Valerie is deeply committed to empowering individuals to reclaim their rights and agency following experiences of violence and oppression. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), her focus is on fostering safety, connection, resilience, and hope among her clients.
Prior to her role at the ORCC, Valerie dedicated her career to the humanitarian and human rights sectors, collaborating with esteemed organizations such as Doctors Without Borders Canada, the Danish Refugee Council, Action Contre la Faim, and the United Nations Population Fund. She earned her master's degree in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health from the University of Denver, where she also imparts knowledge as an instructor, teaching a course on mental health and psychosocial well-being in humanitarian crises.
Valerie's journey into mental health began in 2010 when she volunteered as a Rape Crisis Counselor with the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), an organization focused on empowering 2SLGBTQQIA and HIV-affected survivors of gender-based violence. She credits her experience at AVP, particularly the guidance of her queer mentors, for shaping her understanding of survivor-centric approaches. Drawing from cognitive behavioral and feminist theories, she integrates these insights into her work across various settings, including women's and girls' safe spaces, hijra-friendly community centers, health service points, and therapy rooms in North America, West, and South Asia. Valerie carries these diverse experiences forward, endeavoring to create a compassionate and inclusive therapeutic environment for individuals on their healing journey from trauma.
