment to advancing integrated behavioral health and shaping the next generation of therapists and clinicians.
Since 2019, Dr. McKinney has served as a behavioral health specialist at an integrated behavioral health clinic affiliated with PeaceHealth Southwest Family Medicine Clinic in Vancouver, Washington. Since joining the organization, she has led the behavioral health program at the residency clinic and supervised eight marriage and family therapy master’s level students, as well as one social worker during patient consultations. Dr. McKinney’s responsibilities include overseeing interns and therapists while treating patients using the biopsychosocial model, a sustainable approach that addresses physical, psychological and spiritual needs. Additionally, she works closely with resident physicians to enhance their understanding of behavioral health differentiation and diagnosis.
Dr. McKinney’s tenure at PeaceHealth Family Medicine Clinic began in 2016 as a psychotherapist. In this capacity, she began providing direct patient care within an integrated primary care setting and contributed to the development of holistic mental health services. She also became a clinical instructor for the organization in 2019. Before joining PeaceHealth, Dr. McKinney maintained a private practice for more than 15 years, between 2003 and 2019, where she delivered psychotherapy services to individuals and families.
Since 2021, Dr. McKinney has also served as a part-time professor at National University in San Diego, California. In this role, she teaches courses such as geriatric therapy, research methods for marriage and family therapy, introductory systems theory at the master’s level and systems in business at the doctoral level. She currently instructs between 10 and 15 students weekly across four courses and supervises over 25 students as permitted by her academic distinction above adjunct status.
Dr. McKinney’s academic contributions have extended beyond teaching. From 2021 to 2023, she was a principal investigator for the University of Washington CHAMP Study at Family Medicine of Southwest Washington and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Earlier, in 2020, she served as the designated clinical instructor for the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) program through the department of family medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. McKinney also chaired the marriage and family student advisory board on campus between 2014 and 2016.
Foundational to her success, Dr. McKinney became highly educated. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in social science with a minor in science in 1991, followed by a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, with honors, in 2003, from Trevecca Nazarene University. She also completed a master-level internship at The Babb Center in 2003. Continuing her studies, Dr. McKinney completed a Doctor of Philosophy in marriage and family therapy sciences with a specialization in medical family therapy from Northcentral University in 2020, after completing a doctoral internship in medical family therapy from PeaceHealth Family Medicine Clinic in 2017.
Dr. McKinney’s credentials are further supported by multiple professional credentials. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist through the Tennessee Health Related Boards since 2007, the Washington State Department of Health since 2016, and the Oregon Health Related Boards since 2022. To maintain these credentials, Dr. McKinney completes rigorous continuing education annually through online courses and conferences hosted by organizations such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.
Dr. McKinney’s professional memberships reflect her commitment to leadership and advancement in her discipline. She is affiliated with The National Society of Leadership and Success, the AAMFT, the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, the American Psychological Association, and, among others, several state associations, including those in Washington, Tennessee and Oregon. Notably, Dr. McKinney’s collaboration with AAMFT aims to raise awareness about how systemic approaches can benefit patients with complex conditions like oncology or diabetes. In addition to her professional engagements, her leadership extends into civic endeavors as a board member of the SEC committee at National University and as a supporter of the Vancouver Symphony in Vancouver, Washington.
A prolific contributor to research and literature in her field, Dr. McKinney authored “Puppet on a String,” featured by Wilson County Post in 2006, as well as “Effectiveness of Behavioral Health Intervention in an Integrated Primary Care Setting for Patients with Type II Diabetes,” published by ProQuest LLC in 2020. Her dissertation focused on integrated behavioral healthcare models for patients being treated for type 2 diabetes.
Notably, the foundation of Dr. McKinney’s career was shaped by an early interest in psychology coupled with a desire to help others improve their lives through better relationships and communication skills. Her passion for teaching was realized when she secured her first academic appointment, a milestone achievement that required significant networking within academia while maintaining her clinical work at PeaceHealth.
Throughout her career, Dr. McKinney has distinguished herself through her focus on systemic theory within marriage and family therapy, a depth not commonly found in other counseling tracks, such as social work or mental health counseling. As a licensed marriage and family therapist working within a hospital organization, she is among a select group advocating for broader recognition of her field’s value in medical settings.
Central to Dr. McKinney’s motivation is witnessing resilience among her patients. Their moments of realization inspire her daily commitment to facilitating positive neurological change through psychotherapy. These transformative experiences reinforce her dedication to both clinical practice and education.
Dr. McKinney attributes much of her success to her supportive husband, whose encouragement enabled her to pursue advanced education while raising two children together over nearly four decades of marriage. She recognizes this support as both rare and invaluable among women pursuing demanding careers. A lifelong learner by nature, Dr. McKinney continues to expand her knowledge through master classes, extensive reading across disciplines, like anthropology or astrophysics, and ongoing professional development, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing trauma training externships funded by her employer each year.
Looking ahead, Dr. McKinney remains committed to advancing psychotherapy treatments while encouraging new therapists entering the field to stay passionate about their potential impact on communities. Her legacy is defined by advocacy for behavioral health integration, championing holistic care models inspired by pioneers like the late Dr. George Engel, an American internist, psychiatrist and professor, and unwavering dedication to elevating marriage and family therapy within academic medical environments.
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