What My Clients Say — Valentina Calandra

Sweet things my clients say.

It's hard to put into words the profound impact that my sessions with Valentina Calandra have had on my life. From the very first session, I felt a sense of safety and understanding that I hadn't experienced before in a therapeutic setting. Valentina's approach isn't just professional; it's deeply personal. From the moment I started working with her, I felt understood and accepted. She doesn’t just listen; she hears me and through that I have learned to have more empathy for myself and work on my people-pleasing, anxiety and negative self-talk in a way that isn’t about becoming more perfect, but accepting and even embracing the imperfections that used to torture me. Something I had never been able to work out with previous therapists. I feel lighter, freer and more authentically myself than ever before.
Valentina is an excellent specialist who helped me through a rough time in my life. Even though I had worked through a lot of issues in my own before I met Valentina, her insight helped me to further my healing process. She creates a space where you feel safe to share practically anything.
I can confidently say that Valentina's work and compassion is the reason I live a fulfilling, and joyful life. I started seeing Val in 2020 when I was struggling severely with my mental health. Since then I have continued unbroken work with her because of the incredible gains and positive accomplishments I have seen myself achieve personally and professionally while under her care. Her work has helped me to heal and pull myself out of my darkest time. Her training has allowed me to develop compassion and the skills necessary to continue to overcome life's struggles and find happiness. Val's approach has always left me feeling safe and validated both in my emotions and my struggles. She has been my greatest ally when compassion and support were needed. As well as my toughest critic and unshakable safety net when I've needed to take a look at hard realities and work through the scariest parts of self-reflection and change. I cannot emphasize enough just how good she is at her job. I truly believe that Valentina Calandra saved my life. Do yourself a favor and see her!
Valentina is not only a beacon of wisdom and clarity but a resource to many. Her approach to therapy is one of altruism, active listening, and affirmation. She has had an enormous impact on how i view the world and myself. Valentina provides a sense of reflection that makes all feel welcome and validated in their feelings and experiences. Her practice encompasses feminism and challenging affirmation. She always works with me, and approaches healing and coping in a way that we do the work together. In the years I have known Valentina I can say that she has changed many lives for good, has provided a safe space for questioning and challenging, all while maintaining the feeling that she is there for you and you can take your time to get there. She is warm, strong, and attentive. I cannot recommend her enough.
My experience with Val has been one of the most impactful parts of my journey to heal from trauma and find emotional stability. She has not only supported me, she has also helped me grow so that I feel more confident and capable of supporting myself, even during times of pain and hardship. She has helped me (and continues to help me) find ways of not just coping (although that’s a big one) but also living fully with compassion and love for myself and others. During our sessions, Val is sturdy and balanced — she is both sensitive and practical, as well as professional and personable. Her approach fosters an atmosphere of openness which makes sessions feel warm and connected. It has been hard work (not just for me, I’m sure!!) but she has helped me enormously in becoming the best version of myself. I feel very blessed to have found Val as my therapist— she is someone who really sees me for me
Attending Valentina’s group session was my first experience with therapy, and she did an amazing job making myself and everyone else feel incredibly comfortable and supported. She has a remarkable ability to engage with a group and provide guidance where necessary, whilst also ensuring each participant has ample space to share their own thoughts and be heard
Val has been a wonderful therapist for me. I really appreciate her highly skilled, warm and insightful client-centric approach. Val makes me feel validated and heard. In our sessions, Val provides me with plenty of grounding insights as well as clever self-care tips and practicable strategies. Val also talks me through which modalities and toolkits she is implementing, which I really appreciate because it builds this feeling of my active participation in my own therapy and personal-growth. As a queer feminist, I also just really appreciate how expertly she weaves queer feminist discourse with psychotherapy theories and methods to help me further develop self-awareness and expand my mental health toolkit.
I can't begin to describe the support I have felt since I have started working with Vale. She has helped me feel free to explore who I am and who I am becoming. From dealing with my mental health, romantic life, general ups and downs as well as navigating my Womenhood, Vale has created a safe and understanding dialogue. I feel the work we are doing together is shaping me deep to the core.