DrValarie&The Heart House

Our Mission and Vision

At Heart House On The Hill, our mission is to empower women by providing a nurturing space that fosters healing, learning, and growth. We are dedicated to helping women rediscover their authentic selves and regain their sacred feminine energy through personalized wellness coaching and transformative retreats.

Located amidst the serene beauty of the Tug Hill Plateau Region in Northern Upstate New York near the Adirondacks, our vision is to be a sanctuary where women can disconnect from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with nature, their inner selves, and a supportive community. We aim to inspire and support women on their journey to overcome generational trauma and embrace healthier, more fulfilling lives.

“If you’ve ever felt unworthy… anxious… or lack confidence, it just doesn’t come naturally to you—
It’s not because you’re broken.
It’s because your nervous system was wired in environments that didn’t feel safe.

If you were raised by overprotective parents, you may have learned that the world is dangerous… and your instincts can’t be trusted.
If you were raised by underprotective parents, you may have felt invisible—left to survive without a map.

These patterns often come from generations before you.
Inherited nervous systems.
Inherited beliefs.
Inherited silence.

But here’s the sacred truth:
Your brain is not fixed. Your soul is not stuck.
You were born with the power to rewire the pathways that were passed down.

Through presence.
Through breath.
Through somatic healing, ritual, movement, and devotion to your truth—
You can repattern your brain.
You can create new pathways of trust, calm, and deep inner worth.

You are the sacred feminine woman who remembers.
Who reclaims.
Who rewires.

You are the one who creates the new legacy—
Not just for you, but for everyone who comes after.”

Meet Dr. Valarie Yerdon

Born and raised on the Tug Hill Plateau in Osceola, New York, Dr. Valarie Yerdon founded Heart House On The Hill. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our wellness programs. With a PhD in Human Factors Psychology and expertise in Cognitive and Neuro Psychology, Dr. Yerdon has dedicated over a decade to advocating for mental health and empowering women through evidence-based practices. From her primary school attendance at the One Room Schoolhouse as is depicted in the Jewel of Osceola, Lewis County, New York, to her middle and high school in Camden, New York, and onto her college and graduate studies in Syracuse and Florida, she brought with her the resilience and grit learned early on, in the small generationally grounded community.

Dr. Valarie Yerdon is a New York State-certified health and wellness coach and holds a Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology with a concentration in cognitive and neuropsychology. She is deeply committed to helping women break generational patterns that limit growth, confidence, and emotional freedom.

Leveraging her expertise in cognitive and neuropsychology, Dr. Yerdon brings a scientific yet compassionate approach to coaching. She empowers women to identify and rewire inherited beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve them, whether in leadership, relationships, or self-worth.

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Dr. Valarie A. Yerdon is a distinguished cognitive psychologist, human factors expert, and New York State-certified health and wellness coach. With a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Cognitive Science Psychology, she specializes in cognitive science and neuroscience, focusing on trust in automation, insider threats, cognitive warfare, digital twins, human system integration, performance and usability, and human-machine teaming. ​

Academic and Research Contributions

Dr. Yerdon’s academic journey began with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Legal Studies, followed by an M.S. in Modeling and Simulation for Human Systems at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Her research has been pivotal in understanding human-automation interactions, contributing to projects with the Department of Defense, NASA, NATO, IARPA, and leading industry partners. Notably, her work on eye-tracking active indicators of insider threats has been published in the IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, highlighting her expertise in detecting illicit activities during normal workflows. ​

Professional Experience

Dr. Yerdon has held significant roles in her professional career that bridge the gap between research and application. As a Scientist, she focuses on human-centered engineering initiatives, emphasizing adaptive and dynamic learning environments, digital twin technologies, human-AI teaming, and machine learning for information analytics. Her role involved applying her extensive experience to modernize and digitize adaptive learning and training systems from a holistic, systems perspective.​

In her role with Thor Solutions, LLC, as a contractor for the United States Coast Guard (USCG), in their Human Systems Integration (HSI) (USCG-DPR-23) Division, as a Senior HSI Analyst and Senior HSI Subject Matter Expert (SME), she plays an integral role in the human-centered usability in the design, building, training, and safety of the USCG ships. During this work with the USCG, she is honored to serve on the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) and Science and Technology Organization (STO) with her depth of experience and knowledge in the areas of research and design.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Beyond her corporate roles, Dr. Yerdon is the founder of The Heart House, LLC, and Heart House on the Hill Wellness Retreat in the Adirondacks. Through these ventures, she offers transformative coaching and restorative retreats, aiming to equip, empower, and inspire women—particularly those who have gone through traumatic experiences who are looking to heal not only themselves, but their families—to build lives and legacies grounded in purpose, emotional wellness, and financial freedom.​

Commitment to Mentorship and Community

Dr. Yerdon’s dedication extends to mentorship and community involvement. She has volunteered as a mentor to undergraduate students through UCF’s Eureka program and served as the Secretary of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) student chapter, reflecting her commitment to fostering growth in higher education and the sciences. In addition to this, Dr. Yerdon serves the small communities where she resides and has her business to mentor and model to those who will come after

Legacy and Impact

Dr. Yerdon’s multifaceted career seamlessly integrates rigorous academic research, practical application in defense and technology sectors, and a passionate commitment to personal development and wellness coaching for women and their empowerment towards their health and wellness across their lifetime and for their families. Her work continues to create powerful ripple effects across generations, helping women rewrite their stories and reclaim their power.​