Located in Oakland, CA — Serving all of California via telehealth.
Want to find a therapist who can relate?
You’re in the right place. I got you.
Heather “Dez” Valdez, LCSW
Preferred Name: Dez
Hi, I’m Dez. (she/her) (License #86545)
I'll help you unlearn harmful narratives, reclaim your story, strengthen your voice, and move toward the life you want.
I help people heal from trauma, reconnect with their authentic selves, and build lives rooted in clarity, confidence, and care.
I start exactly where you are—without assumptions about who you are, who you love, or how you live. Therapy with me is a collaborative space where your full self is welcome. I view you as the expert on your own life, and I’m here to support you in unpacking patterns, making meaning, and exploring new paths to healing.
You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out for support. I’ll help you get clear on what’s working, what’s not, and how to shift toward what feels more aligned. Together, we’ll uncover your strengths, challenge unhelpful narratives, and work toward the kind of life and relationships you actually want.
My approach is eclectic, integrating narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, CBT, DBT, and social justice frameworks to meet you in a way that’s flexible, affirming, and deeply human. I show up authentically and honor my own identities as queer and Mexican-American, and I will honor your identities just as much.
Therapy with me is…
Uniquely tailored to you and based on your personal goals and values.
Respectful and mindful of your unique identities.
Always based on consent and helps you feel safe.
A time for your story to be heard without judgement.
A place that not only brings clarity, but solutions.
Therapy with me is not…
One-size-fits-all; it’s responsive to your needs and goals.
Only focused on the past; we also focus on finding solutions in the present.
Surface level; we will spend time building trust so you can be your full self.
Me just nodding “yes” to everything you say—I will support you in gaining new perspectives and making real shifts.
Learn more about my specialties and get the support that’s right for you.
My expertise is in queer and intersecting identities, queer relationships, depression, anxiety, and various types of trauma. I specialize in LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, financial therapy, and psychedelic therapy—approaches designed to help you make meaningful, lasting change. I bring both lived experience and specialized training to our work together, and I create space for the complex, layered realities of identity, trauma, and healing. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, relationship stress, financial shame, or deep trauma—I offer modalities that not only help get to the root, but also create a path towards solutions. I’m here to support you in reconnecting with yourself, rewriting what no longer fits, and moving toward what does.
I see you. I hear you. I’m here for you. Let’s talk about how:
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I’m trained in a variety of therapy methods, allowing me to tailor my approach to your unique goals and needs. These include:
Narrative Therapy
Financial Therapy or Financial Social Work
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic Integration Therapy
Harm Reduction
Trauma-Informed Care
Solution-Focused Therapy
Strengths-Based Assessment
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy
Cultural Responsivity
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #86545
Master of Social Work (MSW) — California State University, Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology — California State University, Sacramento
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Narrative Therapy Certificate
Financial Social Work Certificate
Trauma of Money Certificate
Financial Therapy Association Educational Series Certificate of Completion
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (multiple trainings)
Integration Therapy (multiple trainings)
MDMA-Assisted Therapy Training Program Trainee
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certificate
Various continuing education training in the field of clinical social work
Ready to get started?