Prof. Valerie Starr , LCPC, LCMHC

Prof. Valerie Starr is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) with 38 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families. She has provided care across the lifespan, working with clients from early childhood through older adulthood in both community mental health settings and private practice. Her experience spans a wide range of concerns, including depression and anxiety, trauma and loss recovery, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and blended family dynamics, grief, addictions, and challenges related to self-esteem and communication.

In addition to her clinical work, Prof. Starr spent eleven years as an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level courses in Family Systems Therapy and Ethics in the Counseling Profession, preparing future counselors for practice. Her approach is rooted in a person-centered orientation that honors each client as a unique individual. She emphasizes warmth, compassion, and respect for clients' authenticity, and she focuses on building a trusting therapeutic relationship that supports resilience and personal growth.

Prof. Starr draws on a range of clinical methods to tailor care to each person's needs, aiming to help clients strengthen relationships, process painful experiences, and develop practical skills for healthier daily living. She values collaboration, listens without judgment, and supports clients as they pursue greater wellness and fulfillment.

Therapeutic Approaches and Remote Support

Prof. Valerie Starr integrates client-centered therapy into her practice, offering an approach that centers the individual's experience and fosters a collaborative, non-judgmental relationship where clients are met with empathy and respect. This approach supports people working through self-esteem issues, identity concerns, grief, and interpersonal challenges.

She also uses attachment-based therapy to explore how early relationships and attachment patterns influence current bonds and emotional responses. This work can be especially helpful for clients dealing with relationship difficulties, abandonment concerns, adoption and foster care issues, and attachment-related stress.

In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is employed to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts and develop practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, stress, and behavioral patterns like avoidance or anger. CBT provides structured tools for change that can complement deeper relational work.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Prof. Starr works collaboratively with each person to tailor methods to their goals, preferences, and life circumstances. Together they evaluate what feels most useful and adjust the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Prof. Starr is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for clients with busy schedules, mobility limits, or those living far from clinical offices. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access skilled therapeutic support from licensed professionals regardless of location.