she/her

Valerie Labanca

LCSW

Valerie Labanca avatar

Location

Virtual, California

Insurance Accepted

Anthem Blue Cross Of CA, Aetna, Health Net/MHN, Blue Shield of California

Communication Style

Action-oriented, Authentic, Challenging, Energetic, Engaging

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Focus areas

Anger Issues, Animal Loss, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Burnout, Caregiver Burnout, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Divorce, Family Conflict, Grief, IPV/DV, Immigration, LGBTQ+, Life Transitions, Panic, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Relationship Concerns, Sleep, Stress, Women's Issues, Workplace Stress

Experienced with

BIPOC, Black community, Parents, First responders, Immigrants, Blended families, Non-monogamous relationships, Students, LGBTQ+

Years of Experience

12+

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My goal is to help my patients feel supported and assist them in feeling symptom relief.

License number

#29083

Therapy style

As a licensed psychotherapist with over 18 years of experience in the mental health field, I have had the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life. I believe in meeting people where they are, and I value each person as an individual, therefore treatment planning is coordinated with my patient(s) to address their specific concerns and needs. I have extensive training in a variety of evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused, Psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based therapy, and relational therapy. I have had many years of experience working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, domestic violence, mood disorders, ADHD, postpartum depression/anxiety, issues related to infertility, interpersonal relational challenges, panic disorders, immigration challenges, parenting challenges, insomnia, trans-related challenges and much more. My approach is warm, accepting, and interactive. My goal is to help my patients feel supported and assist them in feeling symptom relief, which means I provide immediate feedback, tasks to focus on in between sessions, and tools to learn coping skills.

Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Harm Reduction
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy
  • Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Psychodynamic
  • Relational
  • Solution-focused
  • Strengths-based

Education

BA - Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara MSW - Social Work, San Francisco State University

Interests

I love to be in nature, especially mountains and the beach. I enjoy spending quality time with my friends and family. I love to exercise, whether individually or in group settings. I love to read.