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About Me

 

pronouns: she/her/hers

Heather "Dez" Valdez, LCSW, is a Clinical Social Worker, licensed in the state of California (#86545). She offers individual psychotherapy, psychedelic integration therapy, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). She has expertise in queer identities and relationships, and has worked extensively with LGBTQIA+ populations and communities of color, both of which she identifies with. She is social justice oriented, and her collaborative, explorative, and nonjudgmental approach to therapy creates a safe and supportive therapeutic environment.

 

Outside of her therapy practice, Heather is an organizational development consultant to nonprofit organizations primarily focusing on mental health, community health, and serving LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. She values working to uplift underserved, marginalized communities by working to ensure access to healthcare and other vital services that promote equity, equality, and well-being.

 

Heather also co-founded Alchemy Community Therapy Center (formerly Sage Institute) in Oakland, CA:   https://www.alchemytherapy.org/

For a list of Heather's professional experience, please visit:

www.linkedin.com/in/heathermvaldez

​Areas of focus and experience:

  • Extensive experience withing with LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities

  • Sexuality and gender identity

  • Queer affirming

  • Consensual non-monogamy, open relationships, polyamory knowledgeable

  • Kink-friendly

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Trauma

  • Abuse 

  • Integration of non-ordinary states of consciousness

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

  • MDMA-Assisted Therapy Training Program Trainee

  • Clinical consultation

  • Development of psychedelic therapy clinics and practices

  • Nonprofit consulting

  • Program development

  • Training and curriculum development

  • Management/Leadership support

  • Systems and operations development

  • Quality assurance

  • Various other special projects 
     

Dez pic 092119.jpg
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