- Client-Centered approach
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Trauma informed care
About Valerie
Valerie Keller Gates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oklahoma with seven years of experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, grief, depression, coping with life changes, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, parenting, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Valerie also addresses issues such as blended family challenges, codependency, communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, forgiveness, guilt and shame, infidelity, jealousy, money concerns, multicultural issues, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Gerontology from Southern Nazarene University and a Master of Human Relations with an emphasis in Licensed Professional Counseling from the University of Oklahoma. Valerie has worked with individual adults, families, and groups and has supported people facing mild to severe mental illness, addictions with dual diagnosis, and behavioral difficulties.
In sessions she adapts her style to each person. She often uses a client-centered approach as a foundation, then adds cognitive behavioral techniques and other methods to suit specific needs. That means conversations focus on the client's priorities while also identifying thoughts and behaviors that get in the way.
Valerie aims to be transparent and direct in sessions. She invites honest conversation so practical problems and emotional patterns can be named and addressed. Treatment plans are formed from the client's current situation and goals, and adjusted as progress is made.
People working with guilt or shame will find a clinician who includes forgiveness and relational topics among her focus areas. The work typically involves talking through what feels stuck, noticing patterns, and trying different skills to shift how daily life feels and functions.
How therapy approaches translate to online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and working from what matters most to the client. In practice this looks like sessions that begin with the client's immediate concerns and priorities, and conversations shaped around those goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and then tests small changes in thinking and behavior to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is used to process painful memories and reduce the intensity of distress tied to those events.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that make sense for the situation, and adjust the plan based on how the client responds. That means sessions may combine listening-focused work with practical skill-building or targeted trauma processing when needed.
The biography did not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy schedule, shorten commute time, and allow for shorter check-ins when full sessions aren't needed. They can also let someone avoid camera use when that helps them focus, or opt for approaches that are more comfortable in a virtual setting. Ask about the session arrangements offered so they match your day-to-day needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Oklahoma
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, parenting, self-esteem, bipolar, ADHD, and related areas such as guilt and shame.
How would she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She combines a client-centered stance with cognitive behavioral techniques and other methods to help name patterns, shift unhelpful thoughts, and practice different responses to painful feelings.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of counseling experience working with adults, families, and groups in Oklahoma.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oklahoma and practices in that state.
Can I see her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.