Grief counselors and therapists in Columbus, OH

Hello, I'm Valerie. Whether you're new to therapy or looking for a fresh start with a new therapist, I'm here to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can explore life's challenges. Together, we'll work to better understand what's holding you back, build on your strengths, and develop practical tools to help you move forward with confidence.

I'm a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-S) in the State of Ohio and a Certified Case Manager. I hold a bachelor degrees in Criminal Justice and Child and Family Studies, as well as a Master of Social Work. My goal is to help you feel heard, supported, and empowered as we work toward meaningful, lasting change.

I am a dedicated mental health professional passionate about providing comfortable and relatable therapeutic practices. As an alumna of Seton Hall University’s Master of Social Work program, I have a strong foundation in behavioral health and a commitment to fostering positive change within diverse communities.

With over three years of experience as a Registered Behavioral Health Technician, I have developed a deep understanding of behavioral interventions and client-centered care. My clinical training includes internships in school settings across various socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as in community mental health, allowing me to address a wide range of client needs with empathy and effectiveness.

I strive to create a supportive and approachable therapeutic environment, ensuring that my clients feel heard, valued, and empowered throughout their healing journey.

I have nearly 30 years of experience in private practice, and I bring a warm, down-to-earth style to the work I do with adults and older adults. I earned my bachelor's degree in Psychology and my master's degree in Counseling Education from Ohio University, and I have spent my career helping people navigate anxiety, depression, grief, life stressors, and women's issues. Many of the clients I work with are used to being the one everyone else counts on, even when their own needs have gone unheard. My goal is to offer practical, compassionate support that helps you feel more steady, understood, and confident as you move through whatever season of life you are facing.

Life's challenges bring us to our knees. A Clinical Counselor helps. 36+ years of work with courts, hospitals & schools helps. "Been there, ... I get it". In my early 20’s, while working F/T at UC, I learned Clinical Counseling (diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders) while completing my Doctorate in my 20’s at UD. Clinically trained by UC (adults) and CCHMC (ages 0-18). Specially trained in Trauma, DBT, EMDR and law. Supreme Court of Ohio approved PC, GAL and Mediator (starting in ‘89 with Airing Institute - Beech Acres, Co-led Divorce Mediation). Collaborative Law FRS. ADHD Assessment & Accommodations Plans.

I approach to counseling and therapy is that we're all striving to connect with our whole or "essence" self that resides within us. I see myself as a facilitator of that change. I am a holistic and trauma-informed therapist with some twenty-five years' experience.

Counseling for me is about companionship! Companions are with you through the good and the not-so-good. The most important thing in counseling is creating a relationship where people can feel and think how they want to about their experience within the relationship because whether we are stepping in the right or wrong direction we are ever growing and changing. Everyone perceives life through a different lens. Biological, physiological, and environmental variables influence those perspectives in different domains of people’s lives. All ages with: Anxiety, Depression, Addictions, Schizo and Mood Spectrum, Paraphallic, and Trauma.

I have been a clinician for over 25 years, work with clients to try to figure out what is needed now and am willing to do that with you

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 18 years experience in the mental health field. I specialize in culturally-centered care. Prioritizing patient needs while providing collaborative treatment.