Prof. Valerie Starr - Mental Health Counselor | The Center for Internet & Technology Addiction

Accepting new clients

38 years experience | Intl Clients Welcome

About Prof. Valerie Starr

My name is Valerie Starr and I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, specializing in individual and couples counseling. I have served clients from early childhood to elders for over thirty years in both community mental health and private practice. Over the years, I have worked with a broad range of client issues, from depression and anxiety to self-awareness and personal development. I have worked with many people recovering from trauma and loss, individuals seeking to improve their relationships, and mothers and fathers who wish to gain enhanced skill in parenting.

In addition to my work as a Mental Health Counselor a Clinical Professional Counselor, I taught for eleven years as an Adjunct Professor in a local college. I taught graduate level courses to adults wishing to enter the field of Mental Health Counseling. The courses I offered were Family Systems Therapy and Ethics in the Counseling Profession.

My counseling style is warm and compassionate. I am deeply committed to a person-centered practice. I strongly believe in the resilience of the human spirit, in our ability to heal within the context of a caring and non-judgmental relationship, and in the potential for wellness and joy in each and every human being. I stay away from the use of labels, but prefer to meet each person as a unique individual who is striving for happiness and a better life. I honor your genuineness and your authenticity.

I have deep respect for people who seek the challenge and the satisfaction that come with personal growth. I will honor your choices and provide support and insight along the way. I look forward to working with you.

Licenses

LCMHC

139

LCPC

CP5222-R

Professional experience

Addictions
Anger management
Depression
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
LGBT
Parenting issues
Relationship issues
Self esteem
Stress, Anxiety
Trauma and abuse

Additional Focus Areas

Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Aging and geriatric issues
Attachment issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Avoidant personality
Blended family issues
Body image
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Fatherhood issues
Fertility issues
Forgiveness
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Impulsivity
Infidelity
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Narcissism
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Paranoia
Personality disorders
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia
Somatization
Trichotillomania
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Clinical Approaches

Attachment-Based Therapy
Client-Centered Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Existential Therapy
Hypnotherapy
Jungian Therapy
Mindfulness Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Somatic Therapy
Trauma-Focused Therapy

Languages

English

15 Reviews

“Prof. Starr is a highly skilled therapist who cares deeply about her clients. She uses a variety of techniques and seems to intuitively know when to shift from one school of thought to another as she provides client centered care. She has almost 40<br /> years of experience as a therapist and has also taught graduate students pursuing a career in counseling. She has taught me the difference between feeling better and getting better.”

“I am very much appreciative of her guidance and how she has opened my eyes to my current situation.”

“I’ve been working with Professor Starr for nearly two years, and throughout that time she has been calm, compassionate, and an exceptional listener. She asks thoughtful questions that help me see things from new perspectives, and her visualization techniques have been especially helpful for me. It’s clear she brings deep experience to her work. <br /> <br /> She creates a space where I feel completely safe discussing even the hardest topics. I have never once felt judgement, which is a big reason I trust her so deeply. I’m incredibly grateful for the positive impact she has had on my life, and feel lucky I get to continue to work with her. I couldn't recommend her enough!”

“Valerie is kind, thoughtful, bright, caring, knowledgable, and super helpful.”

“Prof. Starr was wonderful and really help navigate our relationship in the right way. She is great!”

“I highly recommend Professor Starr. She is an empathic therapist with several decades of experience. She is a CBT therapist who will help you change your thinking patterns which will help you feel better soon. I highly recommend her.”

“Thoughtful, intelligent and very accessible”

“Valerie is always there when situations arise.”

“Professor Starr is a great listener with much empathy for our situations and problems. She tries to understand where we are coming from and comes up with ideas to get us as a couple to work together to help resolve our issues.Life is a never ending story …that’s for sure!”

“Professor Starr has helped our marriage a great deal.”

“She's the best!”

“She’s amazing.”

“.Great first meeting. Very helpful.”

“Prof. Starr is very knowledgeable and understands the core of our needs. She has a very professional manner to communicate and lead the session. Highly recommend her!”

“I've been seeing Prof. Starr for quite some time. She's helped me through many ups and downs. I've learned a lot from her about myself. She's great”

These reviews represent a few of the most recent positive reviews from the therapist's clients on BetterHelp. Some people's experience may be different.