Valerie Fitzgerald, MA, LPCC

Valerie has spent over ten years working in the field of mental health. She has been drawn to working with people dealing with hard situations. Her main interest is identity—how it is formed through early socialization, then changes over the course of the lifespan. Creativity, spontaneous emotions, the stories we tell ourselves about who we are—all these are ways of thinking about identity. Valerie’s experience has taught her that being honest about our pain and shame instead of hiding it opens the door to compassion for ourselves and others. Her goal as a therapist is to accompany people as they confront life’s challenges. This can involve listening when that is needed, providing feedback or guidance when it is requested, and exploring what directions to go next.