Valerie St. John, LMHC, EMDR-C | Trauma Therapist & Clinical Consultant

Over time, my clinical work has continually brought me back to the same question: what helps trauma processing stay safe, sustainable, and responsive to the nervous system when EMDR becomes complex or stuck? Much of this work is grounded in over 15 years of sitting with clients in trauma therapy and learning, often in real time, what helps people move through stuck places in a way that is safe, sustainable, and respectful of the nervous system. In consultation, I support clinicians as they navigate complex cases, stuck points in EMDR processing, and the integration of resourcing and parts-informed approaches. I’m especially interested in how therapy shifts when we slow down enough to work with protective parts rather than pushing past them, and how strong internal resources can create the conditions for deeper trauma processing. My approach is collaborative, practical, and relational. I see consultation as a space where clinicians can think more clearly about their work, make sense of uncertainty, and build confidence in their own clinical judgment—not just apply protocols, but understand how and when to adapt them based on the client in front of them. This work sits at the intersection of EMDR, nervous system regulation, attachment-informed therapy, and parts-oriented frameworks influenced by Internal Family Systems (IFS). Over time, I’ve found that the most effective trauma work is not about doing more, but about tracking capacity, strengthening safety, and working in partnership with the system rather than against it—principles that continue to be shaped and refined through my ongoing clinical work, co-leading EMDR consultation cohorts focused on case conceptualization, resourcing, and parts-informed trauma treatment, as well as supervising associates in Washington State. Who this is for: This consultation is for licensed and pre-licensed therapists working with EMDR and trauma-related clinical presentations who want support with case conceptualization, resourcing, and integrating parts-oriented approaches. It is especially helpful for clinicians working with complex trauma, dissociation, and stalled or looping EMDR processing, including those drawing from IFS-informed concepts alongside EMDR. This consultation is offered as supplemental professional support and is not intended as therapy or as EMDRIA-approved consultation for certification or consultation-hour requirements.