"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene
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Mission
At Valerie Macy-Hurley Therapy, my intention is to help you create positive and lasting change by providing a safe space to identify and overcome barriers to feeling fulfilled and whole.
I believe in using a strengths based approach, empowering you to discover and build upon your own unique strengths while learning to honor and trust yourself in the process. I implement a humanistic, psychoanalytic, and individualized approach to helping you develop and reach meaningful treatment goals. In addition to using various evidence based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Exposure Response Therapy (ERP), I am committed to staying up to date on the latest research and therapeutic interventions so you receive tailored, comprehensive and informed care. My goal is to bring compassion, integrity, and authenticity to each of our sessions together.
Your Journey to Wellness Starts Here
I fundamentally believe that with the right help, we can all reach our full potential. I’m committed to bringing compassion, authenticity, an open-mind, and humor to each session to create a safe and nurturing environment where we can work together to establish relevant goals and a tailored treatment plan to guide you on your journey towards well-being.
About Me
Bio
I am a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), fluent in both Spanish and English, and have provided mental health counseling and support services since 2003. I obtained my master’s degree from UC Berkeley in 2003 and have been licensed by the state of California since 2007. My passion is helping others realize their full potential through self-awareness, authentic connection to others and genuine self-acceptance.
Although I enjoy working with all ages, the majority of my experience has centered around supporting children, teens, and young adults to identify and reach their short and long-term goals through the use of multiple therapeutic modalities, catered to each individual’s needs.
My experiences have helped fuel my passion for working with those struggling with chronic and acute mental health, substance abuse, social inequity, and trauma, and have ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in social welfare as a private practitioner.
Experience
From 2007 till 2022, I worked as a medical social worker at Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital (MCWH) located in Long Beach, CA, providing emotional and social support to individuals struggling with acute and chronic illness, with an emphasis on supporting pediatric and young adult patients and their families with adjustment to illness and navigating community resources.
I have presented on the topic of psychosocial support for children and families struggling with acute and long-term illness for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Cal State University Long Beach’s (CSULB) nursing program on multiple occasions. I have also been featured in Disney Family Magazine on this topic, and am an expert in helping my clients navigate community resources to support their adjustment to illness and promote healing to the fullest.
Prior to working for MCWH, I worked at For the Child in Long Beach, CA, providing psychotherapy to children and families dealing with chronic and acute mental health issues including depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and complex traumas associated with child abuse and neglect.
Before that, I provided individual, group, and family therapy at Youth and Family Services in Vallejo, CA, including group therapy classes to youth on probation and parenting classes to families recovering from substance abuse, child abuse, and neglect.
While in graduate school, I interned for Solano County’s adult and pediatric mental health outpatient clinics in Vallejo, CA, working with children and adults struggling with severe and chronic mental illness. During my time with the county, I was trained in using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methods (CBT).
My Private Practice
I began my private practice after noticing a growing need for strong outpatient clinicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially for clinicians specializing in chronic illness and mood and anxiety disorders. I am also trauma informed care certified to treat both acute and complex trauma. Recognizing and understanding the unique challenges that today’s children, adolescents and young adults are facing inspired me to dedicate more of my time and energy to serving this population.
Services + Specialties
I currently accept patients residing anywhere in California via Telehealth (via HIPAA-compliant interactive video). I have flexible day and evening hours (Tue/Thu) and am available to meet in person at my office located in Long Beach, CA, or via Telehealth for individual and family therapy.
I specialize in helping clients cope with chronic illness, ADHD and mood and anxiety disorders (including depression, OCD and PTSD). I am also trauma-informed-care certified to treat both acute and complex traumas. I have extensive experience working with individuals with medical disabilities and with those who identify as LGBTQ+.
At the core of my practice, I am passionate about helping my clients navigate social inequities that may contribute to their mental health struggles, helping them navigate their work, school, and home environments in order to receive appropriate accommodations to improve their day-to-day functioning. Advocating for my clients sometimes includes assisting them with accessing various levels of care throughout the mental health system to meet their treatment goals.
Contact + Hours of Communication
Please be advised that it may take up to 48 hours for me to respond. In the event of an emergency, I encourage you to call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. I am also available to consult with other members of your treatment team, per your request, to ensure you receive the most comprehensive care possible.
I will work with you to find a time that works for your schedule. Get in touch with me using the contact info below to set up a consultation, or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to inquire whether my services are right for you.
➤ Location
Face-to-face sessions at 2009 Palo Verde Avenue in Long Beach, California 90815
Telehealth sessions anywhere in California
➤ Contact
[email protected]
(562) 264-5670
➤ Hours
Tuesday + Thursday
10 AM – 7 PM
Telehealth
Telehealth sessions are held over a confidential HIPAA-compliant interactive video service.
Telehealth allows us to meet at your convenience, and from any internet-accessible location in California, that works for you.
Since building rapport has been shown to be one of the most important factors involved with successful therapy outcomes, we will work together to process our online therapeutic dynamics to build rapport and increase trust.
Payment Information
Insurance
If you have a PPO insurance plan, or can obtain a Single Case Agreement (SCA) to work with me through your HMO insurance plan, I will provide you with a superbill that you can provide to your insurance company each month, upon your request.
Rates
Initial phone consultation for up to 20 minutes is free of charge. More pricing information is available upon request. In-person and telehealth sessions are 50 minutes. There is also an option for a 30-minute check-in. Session rates vary depending on the type of session (individual or family).
Payment
I accept cash, card, and payment via PayPal or Venmo. Payment is to be made by the beginning of each session via cash, Venmo, or PayPal, or you can set up automatic credit card payments through my online client portal service, SimplePractice.
Cancellation Policy
I request that sessions be canceled at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled session. Sessions canceled less than 48 hours are billed at the full session rate.
Navigating Insurance
To set realistic treatment goals and priorities, it is important to evaluate what resources you have available to pay for your treatment. If you have a health insurance policy, it will usually provide some coverage for mental health services.
Although I can provide assistance to help you receive the benefits to which you are entitled, you (not your insurance company) are responsible for the full payment of fees. It is therefore very important that you find out exactly what mental health services your insurance policy covers.
Some helpful tips regarding questions you can ask your insurance provider, to help determine your benefits, are:
➤ Does my health insurance plan include mental health benefits?
➤ Do I have an out-of-network benefit?
➤ Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it, and have I met it yet?
➤ Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
➤ Do I need written approval/authorization from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?
Good Faith Estimate
If you don’t have or are not using insurance, you have a right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” that estimates and explains how much your medical care will cost.
➤ You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services.
➤ This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
➤ Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one (1) business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
➤ If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
➤ Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and inquire.
Request An Appointment
Please use the form below to tell me about your inquiry using as much detail as possible. This will help me determine if I am the right fit for you. In addition to describing your issues, feel free to also note what you hope to achieve in treatment. Additionally, you may email or call me to make an initial consultation appointment. My general response time is two (2) business days.