Dr. Valera is a bilingual therapist and a Clinical Mental Health Qualified Supervisor who works with children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Applied Behavior Analysist, Sexual Harm or Risk Assessment,  depression, anxiety, intimate partner violence, addiction, codependency, sexual abuse, adjustment disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity, anger issues,  loss and grief, divorce/co-parenting, and family issues. She also has extensive experience with clients experiencing trauma, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. She has over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field and/or humanistic field in the community.   Dr. Valera has experience working with children with autims and people with disabilities as well as family members affected by mental disorders, trauma, and autism spectrum. She conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, sexual harm and risk assessments for youth and children,  psychological evaluation, treatment, and medication management referrals. She helps individuals of multicultural backgrounds and who are dealing with emotional, mental, behavioral, or relationship issues.     

 

She worked at Stepping Stones intensive unit at Meadville Medical Hospital and Gaudenzia Rehabilitation Center in the state of Pennsylvania with individuals and families dealing with substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder, and sexual harm victims. She also worked in the House of Healing with women and children doing individual therapy and group work.  She has worked in different cities and states, including Boston, MA, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Buffalo, NY, as well as other international countries, including Saint Martin, Santo Domingo, Belize just to name a few.     Dr. Valera has also worked at the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania with veterans and civilians dealing with emotional, behavioral, and mental health disorders for many years. She served as the Vice President of the organization for years. She served as a member of the board of the North Carolina Licensed Professional Counselor. She was selected to sever as the President of the North Carolina Association for Humanistic Counseling 2020 -2021