Therapist
Valerie Johnson-Cardoso
LMHC
Compassionate counselor for practical change
Continue with Valerie
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Step 1
- Calm nonjudgmental space
- Practical life skills
- Experience with autism
About Valerie
Valerie Johnson-Cardoso is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with three decades of experience. She helps people who are coping with stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, grief, ADHD, and a wide range of life challenges. Valerie aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space so clients can speak openly and begin making small changes that add up over time.
She previously taught for 16 years, working with students who had learning differences, emotional needs, autism, and developmental delays. During that time she also ran an evening and weekend private practice. Her work history includes residential mental health, residential substance abuse programs, homes, and day treatment settings in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Valerie describes therapy as a team effort. She focuses on helping people notice unhelpful self-criticism and practice different responses. She encourages skill building and steady progress rather than quick fixes. Her approach emphasizes real-life strategies that people can use between sessions.
Her training includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Valerie also has experience with religious trauma and faith transition concerns, and she has supported people across many ages throughout her career.
Clients from outside the U.S. may be able to work with her; she offers sessions in English. To begin, Valerie asks people to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule according to her availability.
She previously taught for 16 years, working with students who had learning differences, emotional needs, autism, and developmental delays. During that time she also ran an evening and weekend private practice. Her work history includes residential mental health, residential substance abuse programs, homes, and day treatment settings in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Valerie describes therapy as a team effort. She focuses on helping people notice unhelpful self-criticism and practice different responses. She encourages skill building and steady progress rather than quick fixes. Her approach emphasizes real-life strategies that people can use between sessions.
Her training includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Valerie also has experience with religious trauma and faith transition concerns, and she has supported people across many ages throughout her career.
Clients from outside the U.S. may be able to work with her; she offers sessions in English. To begin, Valerie asks people to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule according to her availability.
Step 2
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyHypnotherapyImago Relationship TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
30+ years
Credentials
Florida
Languages
English
Step 3
How Valerie’s approaches translate to online work
Valerie draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to guide her approach. CBT focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thought and behavior patterns, which helps with anxiety, depression, and stress. ACT asks people to notice thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that match their values, useful for grief, addiction, and life transitions.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Valerie will talk with clients about goals, day-to-day challenges, and preferences to find what fits best. She adapts methods over time so strategies match each person’s needs and progress.
Specific session formats are not listed here, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter or more frequent check-ins, and reduce travel time. It also makes it possible for international clients who speak English to connect without relocating. The focus remains on practical tools and steady skill-building that can be used between sessions.
Step 4
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Valerie address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma and grief, ADHD, and many related life issues such as parenting, body image, and career stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
Valerie emphasizes teamwork and practical skills. She focuses on reducing harsh self-criticism and building steady coping strategies.
How much experience does she have?
She has 30 years of experience in mental health, including roles in residential care, schools, and private practice.
What credential and region apply to her practice?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in Florida with past work in Pennsylvania.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is able to work with international clients.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current options before booking so you know how sessions are conducted.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with Valerie?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Step 5