What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
Average wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
“Thorough, thoughtful, and very empathetic. I look forward to speaking with her again and continuing our sessions.”
Nicole O.October 28, 2024Video visit
“First appointment with Valerie! It was good, felt like I made the right decision, picking her for therapy. She listened, the questions that she asked were thoughtful and aimed at getting to know me to figure out exactly what kind of therapy I need. I’m excited for the following sessions.”
Initials hiddenApril 12, 2024Video visit
About Valerie Joyal
Focus areas
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Schema Therapy
Bereavement / Grief Counseling
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Attachment-based
Culturally Sensitive
Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors
Dialectical (DBT)
Identity
Gender
FemaleSexuality
StraightEthnicity
White
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Valerie Joyal
I have more than 10 years of experience in the field, using a multitude of clinical approaches to help people develop the skills and confidence they need to build the lives they want to live. I've had the chance to meet some amazing people and support them through treatment tailored to their individual strengths.
I hold a Master’s in Social Work from the State University of New York and am certified in progressive counting, an emerging treatment for trauma. I believe a good counselor stays at the forefront of the field by learning pioneering therapy methods while remaining thoroughly informed about fundamental ones. Areas such as human development, attachment styles, schemas, effective goal setting, and a holistic balance of strengths and weaknesses are major points of interest for me throughout treatment.
My passion is helping people heal from trauma. No one gets through life unscathed, but my approach to therapy aims to help clients find a life worth living and build a future worth being in. Our early experiences shape our world, and the beliefs we hold from those times can become barriers to the life we want. Learning to challenge those beliefs and finding a new way forward is an important part of the process for me.
What should a new client know about working with you?
My clients can expect to be treated with respect; respect for their experiences, their cultural values, and their choices. It's my aim to build a strong relationship that you can count on with a counselor who knows you for who you are. There's a gentleness to my approach that I think surprises some of my clients: I want empathy and encouragement to be a source of motivation that you will be able to rely on during the dark spots of your life. Together, we will develop an alliance and I will coach you on the skills you'll need to confront that darkness. It's my hope that your sense of pride will grow as you overcome the challenges you face. Pride in self-worth, being able to gain control over relationships that have distressed you, or having a more compassionate inner voice are all things we will work toward.
The ultimate goal to therapy is to feel better, but that can require us to go through some difficult memories together. We may need to review times where you were hurt, sad, or angry and to process those experiences. You don't have to do that alone and I've got a skillset for reliably helping my clients make it past any initial discomfort they may feel when they begin therapy.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
I like for people to be able to grow and heal at their own speed and I recognize that there are specific methods and approaches to meet my clients where they're at emotionally. That said, we will move at a speed that works best for you.
I try to end my sessions with a review of what's working, how we can address what's not, and if there's more that we could be doing to approach things you feel are being left behind.
Therapy starts with someone being brave enough to essentially talk to a stranger about the hardest things in their life, but if they can do that, therapy can help them learn how to respond to their emotions in a different way. Emotions motivate us to action, help us to communicate with others and ourselves, and at their core, they help us to get our needs met even if they're difficult for us to endure or they spark in the wrong situations. Through self-compassion, committing to a life of value, and setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries, my clients can use therapy to give themselves some of the important things they only thought they could get from others.
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In-network insurances
Aetna
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Oxford
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- State University of New York, Master's in Social Work
Awards and publications
- Certified in Progressive Counting
NPI number
1306235221
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
16 reviews
Most relevant
Thorough, thoughtful, and very empathetic. I look forward to speaking with her again and continuing our sessions.
October 28, 2024Nicole O.Verified patientVideo visit
Great session. She is easy to talk to and I believe will be very helpful.
April 29, 2025Initials hiddenVideo visit
I love her. She is the first therapist that I felt comfortable enough to talk about a lot of my trama
More than 1 year agoKA
First appointment with Valerie! It was good, felt like I made the right decision, picking her for therapy. She listened, the questions that she asked were thoughtful and aimed at getting to know me to figure out exactly what kind of therapy I need. I’m excited for the following sessions.
April 12, 2024Initials hiddenVideo visit
Valerie is an amazing therapist who really cares about her clients! Thanks to her, what had been bothering me for years, is not bothering me anymore. She's been very keen at listening to me, making me understand my situations for what they truly are without any filters, and offering several techniques to resolve them. I got healed through her support and I'd recommend her to anyone!
More than 1 year agoBT
Beyond having passed the state of survival (which I was in), I’m forever thankful for those -bonus- positive changes that I’ve managed to manifest in my life through working with her! Valerie was amazing in the way that she made the journey of getting therapy as effortless as it can be. It was a remarkable experience where I felt trusted, safe, and supported while processing heavy traumatic experiences. I felt respected when I was revealing weaknesses and rewarded while sharing success stories. For anyone looking for a great therapist, I cannot recommend it enough to work with her!
More than 1 year agoEG
I have been seeing Valerie 4 almost 2 years now. She has helped me 2 overcome so many obstacles in my life; both past and present, while walking me through different techniques 2 b able 2 have a brighter, more positive future.
I look forward 2 r biweekly appts as Val is very attentive, professional, and caring. If u r looking 2 get n2 therapy but skeptical due 2 the stigma that society places on it... all I can tell u is that Valerie is the 1 to see that would change your mind on how you view therapy!
More than 1 year agoTD
As a result of my treatment I was able to strengthen my skill of identifying, accepting and managing my emotions- and not feeling like a victim of my circumstances but as an agent of change of my own situation
More than 1 year agoGD
My therapist is very helpful she understands me she understands everything I'm going through he helps me tremendously with my problems and my issues she helps me with my PTSD my anxiety my depression anything is going on I can count on her she is very good at what she does and I am so glad and happy that I found somebody that I can trust with my life
Thank you so much Valerie for your help and support
Sincerely your.
patient Chris Pitts
More than 1 year agoCP
March 25, 2025Catherine C.Verified patientVideo visit
May 24, 2024Margaret L.Verified patientVideo visit
August 1, 2023Gregorio V.Verified patientVideo visit
June 23, 2023Monica J.Verified patientVideo visit
May 8, 2023Tiffany C.Verified patientVideo visit
More than 1 year agoInitials hiddenVideo visit
March 1, 2023Rebecca V.Verified patientVideo visit
How soon can I make an appointment with Valerie Joyal?
Generally, Valerie Joyal has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Valerie Joyal's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Valerie Joyal accepting new patients?
Valerie Joyal generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Valerie Joyal's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Valerie Joyal accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Valerie Joyal is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Valerie Joyal online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Valerie Joyal using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Valerie Joyal work with?
Valerie Joyal works with Become The Way MSO LLC.
What are common reasons for patients to see Valerie Joyal?
Valerie Joyal frequently sees patients for Depression, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, Sleep Problems, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Valerie Joyal on their profile.
What languages does Valerie Joyal speak?
Valerie Joyal speaks English.
How do patients rate Valerie Joyal in reviews?
16 patients have reviewed Valerie Joyal. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.