Valerie has been providing individual and family therapy with adults, adolescents and children as well as couples counseling for 21 years. She obtained her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2002 and Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Emporia State University in 1998. Valerie has worked in a variety of mental health and social service settings for 27 years. She has been in private practice since 2012 and prior to this worked in foster care as a therapeutic case manager and therapist for 10 years. Valerie enjoys working with both children and adults. Valerie provides play therapy with children, adolescents and adults. Play therapy is a treatment modality that is especially helpful with children because play is how children express themselves as language and critical thinking is still developing. She also provides the treatment modality EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, to help individuals overcome trauma.  Valerie obtained her registered play therapy certification in 2014, became trained in EMDR in 2010 and obtained her clinical license in 2007. Along with play therapy and EMDR,  Valerie provides the treatment modalities of Self- Compassion, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Trauma Focused CBT, Sandtray, Solution Focused Therapy and Theraplay. Valerie views her role as a therapist as a guide working along side individuals, providing a safe and comfortable space during therapy sessions and utilizing individualized treatment and humor.