Dr. Lourdes Valdes

Licensed Psychologist

Before your first session even begins, I'll have already spoken with you by phone. When you reach out, I take time to ask some basic questions about what's bringing you in and what you're hoping for — because I genuinely want to make sure I'm the right fit for you. If we both feel good about working together, we'll get you scheduled from there. If you're coming in for yourself as an adult, the first session is a 50-minute conversation where we talk about what's been going on, what's getting in the way, and what you'd most like to change. I'll ask questions, listen carefully, and begin to get a sense of how I can best help. It's a collaborative process from the very start — nothing is done to you; we figure things out together. If you're bringing in a child or teenager, the first session actually starts with you — the parents — alone. This gives us the space to talk openly about your concerns, share background information, and make sure your child doesn't feel like they're being talked about before they've even had a chance to meet me. In the sessions that follow, I'll spend time getting to know your child directly, either on their own or with you present, whatever feels most comfortable. After those first few sessions, we'll come together to talk about what I've observed, share my impressions, and map out a plan for moving forward. Throughout treatment, I set clear goals early on and check in on progress regularly — usually about once a month — so you always know how things are going and whether what we're doing is working. Therapy with me is never open-ended for the sake of it. The goal is always to help you get where you want to go.

Success in therapy looks different for everyone — and that's exactly why we define it together, right from the start. Early in our work, we'll identify clear, specific goals that reflect what you most want to change. Not vague improvements, but real, concrete things: your child going to school without a meltdown on Sunday nights, you getting through a social situation without your anxiety taking over, or a family that feels less tense and more connected. One of the things that makes my approach different is that I don't just trust that therapy is "working" — I measure it. About once a month, we'll check in on your symptoms and your progress in a structured way. This is called measurement-based care, and it means you'll never have to wonder whether things are actually improving. We look at the data together, and if something isn't working as well as we'd hoped, we adjust. You're never just going through the motions. Progress often shows up in everyday life before it shows up in a therapy session. A child who used to refuse to try new things starts to push through the discomfort. A teenager who struggled to make friends finds their footing in a social situation. An adult who avoided certain places or experiences starts living more fully. Those moments — big and small — are what success looks like. By the time we're wrapping up, the goal isn't just that you feel better now — it's that you leave with a real set of tools that you can use long after our sessions end. The work we do together is meant to last.