Practitioner record · Checked 9 Oct 2026

Valerie Ziel has been in practice 12 years and is licensed in New York. Valerie lists stress, Anxiety, trauma and abuse and self esteem among 31 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.

Everything below is either quoted from Valerie's own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.

12years in practice
31subjects listed

01 · Who Valerie works with

Valerie works with stress, Anxiety, trauma and abuse and self esteem

Valerie lists 5 specialisms and 26 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Valerie chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

Specialisms
  • Stress, Anxiety
  • Trauma and abuse
  • Self esteem
  • Depression
  • Coping with life changes
Also experienced with
  • Abandonment
  • Aging and geriatric issues
  • Attachment issues
  • Body image
  • Caregiver issues and stress
  • Co-morbidity
  • Codependency
  • Commitment issues
  • Communication problems
  • Control issues
  • Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
  • Dependent personality
  • Dissociation
  • Eating and food-related issues
  • Guilt and shame
  • Isolation / loneliness
  • Life purpose
  • Midlife crisis
  • Money and financial issues
  • Mood disorders
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  • Self-love
  • Sexual assault and abuse
  • Social anxiety and phobia
  • Women's issues
  • Workplace issues

02 · In Valerie's own words

What Valerie says about the work

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

As a licensed therapist in New York, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My practice focuses on helping clients address challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions. I'm deeply committed to empowering individuals to develop self-love, improve communication, and overcome feelings of isolation.

My therapeutic approach centers on understanding each person's unique journey. I work collaboratively with clients to explore attachment patterns, address workplace and personal stressors, and build resilience through compassionate, evidence-based strategies. Whether you're struggling with mood disorders, body image concerns, or seeking greater life purpose, I provide a supportive space for healing and growth.

With over a decade of experience, I've dedicated my career to helping individuals reconnect with their inner strength, challenge limiting beliefs, and create meaningful, authentic lives. I believe in meeting each client exactly where they are, with genuine empathy and professional guidance.

Valerie Ziel, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Valerie 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 Valerie'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 Valerie at this point.

  2. Naming Valerie specifically

    BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Valerie 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 Valerie.

  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.

04 · Before you commit

2 questions worth asking Valerie

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

  • “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

    Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

  • “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.

05 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential
LCSW
Licensed in
New York
Licence
NY LCSW 085696
Licence number
085696
Licence expires
31 Dec 2028
NPI
1366757494
Years in practice
12
Gender
Female
Languages
English
International clients
Not accepted
Listed since
12 Jun 2026

06 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Valerie'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 Valerie. 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.

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