Prof. Valerie Starr, LCPC, LCMHC

Prof. Valerie Starr welcomes people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, relationship strain, and midlife concerns. She also helps with intimacy issues, self-esteem struggles, parenting challenges, anger, and questions related to LGBT identity. Her approach aims to make difficult changes feel manageable and grounded in everyday life.

Valerie Starr is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 38 years of experience. She has worked in community mental health and private practice and has supported people at many life stages. She has also taught graduate courses in family systems and counseling ethics for eleven years.

Her style is warm and person-centered. Sessions focus on listening carefully and helping people notice patterns that get in the way of feeling better. She avoids quick labels and instead treats each person as an individual with strengths and goals.

Therapy may include talking through past losses, strengthening attachment and relationship patterns, and learning practical skills to reduce anxiety and improve communication. She draws on approaches such as attachment-based work, client-centered methods, and cognitive behavioral ideas when those fit the client’s needs.

People seeking help for parenting, trauma recovery, aging concerns, adoption or foster care issues, chronic illness, body image, or codependency can expect a respectful, steady presence in sessions. Prof. Starr emphasizes collaboration and supports people as they take steps toward clearer choices and a fuller life.

Approaches that shape online work

Attachment-based work focuses on how early bonds affect current relationships and emotional responses. It helps people understand patterns in close relationships and can be useful for issues like intimacy struggles, attachment worries, and relationship repair.

Client-centered therapy centers on the person's experience in the moment. The therapist listens without judgment, reflects what is said, and supports the client's own pace of change. This approach is helpful when someone needs validation, clearer self-understanding, or support making personal choices.

Cognitive behavioral ideas look at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. Sessions using these ideas often include practical exercises and steps to change unhelpful thinking or behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and improve day-to-day coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then adapt methods to fit the client's needs. This is a collaborative process rather than a fixed plan.

Confirm available online session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed in the biography. Many people find remote sessions help fit therapy into a busy life - they can make scheduling easier, cut travel time, and allow a shorter check-in when needed. Talk with the therapist about what will best fit your routine and communication style.