Valerie Johnson-Cardoso, LMHC

Florida | Online sessions in Florida | English | Book with Valerie »

Patient, practical mental health support

Details

Name	Valerie Johnson-Cardoso
Credentials	LMHC
Based in	Florida
Licensed in	Florida
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	30

About Valerie

Valerie Johnson-Cardoso is a licensed mental health counselor with three decades of experience. She speaks plainly and listens closely to help people find calmer, more manageable ways to live. She aims to build trust so people can say what they feel without judgment.

Valerie has worked in Florida and Pennsylvania in residential mental health and substance abuse settings. She spent 16 years as a school teacher supporting students with learning differences, autism, and emotional needs, and ran a independent practice during evenings and weekends.

Background and approach

That mix of school, residential, and personal work gave her experience with people across many ages and situations. Her practice pays attention to individual differences. Valerie says what helps one person may not help another, so she works with each person to find practical steps that fit their life.

She encourages small changes that can lead to less stress and more calm. Valerie also brings experience with faith transitions and religious trauma issues. She talks openly about how inner critics form and helps people reduce self-criticism and increase self-acceptance.

The goal is steady progress rather than quick fixes. In sessions she focuses on collaboration. People can expect straightforward conversation, skill building, and real-world strategies for coping with anxiety, grief, addiction, parenting strain, career stress, and other concerns.

Valerie’s approach centers on helping people take manageable actions that reflect their values.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, LGBT among the things Valerie works with, alongside the areas below.

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Depression
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Eating disorders
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Aging and geriatric issues
Antisocial personality
Attachment issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Blended family issues
Body image
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Drug and alcohol addiction
Eating and food-related issues
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Fatherhood issues
First responder issues
Forgiveness
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Hoarding
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Impulsivity
Infidelity
Intellectual disability
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Narcissism
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Paranoia
Personality disorders
Phobias
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Pregnancy and childbirth
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia
Traumatic brain injury
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Existential Therapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Hypnotherapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Imago Relationship Therapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Internal Family Systems: Listed by Valerie among the ways she works.
Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Valerie directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Valerie directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

Approaches that translate well to online care

Valerie uses Narrative Therapy to help people reframe the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships, which can ease shame and open options for change. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on clarifying values and taking small committed actions even when feelings are difficult. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an accepting, nonjudgmental space where a person’s own goals lead the direction of work.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Valerie will discuss what matters to the person, try methods that fit their style, and adjust as needed. The goal is to find approaches that feel useful and realistic for daily life rather than imposing a single method.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text-based messaging work for on-the-go updates, brief coaching, or session follow-ups. These options help people fit therapy into work, caregiving, or other routines.

Common questions about this listing

What types of issues does this therapist address?

Valerie works with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy and eating concerns, ADHD, and many other life and relationship stresses.

What is the therapy style like in sessions?

Sessions are collaborative and straightforward with a focus on practical steps. Conversations aim to reduce self-criticism, build coping skills, and create achievable change.

How much clinical experience is represented here?

The therapist has 30 years of experience working in schools, residential treatment, and independent practice across Florida and Pennsylvania.

What credentials and region are listed?

The clinician holds an FL LMHC license and is based in Florida.

Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English and the therapist accepts international clients.

Which formats are available for appointments?

Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs.

How are costs and billing handled?

Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What is the first step to begin working together?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Valerie are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Valerie where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

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