Summary
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Work History
Education
Overview
Continuing Education
Generic
Sarah Valerio, MSW, LCSW, CYMHS

Sarah Valerio, MSW, LCSW, CYMHS

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Princeton,NJ

Summary

Compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over four years of experience delivering Neurodiversity Affirming, LGBTQ+ Inclusive, culturally competent, and trauma-focused psychotherapy to neurotypical and neurodivergent adolescents and adults. Expertise includes tailoring treatment plans and interventions to meet the unique needs of clients while advocating for diverse and often marginalized populations across community settings, schools, and workplaces. Proven track record of employing strengths-based therapeutic approaches that validate, empower, and encourage clients through evidence-based interventions designed to enhance self-advocacy skills, self-esteem, and decision-making capabilities. Deep commitment to serving Autistic individuals and other neurodivergent populations reflects a passion for fostering access to affirming, inclusive mental health care.

Skills

  • Expertise in providing Neurodiversity Affirming mental health clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Neurodivergent Adolescent and Adult clients
  • Highly skilled in clinical mental health assessment, diagnosis and treatment
  • Crisis management and de-escalation skills
  • Suicide Prevention: screening, treatment, emergency intervention
  • Experienced in utilizing a wide range of affirming, inclusive, trauma focused, evidence based therapeutic modalities including: Compassion Focused therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Parts Work/IFS, Collaborative Problem Solving, Mindfulness
  • DBT, CBT, ACT trained
  • Completion of comprehensive Biopsychosocial Assessments
  • Highly experienced in providing targeted, client specific, creative,customized, strengths based therapeutic strategies and approaches
  • Providing Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy
  • Maintaining highest levels of client care via telehealth or in person
  • Coordinating multidisciplinary care: including PCPs, psychiatric providers, developmental pediatricians, and child study teams to ensure care coordination
  • Passionate and Affirming client advocacy support

Accomplishments

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), New Jersey
  • Regarded by co-worker and peers as Subject Matter Expert on Neurodivergence and Neurodiversity Affirming Mental Health Care
  • Experienced in providing inclusive, affirming, empathetic, culturally responsive clinical assessment, diagnosis, and evidence based treatment
  • Development of niche expertise & specialization in adolescent mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
  • Honored by Rutgers School of Social Work, LISTA certificate program, as an invited alumni panelist for Hispanic Heritage month Key Note Event, providing 1.5 approved CEUs in Cultural Competency (September 2025)
  • Piloted novel group therapy approach to support Neurodivergent youth by removing barriers to group participation with high levels of client satisfaction, improved socialization & mood reported
  • Successfully advocated for employer to initiate and co-sponsor public webinar: Introduction to SOGIE and Gender Affirming Care
  • Achieved improvement of clinical intake process by standardizing intake tasks, tracking of referral follow up, and training new interns on the updated process.
  • Consistently receive high client satisfaction ratings (assessed annually via survey and via direct feedback provided by clients to administrative staff & clinical director)
  • Strong, highly rated annual performance reviews demonstrating commitment to professional growth and life long learning.

Certification

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of New Jersey
  • License #44SC06557500/NPI #1568107688
  • Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist-CYMHS (PESI Training & Evergreen Certifications)-November 2025
  • Pennsylvania ACT 31 Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Certification- November 2020
  • National Council for Behavioral Health, Mental Health First Aid (USA) Certification- March 2019

Work History

Licensed Therapist/LCSW

Prosper Health
12.2025 - Current
  • Perform Neurodiversity Affirming clinical assessments to evaluate mental health status, needs and goals of adult clients who have recently received an Autism Diagnosis and/or who have multiple forms of Neurodivergence.
  • Develop Neurodiversity Affirming treatment plans to outline steps necessary for clients to achieve goals.
  • Conduct follow-up assessments to monitor clients' progress and adjust treatment plans as necessary.
  • Build and maintain therapeutic relationships, fostering positive, supportive and empowering client environments for a caseload of 25+ clients.
  • Raise awareness through psycho education about Autism, Neurodivergence, and commonly co-occurring mental health issues in Neurodivergent populations to support reduction of stigma and promote clients' self advocacy skills

Neurodiversity Affirming Psychotherapist/LCSW

Self Employed
11.2025 - Current
  • Credentialed by multiple insurance providers as an independent Licensed Clinical Social Worker through Headway (1099), including: Horizon Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Jersey,Aetna, Cigna, and Quest Behavioral Health
  • Diagnose clients by using DSM-V-TR criteria and documented using ICD 10 coding guidelines.
  • Maintain detailed records of patient progress, documentation of services and case notes.
  • Develop individualized treatment plans and provide individualized psychotherapy and specifically tailored interventions to address each client's unique support needs.
  • Help clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
  • Provide clients with recommendations to community resources.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

JFCS of Greater Mercer County-Princeton, NJ
09.2025 - 11.2025
  • Provided high quality, expert Neurodiversity Affirming, LGBTQ+ Affirming, evidence based, culturally competent, trauma focused clinical assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy to a diverse population of Neurodivergent and Neurotypical adolescents and adults.
  • Utilized effective clinical interview skills, judgment, subjective, and objective measures to assess new referrals with specific risk factors identified during intake screening; Recommend appropriate level of care for those referrals to agency Clinical Director based on risk factors or specialized care needs
  • Completed comprehensive, Neurodiversity Affirming, inclusive, clinical assessments of newly assigned caseload clients, collection of appropriate collateral reports when needed related to client’s lived experience; ensuring accurate diagnoses of clients using DSM 5 and ICD 10 Criteria
  • Utilized Neurodiversity Affirming practices, language, and psychoeducational materials to discuss “formal” diagnoses without pathologizing clients
  • Collaborated with clients to create personalized, strengths focused treatment plans based on presenting problem, clinical diagnosis, and client's prioritized concerns.
  • Managed a demanding, complex caseload of 30+ clients with diverse strengths and support needs; psychotherapy sessions scheduled weekly or biweekly; family and group psychotherapy also provided
  • Regularly Monitored progress towards treatment goals through use of validated instruments, client report, and subjective clinical observation
  • Modified interventions from a variety of modalities, making interventions more affirming, inclusive, and specific to client's support needs; reducing barriers to achieving treatment goals
  • Provided client and family with education on available resources and self-care strategies.
  • Collaborated with clients to regularly review, update, or modify treatment plans in compliance with agency policy.
  • Completed required client documentation, including detailed Biopsychosocial assessments, consistent with established agency time frames.
  • Advocated passionately and persistently for client support including: Virtually attending IEP and 504 meetings. Writing client Letters of Accommodation for Work & College, used clinical knowledge and experience to provide written recommendations for specific supports, accommodations and modifications for clients with 504 plans or IEPs
  • Established and nurtured key relationships with community members to form valuable partnerships; including preliminary development of pilot program to create access to affirming mental health supports in elementary school settings
  • Trained newly hired, bilingual MSW to take over Early Intervention bilingual preschool program, expand case management support.

Full Time Social Worker (LSW)

JFCS of Greater Mercer County-Princeton, NJ
07.2022 - 09.2025
  • Provided clinical social work services as a Licensed Social Worker, completing weekly supervision as required by New Jersey State Board of Social Work
  • Managed a caseload of more than 30 clients
  • Completed clinical assessments and Biopsychosocial assessments, including collection of appropriate collateral information, to better triage and diagnosis clients using DSM 5 and ICD 10 Criteria
  • De-escalated stressful situations through individual and family crisis interventions.
  • Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
  • Collaborated with clients, parents, schools and other providers, as appropriate, to create and implement individualized treatment plans driven by client’s presenting problems and therapeutic goals
  • Educated clients and clients’ families by providing advice as to the role each person can play to best support therapeutic process
  • Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to address therapeutic goals
  • Monitored treatment plan progress and implemented adjustments based on client’s needs; made appropriate referrals to higher levels of care and other services as needed
  • Provided Early Intervention Assessments & consultations for individual clients, and for a diverse community of Latino preschool students using ASQ:3, ASQ: SE2, other preschool screeners, teacher report, parent report & direct observation of the identified child in classroom setting
  • Leveraged skills in cultural humility to collaborate with bilingual preschool staff and parents, creating individualized strategies and interventions for bilingual preschool students needing developmental support in the domains of communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal-social skills maintaining a culturally sensitive & responsive approach

Clinical Social Work Intern (23.5+ Hours/week)

JFCS of Greater Mercer County-Princeton, NJ
09.2021 - 04.2022
  • Over 6 months, as the sole clinical department intern, responded to over 300 potential client requests via phone call for mental health services
  • Screened out referrals requiring immediate connection to higher levels of care, and provided appropriate resources for referral to appropriate support needed.
  • Conducted over 200 client intake screening appointments; including mental health and psychosocial histories, inputted client information into electronic medical record system and moved screen callers forward for clinical director approval and insurance checks.
  • Managed diverse caseload of 12 clients weekly, ranging in ages 7-85, via a mix of telehealth and in person services; while fully managing agency's intake process independently.
  • Completed Initial Clinical Assessments; Diagnosed clients using DSM-V criteria & ICD 10 Codes
  • Completed Biopsychosocial Assessments
  • Organized clinical documentation, treatment plans, and referrals.
  • Conducted individual, family & group psychotherapy sessions with clients
  • Followed up with clients and their families, as appropriate, to arrange for services and supports
  • Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to address symptoms and meet treatment plan goals.
  • Developed and implemented new programs to address emerging community needs, including a time limited, closed, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Skill Group for local High School Teenagers, and Stress Reduction Skills Boot Camp for Middle School students.
  • Attended weekly supervision and completed process journals as required

Social Work Intern (15 Hours/Week)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: New Jersey Transition to Adult Continuing Care Program
09.2020 - 05.2021
  • Performed approximately 3-4 patient intake screenings per week (8 page intake form) and accurately recorded data in case files; facilitating clinical case care coordination.
  • Researched resources and support options for patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  • Followed-up with patients, caregivers, and clinicians to coordinate patient care and provide support
  • Participated in approximately 9 initial patient intake appointments per month (appointments 2 hours each); as well as additional follow up appointments under supervision of Program Clinical Director
  • Completed weekly supervision sessions and process journals as required

Project Manager, Organizational Effectiveness

Novo Nordisk, Inc.-Plainsboro, NJ
02.2010 - 06.2013
  • Worked as an internal consultant and change agent to drive 5 critical, large scale business improvement projects from start to finish; establishing a standardized process improvement methodology within the US Sales and Marketing Organization
  • Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
  • Communicated and collaborated with highest level leaders of organization both in the United States and Europe, with a high degree of professionalism and responsiveness
  • Worked with team members to train entire U.S. marketing organization of 1000+ employees via in person, medium sized group (~30 employees per session) via 1 day seminars on basic level process improvement methodology; utilizing hands on, interactive and engaging training modalities
  • Researched, developed & piloted Level 2 and Level 3 trainings for organizational positions requiring more advanced process improvement skills consistent with standardized methodology.

Education

Master of Social Work - Clinical Social Work

Rutgers University School of Social Work
New Brunswick, NJ
05.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Classics, cum laude

Drew University
Madison, NJ
05.2001

Overview

4
4

Years as a Neurodiversity Affirming Mental Health Clinician

15
15

CEUs related to providing affirming care to LGBTQ+ clients

45
45

Adolescent & pediatric focused CEUs

3
3

Courses on Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment of Gender Dysphoria

2
2

Certifications focused on specialized mental health care

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate

Continuing Education


Compliant with all Continuing Education Requirements for NJ LCSWs

Highlighted Selection of specialized  completed and  in progress continuing education trainings and certifications:

  • ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) Certification (PESI, Neurodiversity Affirming Edition, In progress)
  • Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gender Dysphoria (Rutgers,Gender Affirming Care Levels 2 &3) October-November 2023

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Sarah Valerio, MSW, LCSW, CYMHSLicensed Clinical Social Worker