Valyne Craig
Specialties
I specialize in trauma and abuse, primarily working with children and teens but also providing extensive therapeutic support to families as well.
Trained but not yet certified in Trauma-Focused CBT.
Hi! My name is Valyne Craig, I am an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) and I have been working in social services for the past 14 years. I am very passionate about providing a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals and families to process trauma and address any mental health barriers that are causing impairments to success and healthy living.
I utilize Trauma Focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectic Behavioral Therapy), Narrative Therapy, Art Therapy, Play Therapy, and various other modalities to support my Clients in navigating their symptoms and identifying a path for recovery.
My first experience in social services began in an adolescent Group Home for teen boys providing therapeutic support and running daily groups. I moved on to work as a Therapeutic Behavior Specialist providing in-home counseling, therapy, behavior modification support, and coaching to reduce problematic behaviors resulting in loss of housing and placement. I eventually changed direction and obtained a position at a psychiatric hospital where I provided support to severely mentally ill individuals on 5150 holds. During this time I ran Group Therapy for those residing on the psychosis wing. I have also worked with incarcerated individuals in the jail system and launched the art therapy program in Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility, where I led a group of individuals on the mental health modules through art therapy activities to support healing, recovery, and rehabilitation. With various other positions and avenues of experience, I feel confident in my skills and abilities to provide a safe and nurturing space for healing.
A great deal of my work has been providing support to individuals who are in crisis and I find that crisis work has been a huge passion of mine. I also place a huge emphasis on any barriers or struggles related to cultural background as well as socio-economic factors that cause impairments. I am hopeful that my experience and background provides insight into the services I am able to provide, and I am very excited to continue building healing and supportive relationships with those who I work with.
Tom La Grave,
LCSW
I’m an addict in recovery, have been sober for 32 years, and am living proof that hope exists. After my military career during the ‘80s as a former Navy SEAL, I realized and accepted that I had addiction issues.
While this is part of my story, it’s not intended to elicit pity or to stereotype me as a victim. It’s to demonstrate that I’ve “been there” and have empathy toward those in addiction recovery.
In retrospect, I examined my years as a SEAL; it's conditioning – and living – a SEAL’s mindset. There was a part of me, which literally wanted to beat my addiction. But, addiction can’t be beaten physically; I conquered it by embracing my range of emotions. My journey has been about emotional pain and how I accepted it.
I began working with youth, transitioned to the developmentally disabled, convicts in correctional facilities, and finally with present-day Special Forces Operators as a Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC). In these roles, I observed the commonalities between PTSD, substance abuse, stress, conflict, depression, and anxiety.
As a clinical troubleshooter, I’ve developed my approach to providing help to others using teamwork. Teamwork comes directly from a Navy SEAL’s training: “none of us is as good as all of us.”
We’re living in unsettled times and there seem to be many unknowns. The crises we face are not new, the evolution of our survival comes from recognizing the opportunities also present during these challenging times.