Meet Valeska

Online Licensed Therapist for California, Florida and New York residents

Hola, I’m Valeska Cosci, LCSW and I am so glad you’re here! I’m a first generation, licensed Latina therapist with over twenty five years of clinical psychotherapy experience in numerous mental health organizations and school settings throughout Los Angeles and New York. After earning my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UCLA, I attended Columbia University in the City of New York and received my Masters of Science in Social Work in 1998.  I have been in private practice since 2009 and have enjoyed working with individuals, families, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and bilingual/bicultural immigrants ever since. In addition to my private practice, I also provide mental health consultation to school communities, crisis management and professional development to educators; training them in multiple ways to implement trauma informed practices in their classrooms and within their school networks.

As the daughter of Nicaraguan immigrants, I am all too familiar with balancing two cultures and the cultural lens in which I navigate relationships and my identity. Trying to formulate my identity has not come easily, I too have struggled with belonging and fitting in with my heritage, my mother land and my American birth place. Like many of the clients I have worked with, I come from a working class background having parents that worked in factories throughout their lives. Many of us from blue collar families had white collar dreams and pressures to do better than our parents financially and socially. This journey towards upward mobility can be a hard earned, emotional struggle that can take its toll. Being a bilingual and bicultural woman, has provided me with real-world experience to work with and be a guide in transformation to immigrants and BIPOC who are trying to thrive in multiple systems.

Personally and professionally, I enjoy helping people improve their lives through the process of exploring their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. I bring a real-life, practical and straight forward approach to our therapy sessions. I’m comfortable getting uncomfortable if it means you see progress. I don’t shy away from the difficult parts of your life. My goal as a therapist is to empower you to do the inner work required to become more self-aware, conscious of your long-standing patterns, and create a more authentic, fulfilling life.

Psychotherapy can be a beneficial and enlightening experience, with life-changing results. Throughout our time together, I will draw from a number of techniques and evidence-based methods to tailor a course of treatment to your particular needs. My culturally sustaining and integrative approach is guided by the following modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, Humanistic, and Brainspotting Therapy. With time, work, and commitment, you’ll be well equipped to navigate and overcome the obstacles that may be facing you.

When I’m not in session working with clients, you can usually catch me spending time in nature with my son and husband, binge watching Netflix, and enjoying time cuddling our pets. Still curious and have more questions about starting therapy? Get to know a little more about my services in the video below. Connect with me on my contact page or book a complimentary 20 minute consultation.