Valerie Cochrane, LMFT EMDR trained Heart Centered Hypnotherapist

Hello! My name is Valerie Cochrane. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy. I’ve had the privilege of guiding people through various degrees of trauma, deep depression, and anxiety — the kind that shows up both consciously and just beneath the surface of awareness. The mind, body, and soul are all part of our work together. Whether you’re an individual or a couple, we move at a pace that feels safe but productive, working collaboratively toward the life you’re after.

I bring a rich range of life experience into the therapy room, including years in a Fortune 500 company, time spent traveling the world as an international flight attendant, and training as a comedic actor in New York City. My style of therapy is unique, and I’m confident you’ll find a healing experience unlike any other.

What led me to becoming a therapist

As a little girl, I began experiencing profound sadness and felt deeply misunderstood and unheard. After multiple childhood traumas, I fell deeper into a cycle of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. As a teenager, I had one session with a therapist and barely spoke. I was told I was “just being a teenager.” Little did anyone know the pain I would carry for years to come.

To my joy, I eventually met the most amazing therapist in NYC, who became the catalyst that led me out of the darkest places and onto a path toward the joyful life that had always felt so elusive.

At a high point in my life, I realized my story of hope needed to be shared with those who felt hopeless. Within six months of that decision, I began pursuing what has become my life’s mission — and my passion.

What I want for you during our sessions

We’ll begin by exploring your needs and goals for therapy using a collaborative, solution-focused approach. Drawing on a multifaceted style that honors the mind, body, and spirit, we’ll set a course of treatment unique to your story — at a pace that feels safe, yet progressive enough to allow for real growth and understanding. From there, we’ll set short- and long-term goals together. Most sessions include homework suggestions designed to build insight and useful tools, helping you move away from recurring negative patterns and toward the life you truly want.

Education

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in French from Southern Illinois University, and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida.

I hold an advanced certification in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy, giving me an extensive understanding of how trauma affects the body, mind, and spirit — along with the skill set to work with you toward healing those deeper wounds.

I am EMDR trained and hold trauma specialist certifications. My most recent training was with renowned author Bessel van der Kolk, whose landmark work, The Body Keeps the Score, offers a profound study of how trauma lives in the body.

My internships included serving as one of the primary therapist interns working with veterans experiencing PTSD, as well as working across five bereavement summer camps for children who had lost a close loved one.

Most recently, I’m proud to have become a Certified Divorce Mediation Professional as of August 2026. My hope is to offer fair, compassionate, and equitable support as you move through that process.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tightly closed in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anaïs Nin