Therapists in Missoula, MT

I offer a strengths-based practice aimed at providing services to adolescents, adults & families in the scope of addiction, trauma, disordered eating, behavioral health, reproductive health/infertility & life transitions. I utilized a mixed approach to therapy centered around self-compassion, motivational enhancement, cognitive behavioral therapy, communication skills, and mind/body connection. Other methodology is applied as appropriate. My goal is to meet Client's where they are in their therapeutic process, encourage them to be an active participant in their own care and provide usable skills to be used outside of therapy.

Psychotherapy is the process of deepening awareness. This means knowing and facing our emotions. Anxiety is an emotion that makes everything harder. We can learn methods of dealing with it so it doesn't cripple us. Anger is an emotion that makes us and others miserable.Once we learn its triggers, we can tame it. Depression can be treated by leaning new ways of seeing things. Learning how to connect with people in healthy ways is vital to our happiness. Many of our relationships are painful. Since psychotherapy is a relationship with another, it is an excellent way to learn how to connect with someone without fear of being judged.

My primary focus is to help you achieve the goals you set, and help you align with and live by your values. My goal is to help individuals and families process barriers, understand and organize emotional chaos, and develop communication, relational, and coping skills to live a functional, whole, and healthy life. I emphasize the importance of good communication, self-examination, and awareness. This allows for each individual to safely explore their inner world and gain insight into themselves and the world they are connecting with.

We all encounter difficult times in life. Seeking support to navigate current challenges, or carefully examining the past to change future patterns can be a difficult process. I'm glad you're here.

Valerie's clinical practice is focused on complex trauma, developmental trauma, PTSD, domestic and sexual violence, and at-risk adolescence.

I'm currently accepting new referrals, and am eager to help individuals overcome difficult life transitions, anxiety, depression and/or feelings of being 'stuck'. Life can throw curveballs, but with the right tools and support you'll be able to navigate with confidence. I work well helping individuals who have trouble with anxious and worried thinking, have poor self-confidence, or are making their way through changes in life like graduating from college and starting a career, managing rocky relationships, or reframing their newfound freedom after raising a family. Stress is tough, but thankfully finding help doesn't have to be!

I believe that we're all works in progress, having found this to be true of clients struggling with life changes to clients with the most complicated of problems--even young gang members, in whom I've had the privilege of seeing humanity and goodness. The role of therapist, for me, is one of empowering, bearing witness to life's bewilderment and suffering, and jointly creating a peace of mind and resilience, sometimes in the face of unresolved problems, while honoring one's own truth and rewriting our narratives in a way that makes sense to us as we make meaning to our lives.

If you are a human being who is struggling with "human stuff" I might be the therapist for you. I have been practicing for over 15 years and I am very interested in finding solutions that work for my patients as opposed to a "one size fits all approach". I have a strong background treating depression, anxiety, complex traumas, neuro-diverse individuals, and folks struggling with substance use disorders.

It's my passion to see people free of social-emotional struggles in life. I enjoy offering a solution focused, person centered, and relational-based approach.

I believe life is all about connection and relationships: the one we have with ourselves, others, our environment, our spirit/soul or higher power however you decide to identify such to be of utmost importance. I also believe that our traumas and our own fears often put ourselves in our own way. Therapy, having someone accompany us on life's journey, can be a very helpful avenue in providing a safe and supportive context to look at ourselves, the opportunity to deepen our self-understanding and reflect on our choices as well as carves out time to evaluate our lives from another perspective.

Wherever you are in your life, I’d love to get to know you and see what healing we can accomplish together. I am constantly amazed by the resourcefulness that clients have used to survive through the hardest parts of their lives. Oftentimes, making it through also means that we have developed parts of ourselves that are tough enough to cause us problems we can’t solve alone. I see my job as a therapist as being that other person who helps you create a safe and curious space to heal the frustrations between those parts that feel stuck and the parts that help you thrive.

I help people struggling with isolation from depression,anxiety, and trauma. I guide clients and their families in various life transitions in order to engage in a more fulfilling manner. My clients often say I'm a therapist that helps them laugh, find connection, and most of all validation and hope in a laid back, and relaxed environment. You can expect me to respect your thoughts, ideas, and choices. The first session will be used to gather information about your history, needs, strengths, and what your goals are. I do this through asking questions and active listening.

Whether individuals are struggling with depression, anxiety, psychosis or other severe mental health symptoms, trauma, legal issues or anything in between, I’ve learned that everyone wants to live their best life and generally be happier. Unfortunately sheer force of will is not usually enough to help them get there and they need a little help and support in the process. I also have a passion for helping working professionals such as medical professionals and other therapists who often feel like loved ones simply do not understand the pressures they experience have a safe place to discuss, get support, and decompress.

Connection is foundational to the human experience. How we connect with ourselves and with those around us directly impacts how we walk through the world. I want to walk alongside you in a way that holds space to be curious about what may be getting in the way of connection. Possibly shame, trauma, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, poor communication ect. Furthermore, I want to help facilitate a move toward healing and restoration within ourselves and within our communities.

My therapy practice specializes in mood disorders, working with individuals, couples and families. I am also a Board Certified Executive Coach and specialize in business coaching and leadership development with an emphasis on Emotional Intelligence. Through a fun, collaborative relationship, there is always a way to address the issues you face and learn coping strategies to help you both right now and in the future. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, marital conflict, job stress, career and life transitions.

My therapy is client centered, offering a safe, nonjudgmental therapeutic environment for work to take place. I generally start by getting to know you well. As you develop a sense of safety and trust and feel deeply understood by me, you will probably gain insights and relief in better understanding yourself. As we go, clients increase their awareness in themselves and their relationships with others. They become calmer, wiser, more confident, and empowered.

I have twenty years of experience working with individuals and couples in a psychodynamic approach. My orientation includes attachment theory, schema therapy, psychoanalysis, emotionally focused therapy, and mindfulness. My goal is to help you reduce your emotional suffering, better understand yourself, improve your relationships, and become a happier and more relaxed person.

I view therapy as an interpersonal laboratory, a way of working with thoughts, emotions and relationships. I welcome clients who seek the support and safety of a client centered environment who may be experiencing a huge life event/change or trauma and are seeking a more meaningful, authentic and valued life.

Trying to navigate your sense of self in the stressful state of the world can be exceptionally challenging. Do you feel weighed down by persistent anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or overwhelming stress? If you are seeking a space where you can gain deeper self-understanding and alleviate distress, you’ve come to the right place. Within each of us lies the potential to overcome specific challenges and conflicts that weigh us down. I prioritize building a secure and trusting therapeutic relationship allowing us to explore patterns of thought, emotional responses, and behaviors that may hinder your progress and influence your well-being.