- Practical suggestions
- Down-to-earth approach
- Focus on relationships
About Valerie
Valerie Smith is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 30 years of experience helping people face common life strains. She focuses on practical, down-to-earth conversations that aim to ease stress, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, and other everyday struggles. Her manner is calm and straightforward, and she invites clients to try at least one session to see if it feels helpful.
Valerie’s work combines what she’s learned across hospitals, courts, businesses, and nonprofit settings. She draws on that variety to offer concrete suggestions and real-world perspective. Clients often bring relationship problems, self-esteem concerns, grief, or work-related stress, and she helps them talk through options and next steps.
Her approach leans toward client-centered dialogue, with use of techniques from cognitive behavioral and solution-focused therapy when they fit the situation. Valerie also incorporates psychodynamic ideas and trauma-focused work when past events are part of the difficulty. Conversations are meant to be collaborative rather than interrogational, so clients guide the pace.
Valerie mentions experience with substance-related concerns, PTSD and childhood trauma from prior training and roles. She also supports people dealing with caregiving, chronic illness, aging concerns, and issues tied to family of origin. Her background includes work in psychiatric and general hospitals as well as community settings.
Valerie practices in Virginia and conducts sessions in English. She balances professional experience with personal life lessons, and she aims to offer reassurance, practical tools, and emotional support as people make change.
How Valerie Uses Therapy Approaches Online
Valerie uses client-centered therapy to create a warm, respectful space where the client’s priorities guide the work. This approach focuses on listening, reflecting, and supporting the person’s own goals, which helps with relationship and self-image concerns.She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. That method is useful for managing anxiety, depression, and everyday stress by identifying patterns and trying new, practical strategies.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Valerie will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to emphasize and try small steps to see what helps.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, and easing scheduling around work or school. Many people find remote sessions help them maintain consistency while working on parenting, grief, or day-to-day stress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Valerie work with?
She addresses a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting challenges, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, trauma and abuse, sleep and eating problems, and ADHD.
What is her style in therapy sessions?
Sessions are conversational and client-centered rather than interrogational. Valerie mixes practical problem-solving with reflective discussion to help people move forward.
How many years of experience does she have?
She brings 30 years of experience working in public settings, general and psychiatric hospitals, and private practice environments.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as LCSW, and practices in Virginia.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.