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LISW

Valerie Rutherford, LISW

  • Experience18 years
  • LocationOhio
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Parenting
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Valerie

Valerie Rutherford is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) practicing in Ohio with 18 years of experience in mental health. She has worked with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families, concentrating on areas such as depression, anxiety, stress management, relationship challenges, and navigating major life changes.

Background and approach

Valerie emphasizes a collaborative, client-centered stance that tailors interventions to each person’s circumstances and preferences. Her work blends practical strategies and compassionate support to address a broad range of concerns including parenting, self-esteem, addiction, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating and body image concerns, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.

Valerie draws on several evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness to help clients develop coping skills, clarify values, and improve daily functioning. Clients can expect a warm, nonjudgmental environment in which goals are set collaboratively and interventions are chosen to match individual needs.

Valerie offers flexible scheduling and multiple session formats to accommodate different preferences for receiving support.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Convenience

Valerie integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in ways that translate well to online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms and improve functioning, which can be helpful for concerns like anxiety, depression, and stress. ACT emphasizes values-guided action and learning to accept difficult internal experiences while committing to meaningful behavior changes, useful for managing life transitions and persistent distress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and will be explored collaboratively. The therapist will work with clients to identify goals, try techniques drawn from different models, and adjust strategies based on what fits the person's needs and preferences rather than applying a single method by default.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, try brief check-ins between longer sessions, and access support from home or another convenient location while working on practical skills and emotional growth with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Valerie address?
She works with a wide range of mental health and life challenges including stress, anxiety, depression, parenting, relationships, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, ADHD, and related concerns such as eating and body image issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and client-centered, combining compassionate listening with practical interventions to help clients set goals and build coping skills.
What is her professional background?
Valerie has 18 years of experience in mental health and has worked with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families across a variety of presenting issues.
Where is Valerie licensed and practicing?
She is licensed in Ohio as a Licensed Independent Social Worker with supervisory endorsement, listed as OH LISW I.0600059-SUPV.
Does she work with clients in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are conducted in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Valerie provides several formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match client preferences.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyParenting issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

18+ years

Licensed

Ohio

Languages

English

What Valerie can help with

Valerie Rutherford works with clients on stress and anxiety, parenting issues, self esteem, depression, and coping with life changes.

Valerie works with adults, adolescents, children, and couples.

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), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Valerie is a Licensed Independent Social Worker practicing in Ohio, with 18 years of clinical experience.