Valencia Gooden

Valencia Gooden is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Indiana and a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in Ohio with five years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and major life changes. Valencia also focuses on life purpose and self-love for people who feel stuck or unsure what comes next.

Valencia uses clear, practical conversation to help people sort through what matters now. Sessions often look at day-to-day habits, thought patterns, and small, realistic steps that reduce overwhelm. She blends talk-based work with tools drawn from cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practices.

When trauma memories are present, she may use eye movement desensitization and reprocessing to lessen distress related to painful past events. For relationship concerns she draws on principles from the Gottman Method to identify interaction patterns and build healthier communication habits. The emphasis is on making interventions that fit into busy lives.

Clients can expect a collaborative process where goals are named and progress is checked along the way. Valencia aims to help people clarify priorities, rebuild confidence, and handle transitions with less reactivity. Her background also includes over a decade in human services, which informs a practical, down-to-earth style.

Outside of work she is married and enjoys painting, audiobooks, short trips, and learning new skills. Those interests shape how she thinks about balance and ongoing personal growth.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what matters to the client, helping people name priorities and feel understood in session. This approach is useful when someone is unsure what to tackle first and wants a supportive, conversational way to sort options.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and introduces practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, low mood, and self-esteem concerns because it creates clear steps to try between meetings.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured method for reducing distress tied to painful memories. When appropriate, it can help lessen the intensity of past events so they interfere less with current goals.

Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to decide whether conversational support, CBT exercises, EMDR, or a combination will best match their needs, goals, and preferences. That planning happens together and can shift over time.

Session formats are not specified in the profile, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, or avoid travel time. For some people this flexibility helps maintain consistent appointments while they address stress, transitions, and questions about life purpose.