Licensed to practice in California and accepts 66 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Anxiety, Anger Management and 7 more.
I am an LCSW and a military veteran specializing in trauma and addiction. I believe that effective therapy must be a safe foundation, built on unwavering commitment and ethical practice. My practice is a collaborative space where rapport is established through trust while a custom plan of treatment is mutually established specifically for resolving resistance to your wellness and achieving long-term stability.
The first session is built on mutual assessment and establishing safety. My primary task is to evaluate your needs, focusing on your current level of stability, immediate risks, and personal goals for therapy. Your primary task is to evaluate your response to me—to assess whether you feel safe, heard, and that a foundation of trust can be established here. We will leave the session with a clear understanding of the goals and methods we will use, and a shared agreement that this is a safe space for you to do the most difficult work of your life.
My greatest strength is the ability to maintain unwavering focus and calm amidst crisis. My background, refined by military service and years in high-acuity clinical settings, allows me to quickly focus on core facts and partner with you to coherently organize your thoughts, energy, and plans for wellness. I don't believe in endless "waltzing" with problems; I offer a direct path to functional results, honoring your capacity for resilience and demanding commitment to your own well-being.
My ideal clients are veterans and professionals dealing with chronic trauma or addiction who feel blocked by chaos. You are capable, but need a decisive, practical blueprint. We target core issues (PTSD, substance misuse) using MI/CBT to build structure and end emotional exhaustion. You are ready for consensual action and functional results through true partnership.
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medicare
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
IHSS Healthy Workers
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Scripps Health Plan
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is central to my practice because it honors the client's autonomy and expertise in their own life. I utilize MI to establish a non-confrontational, collaborative space where clients can explore their own ambivalence about change, whether related to substance use, chronic health issues, or complex life transitions. Rather than imposing advice, we work together to identify and strengthen their own internal motivation for moving from survival toward thriving, aligning perfectly with the principles of harm reduction and client agency.
I apply CBT techniques to manage the internal dialogue and fixed thought patterns that maintain anxiety and depression. This involves actively working with clients to identify automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and replacing them with reality-based alternatives through cognitive restructuring and reality testing. The process also uses behavioral activation to directly challenge inertia by encouraging engagement in small, positive activities. CBT provides a structured, goal-oriented framework for clients who need decisive steps to stabilize their mood and improve daily function.
My practice is deeply trauma-informed, focused on helping clients process the emotional and cognitive impacts of past adversity (e.g., violence, loss, incarceration, or complex trauma). I use principles from Exposure and Processing to help clients identify specific triggers that lead to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and anxiety. The ultimate goal is to move beyond mere grounding techniques by promoting emotional regulation and cognitive reappraisal of the traumatic event, allowing the client to safely address the past and refocus their energy on building a functional, purpose-driven life in the present
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an essential, skills-based modality I use for clients experiencing intense mood instability, chronic distress, and difficulty maintaining functional relationships. I focus on teaching the core modules of Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance to provide clients with tangible, practical tools to manage crisis situations and interrupt impulsive or self-destructive behaviors. This systematic approach empowers clients to improve their Interpersonal Effectiveness and move beyond feelings of chronic emptiness and futility, thereby achieving a greater sense of self-mastery and stability in their lives.
8 ratings with written reviews
July 31, 2026
I’ve really enjoyed my sessions with Valo. I’ve known him for a few months now, and he’s been a huge help in guiding me through both my past and present. He’s always straightforward and tackles therapy with a solution-focused and efficient approach. He’s great at lightening the mood with a bit of laughter when it’s needed, but he can also be incredibly serious and focused when it’s time to be. I was a bit hesitant about therapy for a while, but he’s really changed my perspective.
July 2, 2026
I chose Valo because of his strong reviews and his work with veterans. His approach has already made a dramatic impact on my healing journey. He helps me see beyond what I would naturally recognize on my own, and the exercises he gives me have helped me understand things I never would have connected by myself. I am learning why I experience nightmares and anxiety, how to cope with them, and how to move through my days with more awareness and understanding.
May 27, 2026
excellent therapist who not only listens to what you have to say but always have you feel at ease with open mind on how get through you problems. very understanding of your needs, as well you understanding on what's going your life, always feel safe enough to tell him anything on that's on your mind. he best therapist and thier no other words to express on how just great he is and makes you feel better after talking through your problems.