My name is Valerie Banda-Rodriguez, LCSW, and I have been practicing as a social worker for 8 years. I have helped clients with mood, personality, and psychotic disorders, and I focus on teaching skills that. Help my clients heal from emotional pain and trauma.
My approach
Some of the most common therapeutic approaches I use in my practice are CBT, DBT, trauma-focused approaches, Solutions--focused, Family systems, art therapy techniques, and exposure therapy techniques.
My focus
I most commonly work with clients with mood and personality disorders, and I have a specialty in working with postpartum mood disorders.
My communication style
I strive to create a safe and comfortable environment with clients that promote honesty, transparency, and healthy boundaries.
My journey to therapy
The passion I have for social work started in childhood when I decided I wanted to help others to heal emotionally. I have experienced mental health challenges myself, and I feel that I can use my experiences to help others.
My goals for you
I usually discuss goals for treatment in the first and second sessions. I ask the client what it is they would like to work on/ change in treatment and utilize the SMART goals method to help establish clear goals that the client can look back on.
My first session with you
After the initial intake/ assessment, our first session will include the client giving an overview of what it is that brought them into treatment, discussing expectations for treatment, going over confidentiality/ limitations, and seeing if the client feels this is a good fit thus far. We will also start to discuss goals for treatment.