Mona Saba Valeriano, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Life is inherently challenging, and resisting that reality can deepen suffering. You may have long imagined becoming a parent, only to find yourself grappling with unexpected feelings about yourself, your partner, or your child once you have become one. Or perhaps to avoid the pain of your past, you may have turned to food, alcohol, or media, or relied on patterns like people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, or overachieving—strategies that once protected you, but now leave you depleted or isolated. Whatever your past has held, you may be arriving here with a sincere desire to heal and move forward with greater agency. Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming, and I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to begin the search and take the first step. With 18 years of experience supporting individuals and couples through these challenges, among others, I would be privileged to walk alongside you in this work. Therapy with me is relational, collaborative, active, empathic, and experiential—at times direct and gently challenging. I draw from depth-oriented and somatic approaches, including intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP), psychodynamic therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, internal family systems (IFS), and emotionally focused therapy (EFT). I am trauma-informed and LGBTQ affirmative, and deeply value working with BIPOC and SWANA clients and couples. Rather than relying on a single model, I integrate many eclectic approaches to meet your unique needs and support meaningful, lasting change. Together, if you choose, we can work together to support your growth—while breaking unhelpful patterns, building confidence and self-assertion, and deepening your connection with yourself and others. I look forward to hearing from you.

Inara Center for Psychotherapy includes wonderful associates and me. While I typically meet with clients during daytime and weekday hours, my associates are often able to offer evening and weekend meeting times. Feel free to inquire directly with me, should you wish to work with my associates or me.