- Collaborative approach
- Skills and insight
- Goal oriented
About Valerie
Valerie Rutherford is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) based in Ohio with 18 years of clinical experience. She brings a calm, practical presence to sessions and aims to help people manage life stressors and emotional pain. Valerie commonly supports people dealing with anxiety, depression, parenting strain, relationship challenges, and codependency concerns.
Valerie keeps the tone warm and nonjudgmental. She focuses on short-term skills as well as longer-term change, matching tools to each person’s situation. Sessions are collaborative - the client’s goals guide the work. Valerie uses straightforward techniques to build coping skills and clearer communication.
Her background spans work with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families in mental health settings. Over the years she has addressed trauma, grief, addictions, eating and body image issues, and mood disorders including bipolar conditions. She also supports people facing caregiver stress, blended family challenges, and adoption or foster care concerns.
Valerie draws from several practical approaches, including cognitive behavioral ideas, acceptance and mindfulness practices, dialectical behavior strategies, and client-centered work. She also uses motivational interviewing principles when change feels difficult. These methods are adapted to the problem at hand, whether that is anger, career stress, intimacy concerns, or recovery-focused goals.
If someone is nervous about starting therapy, Valerie encourages a simple first step: describe what feels most urgent, and together set small, concrete goals. Her style aims to make therapy feel manageable and useful from the start.
How Valerie Uses Evidence-Based Approaches Online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on choosing actions that match personal values and works well for anxiety, depression, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, mood concerns, and coping with stress. Mindfulness Therapy builds simple awareness skills to reduce reactivity and improve focus, which can help with stress, anger, and emotional regulation.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Valerie will talk with the client about goals and try methods that fit their needs and preferences. This is a collaborative process and can shift over time as progress and challenges emerge.
Confirm the specific session formats with the therapist before booking so you know what options are currently offered. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, scheduling a shorter check-in during a lunch break or avoiding travel time. It can also make it simpler to keep continuity when routines are disrupted. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, and mindfulness exercises to work over remote sessions and help clients build skills that apply to daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Credentials
Ohio
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Valerie address?
She works with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, parenting stress, relationship and intimacy concerns, codependency, trauma and addiction-related problems.
How would she describe her therapy style?
Her approach is warm and nonjudgmental and focuses on collaboration. Sessions mix skill-building with discussion to help people meet their goals.
What is her clinical background?
Valerie has 18 years of experience in mental health settings and has worked with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families on a range of issues.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is an Ohio Licensed Independent Social Worker with supervisory endorsement, shown as LISW. Her practice is based in Ohio.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options with the therapist before booking so you know which formats are offered at this time.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Valerie?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.