You are not alone and you have taken a huge step by reaching out for help! Hello and welcome! Thank you for your interest in working with me as your therapist. My name is Valarie C. Collins. You are welcome to call me Valarie or Val for short. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of Kentucky. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology before obtaining my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and have approximately 15 years of experience in the counseling field. I have experience working with people of all ages with a wide variety of concerns (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, stress, anger management, relationship issues, trauma including various types of abuse, and adjustment to change, as well as others). I have worked in various settings such as outpatient mental health clinics, private practice outpatient offices, rehabilitation facilities, detox units, intensive outpatient programs, and psychiatric hospital units. I have experience working with individuals, groups, and couples. I feel that my therapy approach differs depending on the concerns that are being addressed. We will work together to find the approach, strategies, and goals that are the best fit for you. I use motivational interviewing techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy the most, but typically there will be a combination of various types of therapy utilized in our counseling relationship. As a therapist, I will be doing many things to assist you in finding solutions, processing thoughts and feelings, and gaining relief from your symptoms. As we go through this process, I will ask questions, make suggestions, and provide some education and educational materials related to your specific issues. We will also identify goals that you would like to accomplish and will discuss progress on those goals. I offer various types of therapy services through BetterHelp (messaging, live chat, phone sessions, and video sessions). I have a set schedule of appointment days and times to choose from for live services (chat, phone, video). However, after we start meeting, we can discuss additional days/times that I may not have posted openings for. So, if there are certain days/times that are best for you, I am certainly open to discussing this. For messaging, I will be checking my messages several times a day. I will be responding ASAP, but this will primarily be on weekdays, with some responses on weekends. You are a priority to me and I want you to feel that way. I want our work together to be collaborative so that you feel empowered, supported, and confident in the accomplishments that I know you can achieve!