Valerie Schrader, a somatic trauma practitioner offering somatic trauma support, nervous system regulation, and IFS for neurodivergent adult with ADHD, AuDHD, Autism, OCD, and CPTSD

Hey there! I’m Val Schrader,

a Somatic Trauma Practitioner with a background in social work and women's & gender studies, focusing on marginalized mental health. My goal is to help you let go of the need to heal “perfectly,” develop supportive coping strategies to overcome the challenges of childhood, intergenerational, relational, and narcissistic abuse trauma.

The work I do is neurodivergent affirming, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and rooted in liberation, equity, and social justice. My approach is laid-back, client-centered, collaborative, and affirming. I want you to feel safe, seen, heard, valued, validated, and free to be exactly who you are! All parts of your experience matter to me because, at the root of all traumas, are systems of oppression: capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy.

With me, you'll experience genuine, no BS care, whether we’re working one-on-one or you’re joining the Feral Cycle Breakers Community, an online healing space for neurodivergent adults.

My goal is to empower you to trust yourself as you find a path forward. That means you lead the way, and I’ll create the space for you to be messy, real, and rediscover all those hidden parts of yourself that you learned to mask. Together, we'll create a goal, develop practical strategies to support it, while we identify the root causes of your current struggles, and work at your pace to overcome them. 

Working with me is like stepping through the looking glass — it's an adventure full of honesty, moments of laughter, and being perfectly imperfect. On the other side, you'll not only have the skills and capacity to navigate setbacks. You'll find it easier to embrace happiness, joy and create a more fulfilling life. If you've felt failed by talk therapy and have been on a journey of processing trauma, identity, burnout, anxiety, self-esteem, and overstimulation, I would love to support you.

Trauma robs us of the ability to enjoy our lives fully, but I want to help you take back your power!

What I specialize in:

  • CPTSD (Complex Trauma)

  • Neurodivergent-Affirming Support for ADHD, AuDHD, & ASD

  • Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

  • Childhood Trauma & Intergenerational Trauma

  • Immigration & Displacement Trauma, and 1st Generation

  • Religious Trauma

  • Attachment Trauma, Relationship Concerns, & Intimacy Struggles

  • Narcissistic Abuse Recovery

  • Boundary Setting & Conflict Resolution Skills

  • Anxiety, Burnout, & Stress Management

  • Dissociation & Freeze

  • People Pleasing, Perfectionism, & Imposter Syndrome

  • Self-Worth Issues, Shame, & Body Image Issues

  • Gender/Sexual Identity and Exploration

  • LGBTQIA+ Folx, Kink, and poly/ENM

Valerie Schrader, Somatic Trauma Practitioner, offers Individual and Couples IFS and Somatic Trauma Therapy for Complex Trauma survivors and Neurodivergent adults with CPTSD, ADHD, AuDHD, and OCD in Ohio and Online

A Little More About Me…

  • I’m a Xennial mom (my daughter’s a legal adult 🤯), a cis woman (she/her pronouns), omnisexual, ADHD with CPTSD, a witch (descendant of a Salem Witch Trials Victim too), and I have a husky named Bo and a cat named Nadja.

  • I grew up in a challenging family dynamic with a narcissistic mom and stepdad, family trauma, housing instability, and hardship. As an adult, I experienced domestic violence, multiple sexual assaults, and health challenges with cervical cancer and chronic pain.

  • I’m first generation American (German Jewish on my dad’s side and German, Italian, and Turkish on my mom’s side)

  • I’m a progressive intersectional feminist, and humanitarian pro-queer, pro-black, pro-indigenous, who believes in restorative justice, climate change, social justice, equity, disability rights, trans rights, land back, free Palestine, free Congo, free Sudan, etc., and pro-sex worker (I’m a former one).

  • I’m a Leo Sun, Aries, Moon, and Taurus Rising in case you wanted to know.

  • Some of my hobbies include yoga, belly dancing, pole dancing (I’m a former pro aerialist), hiking, going to lots of concerts (preferably in the summer, dancing barefoot with friends), buying an obscene amount of plants for my house, gardening, reading smutty books, going on road trips, and treating Halloween like a lifestyle.

  • I do not stand with racism, homophobia, sexism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Zionism, transphobia, anti-blackness, colorism, ableism, xenophobia, ageism, fatphobia, classism, or any discrimination related to ethnicity, national origin, or ancestry.

My Philosophies

  • The Western therapy model is deeply flawed, pathologizes systemic trauma, and has a lot of racist roots.

  • Trauma is stored in the body and affects the parts of your brain that control your fight-or-flight response. We have to address your nervous system’s response to trauma. 

  • Colonization, capitalism, patriarchy, and Judeo-Christian religions create trauma, and individual healing requires addressing the role systemic oppression plays. 

  • You aren’t broken, you don’t need to be fixed, and you aren’t bad. Even if you’ve done things you regret, you still deserve healing. 

  • Trauma impacts how you view yourself, the world, and how you interact with others, but it doesn’t have to define the rest of your life.

  • Healing isn't perfect, and it doesn't happen in a straight line. You’re going to make mistakes, backslide, and be messy sometimes.

  • Every part of you is lovable, even the parts of yourself you feel ashamed of, judge, and criticize.

  • Your emotions aren’t your enemy; they just feel overwhelming because you were taught to see them as being too big or too much.

  • Healing isn’t meant to be done alone; community is crucial for our growth and developing new relationship habits.

Land Acknowledgment

I honor the lands of the Shawnee, Miami, and other Indigenous peoples in Central Ohio, and I commit to creating a space that recognizes the ongoing impacts of colonization.

Valerie Schrader, a somatic trauma practitioner offering somatic trauma support, nervous system regulation, and IFS for neurodivergent adult with ADHD, AuDHD, Autism, OCD, and CPTSD

My Credentials

  • Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certification – The Embody Lab, 2022

  • Healing Intergenerational Trauma Certification – The Embody Lab, 2021

  • Inner Healing Journey & Resilience and Thrive Trainings – The Embody Lab, 2021

  • Broken Connections: Experiential Strategies for Trauma and Attachment with Dr. Diane Poole Heller, 2021

  • Anti-Racist Academy with Nima Mohammed, 2021

  • VITA™ Coaching Method Certification for Sex, Love, and Relationships – 2019-2021

  • Anti-Racism and LGBTQ+ Diversity & Inclusion Training with Nikka Karli, 2019-2020

  • Clinical Social Work - Eastern Kentucky University, 2023-2025

  • Comparative Women’s & Gender Studies with a focus on marginalized mental health– The Ohio State University, 1999-2006

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Ready to Get Started??

If you’re ready to move beyond old struggles and welcome in the good shit, let’s connect. I’m here to support you every step of the way.

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