PuttingFamilyFirst

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YP Portrait of Yuridia (Valerie) Polonsky
Online therapist

Yuridia (Valerie) Polonsky

Calm, practical support for everyday family life

Credentials
LCSW
Experience
15 years
Licensed in
Florida
Languages
English, Spanish
Format
Online sessions

About Yuridia

Yuridia (Valerie) Polonsky is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Florida. She has 15 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and parenting challenges. Valerie uses straightforward, practical methods so conversations stay focused and useful.

She speaks English and Spanish and offers sessions by video, phone, chat, or text. Valerie aims to make therapy feel approachable and relevant to everyday life. Sessions often center on specific goals such as improving sleep, handling grief, or coping with life changes.

Background and approach

She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to spot thought patterns and from acceptance and commitment therapy to clarify values and next steps. Her work also addresses relationship and intimacy-related issues, communication problems, and areas like addiction or anger. Attachment-based ideas guide conversations about how past relationships shape present behavior.

Dialectical behavior therapy skills are added when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are needed. Parents looking for practical guidance around parenting and family concerns will find concrete strategies and coaching-style support when helpful. Valerie balances direct skill teaching with a client-centered stance that follows each person’s pace.

To begin, clients choose a subscription plan and schedule sessions according to Valerie’s availability. This approach supports ongoing work on things like self-esteem, career decisions, or managing ADHD symptoms while keeping therapy flexible and accessible.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people name what matters to them and take small actions that align with those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thinking and teaches practical exercises to change patterns that fuel anxiety or low mood. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at early relationship patterns to understand current reactions and improve communication and trust in relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Valerie will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as needs change. This helps keep sessions focused on useful progress rather than fitting a single model.

Online sessions allow flexibility for busy family schedules and for people who prefer meeting from home. Options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging so clients can pick what works best for appointments and check-ins. These formats support ongoing practice of skills between sessions and make it easier to maintain steady progress while juggling daily responsibilities.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with a wide range of problems including stress, anxiety, depression, parenting, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep troubles, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and straightforward, focusing on clear skills and real-life steps drawn from evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT.
What is her professional background?
She holds a Florida Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential and brings 15 years of experience working with people on emotional and life transition issues.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is licensed in Florida as an LCSW with license FL LCSW SW12551 and practices with that credential.
In which languages are sessions available?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on client preference.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling sessions according to her availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Experience
15 years
Licensed
Florida
Languages
English, Spanish

Next step

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