About Valerie
Valerie Novak is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with ten years of experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship and parenting concerns. Valerie keeps language simple and practical, so sessions feel clear and direct from the start.
Her approach centers on attachment-based ideas and client-centered work. That means she listens for what matters to each person, then helps them build on strengths already in their life.
How Valerie works
She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and narrative therapy to look at the stories people tell themselves. Valerie has worked with people facing trauma, grief, addiction, and compassion fatigue. She helps with communication problems, feelings of abandonment, and challenges tied to caregiving and aging.
Her background includes supporting people through life changes and career transitions as well. Sessions aim to be collaborative and practical. Valerie will work with each person to set clear goals and try small changes that can make daily life easier.
She emphasizes straightforward feedback and steps people can use between sessions. For many clients she uses EMDR when trauma symptoms are present alongside other methods. The overall goal is to reduce symptoms and increase coping skills, sense of purpose, and healthier patterns in relationships.
Valerie lists 8 ways of working on the entry:
What Valerie works with
The areas below are the ones Valerie selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 10 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How Valerie’s approaches work online
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early bonds shape current relationships. Online sessions explore patterns of connection and help people try new ways of relating to others. Client-Centered Therapy puts the person’s experience at the center; the therapist listens closely and follows what the client finds most important to address. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thoughts and habits and uses planned exercises to change them, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood.Choosing the right approach is a joint effort. Valerie will talk with each person about their goals, symptoms, and preferences. Together they decide which methods to try first and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online formats offer practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for deeper work and EMDR when appropriate. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between sessions, share brief updates, or manage small coping steps in real time. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep consistent progress.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with ValerieWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What is her professional background?
Where is she licensed to practice?
Which languages are sessions offered in?
What session formats are available?
How are fees and payment handled?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions