Hello!
I have been told I am a bit of a unicorn therapist: I am a Queer, Nonbinary, Poly, Pansexual, Sex and Kink-Positive, trilingual, clinician of color. Because I provide tele-health mental health services via video or audio sessions, I am able to provide therapeutic services to anyone from any part of CA or MI as I am licensed in both states. So if you are located in an area of these states where it is difficult to find a therapist with as many intersectional identities that resonate with you, you are in luck! Please reach out as I would be honored and happy to work with you!

My commitment to my 2SLGBTQ+ community has long-standing roots. I have always been very passionate about giving back to my community. As a result of this passion and desire to further the well-being of my community, I have worked for/in the 2SLGBTQ+ community in various capacities throughout my life since I “came out” when I was 15.

This includes: founding my high school’s very first Gay-Straight-Alliance (back when they were called that), planning 2SLGBTQ+ events both for social awareness and educational purposes, participating in leadership roles and meetings for the USC LGBT center, interning at ONE national Archives, being part of USC’s para-professional mentoring program for underclassmen that identified within the 2SLGBTQ+ spectrum, obtaining a BA in Gender Studies prior to my Masters in Social work with a concentration in mental health, working first hand with 2SLGBTQ+ teens and adults providing therapeutic services for the past 10 years, and consistently taking continuing education courses and trainings related to providing service to the 2SLGBTQ+ populations.

I am also very proud to say that I incorporated a charitable initiative in conjunction with my private practice: A Safe Space Cares. A Safe Space Cares is my private endeavor to give back to critical, crucial, and even life-changing charitable organizations (orgs) that resonate with values such as: compassion, sustainability, justice/equality, de-stigmatization, education, wealth distribution, self determination, resource sharing, and/or other DEI efforts. This is essentially a passive-collaborative effort between myself and clients I work with throughout a calendar year. It is a process in which 10% of every dollar made from providing therapy services will be donated at the end of the year to a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that embodies the values above. Clients are welcome to donate to a set list or orgs or are invited to nominate a new org that they believe may meet the values listed.

By choosing me as your therapist you will help contribute to this initiative; as my practice, client roster, and revenue grows, so too will the percentage donated each year to such invaluable orgs (I aspire to one day be in a position to donate 30% or more every year)! So even if you choose to work with another provider, please share this initiative with others that are considering to pursue/engage in mental health services so that they too can contribute to these efforts should they choose to engage in services with A Safe Space- Therapy Services, PLLC.

It can be hard to comprehensively summarize who we are with a written description- I hope that I have given you a small glimpse of who I am. However, I encourage you to reach out to set up a free 30 minute video consultation so that we may meet to answer any questions you may have that will help you determine whether you would like us to work together.

Looking forward to speaking with you!

With the spirit of care, community, and in perpetual gratitude,
Val