- Attachment informed
- CBT techniques
- Narrative work
About Valerie
Valerie Novak is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 10 years of professional experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family and parenting concerns, depression, grief, and anger. Valerie writes plainly and focuses on practical steps people can use right away.
Clients meet with her to talk through what is happening and to build clearer ways of responding. She approaches conversations as a chance to notice patterns, test small changes, and try new communication strategies. Sessions often look like focused problem-solving mixed with time to reflect on past events that still affect the present.
Valerie uses attachment-informed thinking to understand how past relationships shape current reactions. She also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and experiment with different behaviors. Narrative work helps people rethink the stories they tell themselves about who they are and what they can handle.
For people carrying anger, she pays attention to when it flares, what it protects, and what it asks for. She helps clients find safer ways to express frustration, reduce buildup, and repair conversations after an outburst. Practical skills and short experiments are common parts of sessions.
Her style is straightforward and focused on real-life changes. Valerie encourages small, repeatable steps that fit into everyday routines. She asks clients to try things between sessions and then reviews what worked and what didn’t.
Approaches that translate to online sessions
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape how people react under stress. Online sessions can use that lens to track recurring patterns and practice different responses in everyday interactions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying thoughts that drive intense feelings and testing small behavior changes to see what shifts. This is often a skills-focused part of sessions and can include between-session experiments. EMDR addresses past distressing experiences by working with memory and body responses; when used, it aims to reduce the power of upsetting memories so they influence current reactions less.Choosing a method is a collaborative step. The therapist will work with the client to figure out which approaches fit their goals and preferences. That may mean starting with CBT skills and later using narrative or attachment perspectives to deepen understanding. Decisions are revisited as progress and needs change.
Confirm which session formats Valerie offers before scheduling so you know how sessions are delivered. The practical benefits of remote work include easier fitting of appointments into a busy day, shorter check-ins when time is limited, and the ability to keep a session without travel. Therapists and licensed professionals often use online work to continue consistent practice, try homework tasks between sessions, and apply new skills directly to real-life situations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, depression, grief, anger, and related issues listed in her specialties.
How would you describe her approach in sessions?
Her approach blends attachment-informed perspectives with client-centered conversation and practical CBT-style exercises to test new ways of thinking and acting.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 10 years of professional work experience as a clinician in California.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, practicing in California.
Which languages can sessions be held in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered at the time you schedule.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.