Valerie Hardy (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) who specializes in working with teens and adults undergoing life transitions, experiencing relationship stress, struggling with anxiety or mood disorders, or healing from grief or trauma. She works with clients individually and in couples or family sessions. Valerie believes in developing an individualized and collaborative treatment plan for each client focused on their unique goals and values. Valerie also prioritizes developing a strong and trusting therapeutic relationship in which the client is the expert on their symptoms and experiences, and she is there to walk beside and guide them through the treatment process.  Depending on the client’s needs, she incorporates various evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Solutions Focused Brief Therapy. 

Through the counseling process, Valerie will help clients increase awareness and insight; identify and adapt thoughts and behaviors that are contributing to their feeling stuck; and learn strategies to regulate their emotions, tolerate distress and cope with anxiety and stress, increase self-compassion and self-esteem, and enhance relationships with others.  With appropriate consent, Valerie may also collaborate with other members of the client’s support system (e.g., family, school personnel, other treatment providers, etc.) to help best support the client toward their goals.

Education & Experience:

Valerie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with significant coursework in Psychology, and then obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from DePaul University. She earned a second Master’s Degree in Counseling from Northern Illinois University and has completed all of the requisite coursework toward her Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification as well. Valerie has worked with teens in a school setting for over 20 years in addition to counseling clients within a private practice setting since 2019.