Dominic Valdes, LCSW

California · 17 years in practice

Dominic Valdes is a licensed clinical social worker who centers therapy on practical tools and real conversation.

License and registration

LCSW, California: 71010 · expires November 2027
NPI: 1518242387 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 17
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Dominic

Dominic Valdes is a licensed clinical social worker who centers therapy on practical tools and real conversation. He draws on client-centered work and evidence-based methods to help people manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship struggles. Dominic writes plainly and listens carefully to understand what matters most to each person.

He has 17 years of experience working with people facing issues such as addiction, anger, low self-esteem, and intimate relationship problems.

Background and approach

He also supports people navigating identity questions, gender dysphoria, and concerns related to the LGBT community. His practice includes attention to attachment, abandonment, and the sexual cultures of BDSM and kink. Dominic uses approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy to spot and shift unhelpful thinking.

He also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotional regulation and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, often used when trauma or abuse is a central concern. Sessions focus on clear strategies clients can use between meetings. He addresses practical matters such as infidelity, commitment fears, jealousy, and non-monogamous relationship dynamics.

Dominic also offers support for drug and alcohol addiction and people living with HIV or AIDS. Work in therapy balances problem solving with building stronger self-understanding. Dominic practices in California as an LCSW - a licensed clinical social worker - and conducts sessions in English.

He aims to make therapy straightforward and usable so people can move forward at their own pace.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Dominic lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
LGBT
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Depression
Addictions
Intimacy-related issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Abandonment
Attachment issues
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Commitment issues
Control issues
Drug and alcohol addiction
Family problems
Gender dysphoria
HIV / AIDS
Infidelity
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Men's issues
Narcissism
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Sex addiction
Sexual dysfunction
Sexuality
Social anxiety and phobia
Young adult issues

Approaches Dominic names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding the person's experience and building a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. This approach helps people clarify goals and feel heard before trying specific techniques.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. Online CBT sessions often include practical exercises and between-session tasks to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns related to anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.

EMDR is an approach used when trauma or abuse is a central concern. In teletherapy, EMDR-informed work adapts protocols so clients can process distressing memories while the therapist guides paced interventions and grounding techniques.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and comfort level. Treatment plans can change as progress is made so clients stay involved in deciding next steps.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility. Video is useful for in-depth sessions and working through exercises that benefit from seeing one another. Phone sessions are lower bandwidth and can suit shorter check-ins. Live chat and messaging allow frequent, brief connection and ongoing support between scheduled meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain momentum between sessions.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Dominic commonly address?

He works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship problems, addictions, and intimacy-related issues among other concerns.

What style of therapy does he use in sessions?

Sessions combine client-centered listening with practical techniques from CBT and DBT, and incorporate EMDR when trauma-focused work is helpful.

How much clinical experience does he bring?

He has 17 years of experience helping people navigate emotional challenges, relationship concerns, and addiction-related issues.

Where is this therapist licensed and based?

He is a California LCSW, which stands for licensed clinical social worker, and practices within California.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with him?

He does not take international clients at this time.

What formats are available for sessions?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How are cost and scheduling handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

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