- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Attachment-Based work
About Valerie
Dr. Valerie McGaha is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in Oklahoma with 21 years of clinical experience. She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationships, family concerns, and depression. Her practice also addresses issues such as abandonment, attachment problems, communication struggles, forgiveness, and guilt and shame.
She uses practical conversation to identify what feels stuck and what gets in the way of everyday life. Sessions focus on increasing awareness, naming patterns, and trying different ways of responding. She also supports people facing substance use concerns and the long road of sobriety.
Trauma and loss are areas she often sees alongside anxiety and depression. She helps people notice how past hurt shows up now and how it affects relationships. Treatment aims to expand choices rather than force quick fixes.
Dr. McGaha draws on several evidence-informed methods, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Attachment-Based work, and Client-Centered Therapy. These approaches are used to work on emotions, behavior, and connection with others.
She describes her work as collaborative and direct. People can expect to talk about concrete patterns, build skills, and try small behavior changes between sessions. Practical supports such as relapse prevention and communication strategies are offered when relevant.
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting dominated by them and choosing actions that align with personal values. It is useful for chronic guilt, avoidance, and anxiety because it combines mindfulness with practical action steps.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through short exercises and structured practice. It suits problems like persistent negative self-talk, depression, and anxiety that keep someone stuck.
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns from early relationships and how they shape current connections. This approach helps when guilt or shame links back to family of origin issues or ongoing relationship struggles.
Finding the right method is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to pick approaches that match the person’s goals, life situation, and preferences. That choice may shift over time based on what proves helpful.
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people continue therapy while managing medical appointments, work, or caregiving responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
21+ years
Listed in
Oklahoma
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and family concerns, and depression. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, forgiveness, and guilt and shame.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses conversational, skills-focused work to identify how guilt or shame shows up and then practices different responses. Techniques come from ACT, CBT, and attachment-oriented approaches.
What is her clinical background?
She has 21 years of experience working in mental health and co-occurring disorders, including work around suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor - practicing in Oklahoma.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions billed?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.