Val Anderson (she/her)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

I work fluently with the ACT core processes—psychological flexibility, values clarification, defusion, acceptance, and committed action—helping clients move away from experiential avoidance and toward lives guided by meaning rather than fear. I integrate ACT experientially, using metaphors, mindfulness, and values-based interventions to support sustainable behavior change while honoring the full emotional complexity of each client.

Attachment Theory

My work is deeply informed by attachment theory, particularly in understanding how early relational experiences shape emotional regulation, self-concept, and patterns of connection across the lifespan. I assess attachment dynamics within individuals, couples, and families, and I intentionally create a therapeutic relationship that models safety, attunement, and repair.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

My CBT work is collaborative and practical, emphasizing skill-building, behavioral experiments, and cognitive restructuring while remaining sensitive to context, culture, and lived experience. I adapt CBT flexibly rather than rigidly, ensuring interventions are personalized and integrated with broader therapeutic goals.

Family Systems

I assess patterns such as roles, boundaries, intergenerational dynamics, and cycles of interaction that maintain distress. Whether working with individuals or families, I help clients see how change in one part of the system can shift the whole, empowering them to respond intentionally rather than reactively within their relationships.

Narrative 

I help clients externalize challenges, identify dominant problem-saturated stories, and reclaim alternative narratives that reflect their values, strengths, and lived knowledge.

Anxiety

In my work with clients experiencing anxiety, I have supported individuals who struggle with chronic worry, overwhelm, and stress related to life transitions, relationships, and past experiences. I help clients build coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and develop a greater sense of control and confidence.

Depression

I have worked with clients experiencing depression marked by low mood, loss of motivation, and diminished self-worth. Through a supportive and collaborative approach, I help clients explore contributing factors, strengthen insight, and develop strategies to improve mood and daily functioning.

Family Conflict

My experience with family conflict includes working with individuals and couples navigating communication breakdowns, boundary challenges, and longstanding relational patterns. I support clients in understanding family dynamics and developing healthier ways to relate to one another.

Immigration/Acculturation

I have supported individuals affected by immigration-related stress, including adjustment difficulties, cultural identity concerns, family separation, and uncertainty related to legal or systemic barriers. I strive to provide culturally responsive care that acknowledges both personal and systemic factors impacting clients’ well-being.

PTSD

I have worked with individuals experiencing PTSD and trauma-related symptoms, helping them process traumatic experiences at a pace that feels safe. My work focuses on increasing stability, strengthening grounding skills, and supporting clients in restoring a sense of safety and empowerment.