Education

Heather Valentino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who received her MSW from the University of California, Los Angeles.   She received her B.A. in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Child Development, with a minor in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach.

             Professional Experience

Heather has worked providing psychotherapy services in both the public and private sector. She has provided individual, adolescent, family, group and couples therapy at a community based outpatient, intensive outpatient, day treatment and inpatient levels of care.   Heather has served on a variety of multidisciplinary treatment teams within various levels of care and highly values their functions as a part of providing optimum mental health care. Heather has served in numerous rolls on treatment teams and has provided supervision and consultation to bachelor level mental health and educational staff on those teams.

For the past 7 years, Heather has specialized in working with acutely, mentally ill adolescents with multiple co-occurring disorders and/or dual diagnosis presentations, treating complex diagnostic constellations in both the adolescent and their families . She has extensive knowledge concerning how to most effectively treat complex family systems, severe mental illness, issues of attachment and trauma.  Heather works collaboratively with many systems, including schools, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Probation, the Department of Mental Health-AB3632 Division, and other community agencies.

Heather is currently  working at the Center for Discovery where she is integrating her experience with treatment teams, severe mental illness, attachment/trauma and complex families with the treatment of eating disorders. 

In addition to treating adolescents and their families, Heather also provides Christian Therapy.  Therapy is designed to promote total health by addressing your spiritual, mental, emotional, physical needs. She embraces the mindset of offering counsel in practical, results-oriented, holistic ways, combining the infallible Word of God in conjunction with current proven ethical, psychological and alternative medical knowledge.

The value of continuing to learn and gain knowledge in one’s area of expertise cannot be overlooked.  Heather values continuing education and she continue to pursue knowledge and skill training through attending workshops, trainings, and seminars.

To make an appointment or obtain further information about services and fees, please call (562) 217-8340