Tessa Valeu, MSW

I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Illinois. In addition, I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreational Therapy from Illinois State University. My experience has been cultivated from many mental health care settings to include an inpatient psychiatric hospital, a rehabilitation facility, outpatient mental health therapy, and a residential facility. I have worked with individuals from the ages of 4 to 99. I have experience working with anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, and trauma-related disorders amongst other mental health conditions.

As a Certified First Responder Counselor, I am dedicated to helping First Responders, Veterans, Military, and their family members have a safe environment to discuss their mental health. I understand that everyone struggles in their life, and I firmly believe that those struggles do not define you as a person. I am dedicated to helping you find the tools you need, to effectively work through those struggles.

I love the opportunity to get to know each client and help them figure out what is the best course of treatment for them. This allows me to individualize my treatment for each and every person that walks through the door. I use different techniques from strength-based theories that best fit each person’s current walk through life. Some treatment modalities that I utilize are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, The Life Model, and Narrative Theory.