Our Work and Who It Serves
Valerie McDonnell, LCSW
Owner– Licensed Psychotherapist specializing in Trauma-Informed Sex & Couples Therapy
Valerie McDonnell, LCSW, is a licensed therapist, sex and relationship specialist, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of trauma, attachment, intimacy, and relational repair.
With a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and more than a decade of clinical experience, Valerie is known for her ability to work with complex, sensitive, and often misunderstood relationship challenges.
Valerie began her career specializing in trauma and PTSD, where she witnessed firsthand how unresolved experiences shape not only individual mental health, but the quality of our relationships, sexual expression, and sense of safety with others.
In 2019, she founded her practice in Richmond, Virginia, with a growing focus on sex therapy and couples work. Since then, her practice has expanded nationally, allowing her to support individuals, couples, and professionals across the country.
Through her clinical work, intensive programs, podcast, and professional training, Valerie helps clients move beyond surface-level solutions toward deeper, more sustainable change.
Her approach is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and flexible, integrating multiple modalities to meet the complexity of each person and relationship she serves.
Valerie works with individuals and couples navigating:
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Sexual desire challenges and mismatches
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Trauma, attachment injuries, and relational wounds
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Sexual disconnection in long-term relationships
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Non-monogamy and polyamory
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Sexual performance anxiety and erectile concerns
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Orgasm difficulties and pleasure challenges
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The effects of stress, life transitions, and emotional injury on intimacy
RISE Curated Trainings
RISE offers in person and virtual trainings on topics such as:
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PTSD and Romantic Relationships
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Polyamory and Non-Monogamous Relationships
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Strategies for Discussing Sex and Sexual Health (for therapists and healthcare providers)
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How to Incorporate Sex Therapy into your Couples Therapy Sessions
All RISE trainings can be curated for your unique audience. If you have a specific topic in mind for a training that's not listed, please reach out to us and we'd be happy to create one for you.
Group discounts are offered for groups of 20 or more.
Click "Book a Training" to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation with Valerie McDonnell, LCSW to discuss your specific needs and how we can best serve your community.
The RISE to Intimacy Podcast
Hosted by Valerie McDonnell, the podcast explores the deeper emotional, psychological, and nervous-system dynamics that shape intimacy, desire, and long-term connection. Each episode offers trauma-informed, evidence-based insight into why relationships become stuck - and what it actually takes to create meaningful, lasting change.
Through clinical perspective, real-world examples, and honest conversation, the podcast helps listeners understand patterns beneath sexual disconnection, communication breakdowns, and emotional distance. Rather than focusing on “fixes,” episodes center on clarity, regulation, and skill-building that support safer, more satisfying relationships.
Topics include desire discrepancies, sexual anxiety and performance challenges, trauma and attachment wounds, emotional regulation, relational patterns, and rebuilding intimacy after prolonged disconnection or rupture.
Whether you’re feeling stuck in a roommate phase, navigating the aftermath of betrayal or trauma, or wanting to feel closer without pressure or performance, The RISE to Intimacy Podcast offers practical guidance to help you move from confusion to clarity - and from disconnection toward secure, authentic intimacy.
New episodes release weekly on Tuesdays.
Valerie has helped me a lot through the years. She really understands what I've gone through and approaches our problem-solving sessions from a place of empathy.
— Georgia
What We're About
OUR CONTINUING MISSION:
RISE helps individuals and couples restore emotional and sexual connection through trauma-informed, evidence-based relationship work that creates safety, clarity, and lasting change.
Why RISE is different...
At RISE, we don’t chase symptoms or offer surface-level fixes for relationship and sexual struggles.
We work from the reality that issues with intimacy, desire, conflict, and connection are patterns shaped by trauma, attachment history, nervous system regulation, and real lived experience - not personal failures or communication “mistakes.”
That’s why our work starts with clarity and strategy, not guesswork.
Through focused strategy sessions, immersive intensives, and our structured 90-day couples program, we help individuals and couples:
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Understand why their patterns exist
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Identify what’s actually blocking change
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Follow a clear, personalized path forward
This isn’t open-ended therapy with no direction.
It’s a structured, trauma-informed process designed to create measurable shifts in safety, intimacy, and connection - within a defined timeframe.
COMMUNITY LEARNING
Change rarely happens in isolation. Many people benefit from learning alongside others who are navigating similar challenges - especially when guided by expertise, structure, and shared language.
RISE offers thoughtfully designed group experiences, workshops, and professional trainings that combine education, reflection, and practical application.
These spaces are not about oversharing or group processing, but about learning, normalization, and skill-building - so participants can feel less alone while gaining tools they can actually use.
Through curated group offerings and trainings, RISE supports collective learning that deepens understanding, fosters connection, and accelerates meaningful change.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE
Healing and connection are not one-time achievements, they’re supported through ongoing learning, reflection, and integration.
RISE offers curated educational resources designed to deepen understanding of intimacy, relationships, trauma, and emotional regulation.
These materials support continued growth beyond structured work, helping individuals and couples apply insight in ways that feel grounded, intentional, and sustainable.
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