PuttingFamilyFirst

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VJ Portrait of Valarie Johnson
Online therapist

Valarie Johnson

Experienced social worker for family challenges

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Credentials
LICSW
Experience
30 years
Licensed in
Washington
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Valarie

Valarie Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with three decades of counseling experience in varied settings. She brings a calm, straightforward style to sessions and aims to help people make clear choices and steady progress. Many clients find her both supportive and challenging in helpful ways.

She works with concerns related to family and parenting, stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, addictions, and self-esteem. Valarie’s background includes long-term practice that spans community and clinical environments.

Background and approach

She draws on techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and solution-focused methods. In practice this means she helps people identify unhelpful thoughts, look at patterns from the past, and set concrete steps for change. She adapts methods to each person’s situation rather than following a single script.

Her approach is practical and relational. Sessions are direct but empathic, focused on real-life goals like managing stress, coping after loss, or improving relationships within the family. She can include faith-based perspectives when clients want that option, while respecting each person’s background and preferences.

Valarie works in Washington and communicates in English. Her work covers a broad range of life challenges including adoption and foster care issues, caregiver stress, aging and end-of-life concerns, codependency, and recovery from trauma. She emphasizes steady progress and partnership in the work.

People who want clear guidance and a respectful, no-nonsense collaborator often find her style helpful. She aims to support lasting changes through practical steps, thoughtful reflection, and steady encouragement.

How Valarie’s Approaches Work Online

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person’s perspective. It aims to build trust and a strong working relationship so clients feel heard and able to try new ways of coping. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each client about goals, needs, and what feels most useful. She combines and adapts methods as needed, and clients play an active role in selecting the path that fits them best.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to keep momentum between meetings. Using these formats, clients can work on coping strategies, set concrete goals, and check in from home, which helps maintain progress when life gets busy.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Exploring how earlier relationships and patterns still shape the present, often over a longer stretch of time. It relies on conversation and reflection rather than exercises.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Valarie address in therapy?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, coping with life changes, addictions, relationship and eating issues, parenting, self esteem, and compassion fatigue. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, aging and end-of-life concerns, and women’s issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is generally kind but direct. She offers support while challenging clients to take practical steps toward their goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 30 years of experience providing counseling across a variety of settings.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, LICSW, with Washington license number WA LICSW LW60886686 and practices in Washington.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
What formats are used for sessions?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for therapy.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
30 years
Licensed
Washington
Languages
English

Next step

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