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LMHC

Valerie Johnson-Cardoso, LMHC

  • Experience30 years
  • LocationFlorida
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Valerie

Valerie Johnson-Cardoso is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with three decades of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship struggles, grief, trauma, and ADHD.

Background and approach

She draws on a long career that includes work in residential mental health and substance abuse programs, school teaching for 16 years with students who had learning differences and developmental challenges, and a independent practice serving clients of varied ages. Her background also includes in-home and day treatment work in Pennsylvania as well as practice in Florida.

Valerie emphasizes collaborative care that recognizes each person’s unique path to change. She believes therapy works best when therapist and client form a team to explore practical coping strategies, shift unhelpful patterns, and soften the inner critic that can undermine self-worth.

Her experience includes addressing complex concerns such as attachment issues, codependency, caregiver stress, and faith transitions, and she brings a patient, nonjudgmental stance aimed at building trust and creating a safe space for honest expression. Clients can expect a flexible approach informed by evidence-based methods and decades of clinical work.

Valerie aims to help people find small, manageable changes that increase calm and resilience as they move through life’s transitions.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Support



Valerie uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify personal values and develop practical skills for living a meaningful life despite difficult thoughts or feelings. ACT is often helpful for managing anxiety, stress, and life transitions by encouraging committed action aligned with what matters most. She also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors that maintain problems like depression, anxiety, or anger. CBT offers concrete tools for reducing symptoms and improving daily functioning.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Valerie works with clients to explore which methods feel most comfortable and effective, adjusting techniques over time to match each person’s goals, preferences, and pace. This flexibility supports steady progress and respects individual differences in how people respond to therapy.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for busy schedules and different communication styles. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into daily life, maintain continuity during transitions, and access care from various locations. Licensed professionals can use these tools to provide consistent therapeutic work focused on skill-building, emotional processing, and practical strategies for coping.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Valerie address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting concerns, and ADHD among other areas.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Her approach is collaborative and client-centered, blending techniques from ACT, CBT, DBT, and EFT to tailor interventions to each person’s needs and goals.
How much clinical experience supports her work?
She brings 30 years of professional experience, including work in residential mental health and substance abuse settings, school teaching, and independent practice.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
Valerie holds the Florida license FL LMHC MH5690 and provides services while based in Florida.
Can nonlocal clients work with her?
Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English for people located outside the United States.
Which session formats are offered?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different preferences and schedules.
How are fees handled for therapy?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesDepression

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

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English

What Valerie can help with

Valerie Johnson-Cardoso works with clients on stress and anxiety, addictions, LGBT, relationship issues, and depression.

Valerie worked in homes and day treatment facilities with children and adults.

How Valerie approaches therapy

Valerie's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Hypnotherapy, and Imago Relationship Therapy.

Experience and training

Valerie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in Florida, with 30 years of clinical experience.

Therapy style

Valerie was a school teacher for 16 years teaching students with learning differences, emotional issues, autism and developmentally delayed (adults, teens and children).