About Me
Hey there! I am Valentine Valdovinos, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW 87464) in California and a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW 6801113935) in Michigan.
Envisioning my professional goals began in the city of East L.A. -a predominantly Latinx community. As an out, Non-Binary, Queer Person of Color (QPOC) in high school with conservative and religious parents, I faced many struggles that inevitably had effects on my mental health. The saving grace? I met a therapist that made an indescribable difference in my life. I wanted to offer the same hope for others as she did for me.
I set out to learn and do what I needed to do in order to reach my goals. I obtained my three Bachelors' of Arts, and later my Master’s of Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC), where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. During my graduate tenure at USC my concentration was Mental Health, with a sub-concentration of school settings. What does this mean?
My education, preparation, and practicum was all focused on providing services and treatment in the mental health field. It also allowed me to be credentialed to work for school districts. My experience includes working with community mental health agencies, school districts, private mental health companies, and non-profit organizations. I have worked with a diverse clientele of all ages, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, sexualities, abilities, and religions.
Areas in which I provide services include but are not limited to issues concerning:
– Depression/Mood
– Anxiety
– Parenting
– Family systems
– Couple/relationship dynamics
– ENM/Polyamory
– Trauma
– Sexuality
– Gender identity
– Sexual identity
– Kink/BDSM
Specializations:
With having over a decade of experience in providing mental health services in tandem with lived experiences as a Non-Binary QPOC, I began to develop areas of focus in which I now specialize. Of these, the nearest and dearest to my life's passion included working within my Trans and Queer communities. My work within the communities is always affirmative and supportive. As unique and as varied as the Queer community is, so too are the woes that accompany our lives. With firsthand knowledge and experience, I have worked with youth and adult alike to help them through some of the difficulties they have undergone.
Sexuality
As queer identifying individuals we often can experience a gambit of risk factors that increase the likelihood of encountering mental health issues. Some common experiences that our community encounters include but are not limited to:
– Uncertainty/exploration
– Internalized homophobia
– Self identifying
– “Coming Out,” as a continuous experience
– Family discord
– Self-made/Chosen families
– Building community
– Discrimination
– Marginalization
– Synthesizing sexual identity into other identities
Gender
When it comes to gender, We are all taught to believe that gender is this immutable and concrete binary in our world that we must live by. When this binary is pervasively perpetuated we can sometimes feel like we don’t belong. With this message out in the world, any person that identifies outside of said binary can suffer from its negative impact; their mental health and overall well being suffer. Together we can confront and overcome some of the experiences above that are just as applicable and any additional barriers or components that uniquely come up with Trans and Non-Binary identities such as:
– Dysphoria
– Body Dysmorphia
– Transitioning
– Seeking medical treatments
– A "Second Coming Out,” as a continuous experience
– Exploring relationships
– Creating support networks
While I do provide general parenting support, I also work with parents of LGBTQ+ individuals. Being the parent of an LGBTQ+ child comes with its own set of shifts in family dynamics. I can also help you navigate these waters as you and your family journey together.
Kink & BDSM
No two relationships are ever alike, and for some, our relationships look vastly different than the conventional norm. Kink & BDSM relationships are more common than believed to be, and less represented than their conventional counterpart. Individuals in such relationships need quality and judgement-free support just as much as any other relationship. Some of the areas that you may want to explore, process, cultivate, develop, etc. include but are not limited to:
– Power dynamics
– Power exchange
– Control
– Headspace
– Boundaries/limits
– Identity integration
– Safety planning
– Entering agreements/contracts
– Polyamorous relationship structures
With a sex, kink, and body positive framework, we can work together on making the best of your relationships and watching them flourish further.
Anxiety
We all have some level of anxiety which helps motivate, protect, or prepare us. However it is when anxiety becomes disorienting, paralyzing, or overwhelming that we feel a loss of control and will power. Often it can come hand-in-hand with Depression. Anxiety can impact functioning at work, with friends, family, colleagues, peers, even in our romantic relationships, and can come in many forms:
– Generalized
– Social
– Separation
– Phobic
– Post Traumatic
– Obsessive/Compulsive
Together we will work on the core beliefs, or root, of your anxieties in order to help you overcome them. Reach out to find out how we can work on any anxiety you are having.
So whether you need my specialized help with any of the areas above, or perhaps something else not mentioned, we can face it together. Seeking mental health treatment can be a catalyst for positive change with the right therapist. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Regardless of how I can be of service, I look forward to helping you on your journey to healing!
My Credentials & Training
Bachelors' of Arts
Master's of Social Work
License of Clinical Social Work (LCSW)
LGBT Affirmative CBT
Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS)
Depression Treatment Quality Improvement (DTQI)
Standard & Teen Triple P
Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS)
Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP)
Solution Based Couples Therapy (SBCT)
Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW)
Magna cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California (USC). Majors: Gender Studies, Sociology, and French.
Summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Social work. Concentration in Mental Health with a sub-concentration in school settings.
Attained state Licensure to independently practice clinical social work through passing the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) Licensure Exam.
Received and completed training and certification of LGBT affirmative CBT program sponsored by the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (APA Division 44).
Received and completed USC's curriculum-approved training of the Evidence Based Practice (EBP) furnished by the founders of the model and practice.
Received and completed USC's curriculum-approved introductory training of the EBP model and practice.
Received and completed L.A. County Department of Mental Health's (DMH) accredited training and certification of EBP modal and practice.
Received and completed L.A. County Department of Mental Health's (DMH) accredited training and certification of EBP modal and practice.
Received and completed L.A. County DMH's accredited training and certification of Promising Practice model and practice.
Received and completed L.A. County DMH's accredited training and certification of EBP model and practice.
Received and completed L.A. County DMH's accredited training and certification of EBP model and practice furnished by the leading authority in CBT; the BECK Institute.
Received and completed in-house training and certification of the Evidence Based Intervention Program led by Licensed and Certified trainers of model and practice.
Received and completed in-house training and certification of the Promising Supplemental Practice led by Licensed and Certified trainers of model and practice.
Received and completed training of the EBP furnished by the founder of the model and practice
Attained state Licensure to practice clinical social work through endorsement by the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) .