Valerie McIntyre, LPC, ADHD-CCSP, CCATP
Founder, Owner & Clinical Director of Valiant Minds Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor • ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider • Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional
With more than 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Valerie McIntyre is a licensed professional counselor, author, speaker, and clinical leader specializing in ADHD, anxiety, OCD, emotional regulation, and neurodivergent-affirming care.
Valerie founded Valiant Minds Counseling to create a practice where clients feel understood rather than judged and where neurodiversity, identity, and each person’s lived experience are respected. As Clinical Director, she leads a multidisciplinary team committed to ethical, evidence-based, and individualized care.
About Valerie
Valerie earned her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University in 2005 and has been licensed as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania since 2009. Throughout her career, she has helped adolescents and adults better understand the patterns beneath anxiety, inattention, shame, perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, and relationship stress.
Her work is especially informed by the emotional and relational experiences of ADHD. Valerie helps clients move beyond simply managing symptoms to develop greater self-awareness, self-compassion, resilience, and confidence. Her style is collaborative, thoughtful, practical, and grounded in the belief that people create meaningful change when they feel genuinely seen and understood.
Populations & Areas of Specialty
Who Valerie Supports
- Adolescents and adults
- Neurodivergent individuals and families
- Women navigating ADHD and emotional health concerns
- Parents managing neurodiverse family dynamics
- Individuals experiencing major life or career transitions
Clinical Specialties
- ADHD and executive functioning challenges
- ADHD-related relationship concerns
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression and mood concerns
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Emotional regulation and perfectionism
- Chronic pain and somatic concerns
Therapeutic Approach
Valerie integrates evidence-based strategies with a humanistic, strengths-focused approach. Therapy is tailored to the individual rather than built around a one-size-fits-all formula.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for OCD
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Schema Therapy
- Existential and Humanistic Therapy
- Interpersonal and Relationship Enhancement approaches
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Emotional regulation and practical ADHD interventions
Education & Professional Credentials
- Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, Chatham University, 2005
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, License PC005251; licensed since 2009
- National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board for Certified Counselors
- ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP)
- Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP)
- Academic honors include Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Chi, Psychology Academic Honor Award, and National Dean’s List
Author, Speaker & ADHD Advocate
Valerie is the author of A Journey to a Valiant Mind: Navigating Life with ADHD Towards Resilience, Self-Compassion, and Empowerment. Her writing combines clinical insight, research, personal understanding, and practical strategies to help people approach ADHD with less shame and greater self-compassion.
Featured Podcast
Hacking Your ADHD with William Curb: “Beyond Task Management: Exploring ADHD and Emotions”
International ADHD Conference 2025
Beyond the Diagnosis: Navigating Shame, Identity & Emotional Healing in ADHD
Valerie’s conference presentation explored how ADHD can shape identity, relationships, rejection sensitivity, internalized self-criticism, and chronic shame—and how compassionate, affirming treatment can support deeper emotional healing.
Leadership at Valiant Minds Counseling
As founder and Clinical Director, Valerie shapes the practice’s clinical vision, supports its therapists, and promotes compassionate, ethical, and neurodiversity-affirming care. Valiant Minds Counseling reflects the same principles found throughout her clinical work and writing: resilience, self-compassion, empowerment, and respect for every person’s story.
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