Valerie Kennedy Lang, LCSW

Valerie Kennedy Lang is a licensed clinical social worker with 14 years of experience. She helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and major life changes. She also supports those facing compassion fatigue, relationship strains, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, and ADHD concerns.

Valerie brings practical, person-focused care to sessions. She listens first, then works collaboratively to set goals the client chooses. Her style is warm and nonjudgmental, and she aims to make therapy feel understandable and doable.

Her background includes work in healthcare settings, nonprofit organizations, and private practice. That range has shaped how she responds to medical trauma, caregiver stress, bereavement, and chronic illness challenges. She has experience supporting people through fertility struggles, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and postpartum depression.

In sessions she uses approaches that fit each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills support emotion regulation and grounding. She also draws on client-centered and emotionally-focused ideas when helpful.

Valerie works with adults on a wide range of life and mental health issues. She offers appointments from Missouri and communicates in English. International clients can be seen when arrangements allow.

How Valerie’s approaches translate to online care

Valerie commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday problems by breaking issues into clear steps and practicing new habits.

She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, empathy, and following the client’s agenda. This approach helps people feel heard and involved in setting goals. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are used when emotion regulation, distress tolerance, or interpersonal effectiveness are priorities; DBT offers concrete tools for managing intense feelings and improving relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Valerie will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and adapt techniques accordingly. Decisions about which methods to use are collaborative and can shift as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for deeper conversations and practicing skills face to face. Phone can work when bandwidth is limited or for a quick check-in. Live chat or text messaging fits people who prefer short, frequent check-ins or need flexibility during a busy day.