Valerie McGuinness is a fully Licensed Clinical Social Worker and yoga teacher specializing in individual therapy for the treatment of anxiety, depression, caregiver stress, and trauma in Athens, Georgia. 

Providing individual counseling, workshops, and private yoga classes.

Treatment specialization includes:

Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Disorders

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Work and Career issues

Stress Management Techniques

Coping with Psychotic Disorders and Bipolar Disorder

Conflict Resolution

Caregiver Support Services

Coping with Pain and Chronic Illness 

In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, Valerie offers a relaxed, yet professional, compassionate understanding to support individuals in exploring their inner thoughts to attain the personal growth and healing they’re striving towards. Work focused on adults and clients age 13 and up. 

Valerie is a interactive, solution-focused therapist. Her therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. By integrating complementary techniques, Valerie offers a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, we work together to help build on strengths and attain the personal growth you are committed to accomplishing. We can identify patterns and perceptions which could be holding you back from experiencing more fulfilling relationships, and a meaningful life that you love. 

Valerie utilizes draws on several evidence based practices, primarily CBT, EMDR, and Yoga. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of counseling which examines the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By challenging negative or distorted thoughts about yourself, your past, and the world, you can begin to alter your feelings and behaviors. Yoga is an ancient path to inner peace and calmness through life's challenges. Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful modality used to process traumatic and difficult experiences.

By combining these frameworks, you can develop the skills and self knowledge needed to transform yourself into an empowered healthy being. You can re-connect with your true self, the person you are without the world, trauma, and unhealthy patterns clouding your inner light. 

Valerie also regularly posts guided meditations on YouTube which are available for everyone.

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Education 
Graduated from University of Georgia School of Social Work 2012, MSW
Graduated from University of Georgia 2006, BSED in Therapeutic Recreation
Completed 200 hour yoga teacher training with Athens Yoga Institute in 2016

License 
Georgia State License #CSW005626

Additional Training 
Completed online and in person Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy trainings through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Somatic and Attachment Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with Personal Transformation Institute

How can therapy help me?

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships,  addressing marriage and family concerns, and the stress of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values

Developing skills for improving your relationships

Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures

Improving communications and listening skills

Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones

Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage

Improving your self-compassion and developing more positive self-image 

Do I really need therapy?  I can usually handle my problems.  

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to identify triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face. 

Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy.   Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well.  Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as negative self-image, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks.  Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and skills to get them through these periods.  Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life.   In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives. 

What is therapy like?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual.  In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session.  Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.  Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist, meeting weekly or biweekly for 3-6 months. 

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.  The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life.  Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their actions. Consistently practicing new skills and thinking patterns is key to building long term change.   

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?  

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, talk therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.  Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Sometimes people need medication to get symptoms under control so that they can even begin the work of therapy. Some people need medication to manage long term. Some people don't need any medication. We are not able to prescribe medication at Cedar Creek Wellness, but we are certainly open to discussing all of your options and helping you determine what the best course of action for your healing will be. 

Do you take insurance, and how does that work?

To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them.  Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers.  Some helpful questions you can ask them:

What are my mental health benefits?

What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?

How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?

Is approval required from my primary care physician? 

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office.   Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.  This is called “Informed Consent”.  Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.

* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.