01 · Who Tina works with

Tina works with relationship issues, career difficulties and depression

Tina lists 5 specialisms and 3 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Tina chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Tina's own words

What Tina says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

As a licensed therapist, I bring nearly two decades of compassionate mental health experience to my practice. My professional journey is dedicated to supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes, with specialized expertise in depression, relationship dynamics, career transitions, and life changes.

I approach therapy as a collaborative partnership, believing that each person has inherent strengths and resilience. My therapeutic style centers on creating a supportive, non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their challenges, develop meaningful insights, and cultivate sustainable strategies for personal growth.

Drawing from evidence-based practices, I work closely with individuals to understand their unique experiences and empower them to create positive, transformative change. Whether you're struggling with emotional difficulties, relationship complexities, or professional uncertainties, I'm committed to walking alongside you with empathy, respect, and professional guidance.

My goal is to help you build emotional skills, enhance self-understanding, and discover pathways toward greater well-being and personal fulfillment. I look forward to supporting you on your journey of healing and self-discovery.

Tina Marie Varlesi, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Tina works

The 4 approaches Tina lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Tina lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Tina's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Tina runs a session.

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT

Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Dialectical Behaviour TherapyDBT

A structured skills-led adaptation of CBT built around holding two things at once: accepting yourself as you are and working to change. Teaches concrete skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation and relationships. Developed for people whose feelings arrive at overwhelming intensity, and strongest-evidenced there.

Mindfulness-Based TherapyMBCT

Trains attention on what is happening right now - body, breath, the thought as it arrives - so distress can be observed rather than automatically acted on. Strongest evidence is in preventing depression from recurring, and it is usually taught as a practice you keep doing outside the session.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Tina practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Tina's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Tina at this point.

2. Naming Tina specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Tina is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Tina.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

2 questions worth asking Tina

Built from what Tina actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Tina's - Tina has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “With 17 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”

  Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LMSW

Licensed in

Michigan

Licence

MI LMSW 6801118005

Licence number

6801118005

Licence expires

21 Mar 2027

NPI

1669801122

Years in practice

17

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Tina's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Tina. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.