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Hi!
I'm Stephanie Valerdi

Certified Peer Counselor

With over 12 years of experience supporting families in Washington, I offer consulting and contract work centered on providing culturally responsive and strength-based support to LGBTQIA and Latinx clients. As a survivor, parent, and member of both the LGBTQIA and Latinx immigrant communities, I bring a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience to my work.

I have received specialized training in mental health and have had the privilege of advocating for and supporting parents of children in the birth-to-five age range, addressing the challenges they face. Throughout my career, I have been committed to increasing access to mental health services for Spanish-speaking communities and ensuring that culturally relevant, peer-supported resources are available.

My training spans several critical areas, including perinatal care, crisis and suicide prevention, domestic violence/IPV support, and providing culturally appropriate mental health services. I am deeply committed to continuous learning and actively seek opportunities to collaborate with other providers and trainers to stay informed about the latest best practices.

In my current nonprofit roles, I actively engage in DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) initiatives and advocacy efforts to uplift the voices and experiences of Latinx and LGBTQIA communities. I have worked closely with several local organizations to connect families with resources and referrals, helping them navigate the challenges of parenting and caregiving.

My professional and lived experience has given me the opportunity to advocate for families and present on topics like culturally matched care, peer support, and mental health in both English and Spanish. I am passionate about building partnerships and collaborating with others to better support families, particularly those from the Latinx/immigrant and LGBTQIA communities.

I am currently affiliated with the following organizations:

  • Perinatal Support Washington

  • PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support)

  • QLAW

  • Somos Seattle

If you are looking for someone to support your work or partner with you to enhance the resources available to these communities, I would love to connect.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish (Native fluency Mexico)

Ability to translate in writing/verbally

Outreach and presentations in Spanish speaking communities

Creating Spanish content for educational purposes, presentations, mental health/wellness planning

Ability to provide compassionate parent education on various topics (mental health, navigating mental health services, special education/Early intervention services, Birth/Postpartum, loss/grief, child development)

Compassionate crisis support

Facilitating referral via warm hand offs to support clients connecting with providers (therapists, doulas, support services)

Advocacy, supporting clients experiencing Domestic Violence: safety planning, emotional support, resource navigationIndividualized mental wellness planning

Experience supporting self advocacy and coping strategies for clients experiencing mental health challenges or crisisCulturally sensitive support

Experienced presenter on various topics (Perinatal mental health, parent education, lived experience/peer support)

Facilitated protective measures for families resulting in greater support during parenting challenges

Experience providing empathetic support within immigrant/refugee community

Experience supporting peers using lived experience

Conducting parent teacher meetings

Planning activities that promote social and emotional understanding  

Communicating behavioral observations with teachers, directors, therapists

Using positive and engaging language with children  

Implementing communication tools between teachers  

Creating incident reports, behavior plans

Ensuring preschoolers preparedness for kindergarten

Creating emergent curriculum based on children's needs and interests  

 Developmental Progress reports

Experience with special needs populations

Facilitating evaluation of development, and providing resources for special needs  therapies/services

​​

Education

Certified Peer Counselor Training /  Healthcare Authority of Washington 2025

Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care/  Perinatal Support International (PSI) 2022.

Trastornos del Estado de Ánimo Perinatales: Componentes de Cuidado / Perinatal Support International (PSI) 2023

Domestic Violence Response and Assessment Training  / Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence 2022

Substance Abuse Disorder Family Navigator Training / Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence 2022

Promoting Maternal Mental Health during Pregnancy / Barnard Center for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 2023

El Impacto del Abuso Sexual en la Lactancia / Perinatal Support International (PSI) 2023

Immigration Trauma & Loss /  Barnard Center for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 2023

Integrating Trauma Healing and Migrant Justice During the Perinatal Period /North Carolina Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association 2023

Culturally Informed Approaches to Screening, Assessment, and Treatment  / Perinatal Support International (PSI) 2022

Group Peer Support Facilitator Training English & Spanish /GPS 2022,2023

Queer Parent Support Group Facilitator/ Perinatal Support Washington 2024

Perinatal Peer Support Training /Perinatal Support Washington 2023

A Trauma Informed, Relational Frame for Home Visitors informed by Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) /Best Start for Kids 2023

Anti Racism in the Context of Early Childhood Education/Dr. Ibram X. Kendi 2023

Impact of Trauma on Early Childhood/Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D  2022

Professional Activity

Somos Seattle Board  (Latinx Pride)  2025-Present

Maternal Mental Health Advocacy 2025 Spoke with representatives, sharing personal and professional experience around Maternal Mental health, advocacy around crucial services that support families during this vulnerable time.

PEPS Group Facilitator 2024-Ongoing Facilitating groups for Queer, and expectant parents 

Within Reach Presenter on Culturally Matched Peer Support  2024

Families of Color (FOCS) Presented on perinatal mental health to new/expecting parents 2023

DCYF Early Learning Case staffing  Support social workers and community service providers on child welfare cases, resource sharing 2022-ongoing

UW PERC Center Perinatal Psychiatry Cases Series- case studies, and discussion, around supporting perinatal mental health and substance use in 2022-ongoing

Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Day  Spoke with representatives regarding initiatives that would support challenges within immigrant community  2024

APICHAYA Participation in healing circles/support groups for Queer/BIPOC survivor parents 2022-ongoing

Open Arms Community Lactation Training participated in training to expand knowledge within field  2024

Crosscut  Interviewed highlighting advocacy efforts for immigrants working in Pierce county   2022

Perinatal Support Washington  DEIA Committee chair, working to  addresses the gap in perinatal mental health in underserved communities and uplifting opportunities for education and collaboration in provider spaces, Executive Director Hiring Committee,  2022-ongoing

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