Profile / United States
Valerie Engel, LPC, LMHC
Washington
Licensed counselor - Addictions and mood issues
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Client-centered methods
- Stress management tools
About Valerie
Valerie Engel is an LPC, LMHC with 18 years of clinical experience based in Washington. She helps people who are struggling with addiction, sleep problems, low self-esteem, depression, trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, career stress, and compassion fatigue. She also works with issues such as abandonment, body image, codependency, caregiver stress, and recovery from domestic violence and divorce.
Valerie’s approach is practical and skills-focused. She listens, then helps people build concrete strategies to manage difficult thoughts and behaviors. Sessions often include work on communication skills, challenging negative thinking patterns, and developing routines that support better sleep and mood.
She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and to practice alternative responses. She also uses client-centered techniques to keep conversations focused on what the person finds most important. Valerie has a background in addiction and recovery work that informs how she helps people facing substance use and co-occurring concerns.
Her work includes stress management methods and tools for trauma sensitivity. She has experience with practical assessments of work-life balance and uses mindfulness and biofeedback-based HeartMath approaches to reduce stress symptoms and improve self-regulation.
Valerie describes therapy as a place to talk through what is troubling someone and to build step-by-step skills. People who want clear, structured tools and regular skill practice tend to find this style helpful.
How CBT and client-centered methods are used online
Valerie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to distress and then try out different, practical responses. CBT sessions usually focus on setting small goals, practicing skills between meetings, and reviewing what worked.She also draws on client-centered methods, which means conversations focus on the issues the person brings and on making space to talk through what matters most. This approach supports clearer problem identification and helps shape which skills to practice next.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Valerie will collaborate with clients to decide whether CBT exercises, client-centered conversations, or stress-management tools such as HeartMath techniques fit best for their goals. The plan is adjusted over time based on progress and preferences.
The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a weekday or evening, avoid travel time, and continue regular skill practice between sessions. It can also allow shorter check-ins when needed or sessions that do not require being on camera, depending on the format offered.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Colorado, Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She addresses addictions, sleep problems, low self-esteem, depression, trauma and relationship and intimacy-related concerns, along with career and caregiver stress.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and to practice new ways of responding. Sessions include skill-building and behavioral experiments to test alternative responses.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has 18 years of experience, beginning in addiction and recovery counseling in 2007 and adding mental health therapy in 2017, with work across co-occurring disorders, trauma, grief, and life transitions.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She holds LPC and LMHC credentials and is licensed in Colorado and Washington State; she practices out of Washington.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work with her?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To start, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.