Tara Valentine (She/her/hers)

Certified as a Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate. Certified in Partner Abuse Intervention Program with one year experience co-facilitating a group for abusers. Additional training in how Domestic Violence impacts children.

Significant history working with non-normative sexual and gender identities. Minor in Women and Gender Studies. Continuing education on trans- and LGBTQIA+ issues. History of advocacy and outreach work for these populations.

Significant history working with Trans and Gender non-confirming clients. Experience writing letters of fitness for gender-affirming treatments. Continuing education on trans- and LGBTQIA+ issues. History of advocacy and outreach work for these populations.

I am a strong proponent of using a multicultural approach. I work to be aware of how intersections of race, religion, LGBTQ+ identities, and other cultural identities may all contribute to underlying or overt impacts on our mental health and daily stressors. As a White cis-woman, I work to recognize my own privilege and choose to not shy away from culturally sensitive conversations with clients.

I utilize a lot of interventions from CBT frameworks. I believe the way we think about events, the way our brains filter information, and even the words we use with ourselves, have significant power over our thoughts, feelings, and choices.

My primary approach is integrative. I operate from a largely Person-Centered foundation and integrate theory and interventions from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. My approach is trauma-informed and intersectional at all times to recognize both how trauma (individual and generational) and aspects of culture and roles impact our lives.