Patty Valera
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
About Me
Hello, my name is Patty Valera, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and integrative psychotherapy. I support adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, major life transitions, and psychedelic integration through both individual and group therapy.
My work is grounded in relationships and safety. I aim to create a space where you feel supported enough to reflect, understand your patterns, and move toward meaningful change. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced with care. Together, we explore how past experiences may still be living in your body, relationships, and nervous system, while building skills that help you feel more regulated, empowered, and connected in daily life.
A central focus of my practice is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). I collaborate with medical providers to offer preparation and integration sessions that help clients make sense of their experiences and translate insight into lasting change. I also provide Ketamine-Assisted EMDR (KA-EMDR), which combines bilateral stimulation with the expanded therapeutic window ketamine can create, supporting trauma processing in a contained and supportive way.
My therapeutic approach integrates parts work, mindfulness, EMDR-informed methods, somatic awareness, breathwork, and nature-based practices. I am guided by principles of trauma-informed care and social justice, recognizing that healing is shaped not only by personal history but also by culture, community, and the broader systems we live within.
Professional Background
I hold a Master’s degree in Social Work and have worked across hospital, crisis, and community mental health settings throughout my career. I bring extensive experience supporting Veterans and active-duty service members, with a strong focus on trauma recovery, crisis intervention, life transitions, housing instability, and substance use challenges. This work has shaped my ability to remain grounded and present with clients navigating complex and high-stress experiences.
My practice is registered as Casa Azul Yolotl Counseling Services, a name rooted in my cultural lineage and inspired by the Nahuatl language, reflecting the heart-centered and culturally connected lens I bring into the therapy space. I honor the cultural wisdom and ancestral traditions that have shaped my understanding of healing, while grounding my work in ethical and evidence-informed psychotherapy.
I have extensive experience providing individual and group psychotherapy, including preparation and integration for psychedelic-assisted therapies. In addition to direct clinical work, I have supervised clinicians and trainees, contributed to program development, and supported community-based mental health initiatives.
My perspective as a clinician is also shaped by my lived experience as an immigrant from Mexico who has called the United States home for over 30 years. This allows me to support clients navigating bicultural identity, intergenerational experiences, and migration-related stress with depth and understanding.
I have completed training in MDMA-Assisted Therapy through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and continue ongoing education in psychedelic-assisted and integrative mental health care.
Beyond the
Therapy Room
Outside of clinical work, I remain deeply connected to culturally rooted healing traditions, community care, and earth-based practices. I believe healing is both personal and collective, and I value approaches that reconnect us to culture, community, and the natural world.
Clients often describe working with me as grounding, collaborative, and affirming. Whether you are beginning therapy for the first time or returning to deepen your work, my intention is to support you in building a life that feels more aligned, meaningful, and sustainable.
If you feel that this approach resonates with you, I welcome the opportunity to connect and explore whether working together may be supportive for your healing and growth.
