Why Professional Consultation Groups Are Essential to Growth, Excellence—and Reality Testing.
Why Professional Consultation Groups Are Essential to Growth, Excellence—and Reality Testing.
As a trauma psychologist in Berkeley, CA, and an EMDR specialist for adults and youth, I’ve seen how lonely and overwhelming this work can be when we don’t have trusted peers to process the tough stuff with—especially when we’re sitting with deep trauma, attachment wounds, high-conflict custody cases, or school crises. Whether you’re a seasoned clinician, a school administrator with a never-ending inbox of “behavioral escalations,” or a family law attorney trying to untangle generations of dysfunction in one custody report, consultation isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Consultation groups are the overlooked engine behind sustained professional growth, clinical excellence, and dare I say it… occupational joy.
I offer professional consultation groups and tailored speaking engagements for:
Therapists seeking deeper clinical insight and consultation in niche specialties
Schools dealing with complex student behaviors and systemic overwhelm
Physicians bridging somatic symptoms and trauma
Family law attorneys working with high-conflict families or trauma-exposed youth
Let’s talk about why. Because a consultation group isn’t just a meeting—it’s professional oxygen. And quite frankly, you deserve to breathe easier.
1. What Even Is a Professional Consultation Group?
Let’s clarify, because “consultation group” can sound like either a reprimand or unwanted hoop to jump through. In my world, consultation groups are curated, confidential spaces for real talk: about your cases, what you’re experiencing on your end of the professional relationship, your questions, and yes, your unique brilliance.
It’s Like Supervision’s Cooler, Wiser Cousin
Unlike traditional supervision, consultation groups are peer-driven or facilitator-led conversations where experienced professionals (like me!) work with you to:
Deepen your clinical insight
Unpack countertransference or emotional activation
Explore ethical gray zones
Translate theory into action
Stay human while doing important, hard work
You walk away with clarity, confidence, clinical tools—and a little less existential dread.
2. Why We Need Consultation Now More Than Ever
We live in complex times. Our clients are more dysregulated. Systems are more overwhelmed. And burnout (or vicarious trauma)? That’s not a buzzword. It’s a slow leak we keep patching with caffeine and just one more, “push-through.”
Here’s what I see professionals struggling with:
Clinicians wondering if they’re helping clients or simply stuck in the weeds of trauma repetition.
Physicians referring out cases that feel “psychosomatic” but knowing in their gut and medical knowledge it's all interrelated.
Teachers and school staff drowning in behavior plans and disciplinary actions, feeling like no intervention is sticking.
Family law attorneys trying to make sense of a 40-page psychological report that reads like a Greek tragedy.
The answer isn’t to work harder. It’s to think smarter—with support.
That’s where I come in.
3. Why My Consultation Groups Are a Little Bit Magic
Look, I’ve been in enough stale, over-structured groups to know that a PowerPoint and five minutes of forced vulnerability doesn’t cut it. That’s why I design and lead consultation spaces that are:
Clinically deep but never clinical in tone
Grounded in neuroscience, attachment and trauma theory, and parts work
Nonjudgmental, candid, and unapologetically real
Rooted in evidence-based practices like EMDR, attachment theory, and IFS (Internal Family Systems)
You bring your hardest cases, your “I should know this but I don’t” questions, your professional growing pains—and I (along with the other consultation members as it may be) help you think through them with clarity, compassion, and probably a choice metaphor.
4. Who Benefits Most from My Consultation and Speaking Services?
My consultation services are designed for both those in the psychology/therapy field and cross-disciplinary professionals navigating the emotional, behavioral, and relational complexity of the human experience—especially in high-stakes roles.
Therapists & Counselors
Gain clinical confidence with trauma, dissociation, and complex family systems
Prevent burnout by processing the emotional toll and isolation of the work to stay connected to professional passion and personal integrity
Deepen skills in EMDR, IFS, and attachment-focused therapy—domains I specialize in.
Explore ethical dilemmas, scope issues, and how to stay curious with “stuck” clients
Schools & Educators
Decode trauma behaviors in students and how trauma impacts leaning
Build trauma-responsive systems that actually support staff and students
Train school psychologists and counselors in practical, real-world tools
Get outside perspective on chronic student/family challenges
Physicians & Medical Providers
Consult on patients with chronic pain, somatic symptoms, or trauma overlays
Learn how to screen for trauma and refer effectively
Understand developmental trauma and its lifelong ripple effects
Bridge mental and physical health treatment more seamlessly
Family Law Attorneys
Navigate high-conflict family dynamics and trauma-informed recommendations
Understand how trauma affects attachment, memory, and behavior in custody disputes
Consult on psychological evaluations and treatment summaries
Gain insights into therapeutic timelines and appropriate interventions
5. What Happens in a Group Consultation?
You show up. You share. I hold space, ask questions, and gently challenge your assumptions (or gently fan your flames of brilliance). Other professionals bring their wisdom. And something transformational unfolds.
Every group is different, but the ingredients often include:
Clinical case consultation (You’re never the only one stuck)
Theory-to-practice integration (EMDR, IFS, polyvagal, you name it)
Relational dynamics and countertransference work
Ethics, scope, and professional boundaries
Humor. Because the work is hard, but we don’t have to be
You walk away with insight, connection, a sense of direction—and the warmth of knowing you're not doing this alone.
6. What Makes a Good Consultant?
Let’s be honest. A consultant isn’t helpful unless they’ve been in the trenches.
Here’s what I bring to the table:
A doctorate in clinical psychology and 10+ years of trauma-focused work
Ever-evolving expertise in EMDR, IFS, attachment theory, and neurodevelopment
Experience consulting for schools, legal teams, multidisciplinary organizations
A specialty in working with adults and youth—especially those navigating trauma, family transitions, systemic challenges
The ability to translate dense psychological concepts into usable strategies—with humor, clarity, and down-to-earth grace
Also? I listen. I reflect. I read between the lines. And I do it without superiority.
Expect professional edge, empathy, and just the right amount of nerdiness.
7. Why Speaking Engagements Are the Gateway to Deeper Work
If you’re not quite ready for group consultation, a speaking engagement for your organization or podcast, or workshop might be the perfect start. I offer dynamic, engaging presentations that bring evidence-based content to life for professionals of all backgrounds.
My past talks have included:
“What the Heck Is EMDR and Why Should You Care?”
“Trauma-Informed Isn’t Enough: Attachment, Identity, and Real-Life Kids”
“Reading Between the Lines of Psychological Evaluations”
“Somatic Symptoms and the Stories Our Bodies Tell”
“How Not to Burn Out While Stewarding Trauma”
Every talk is customized for your audience—whether that’s a school staff training, medical grand rounds, or a continuing ed series for attorneys or therapists.
8. Don’t Take My Word for It (But Do Take These Truths)
Here’s what folks often say after consultation:
“I didn’t realize how much I needed this space until I had it.”
“That thing you said about the part of me that wants to fix everything? Yeah, that was… confronting in the best way.”
We are better together. That’s not just a sentiment—it’s a professional imperative.
9. The Neuroscience of Not Doing This Alone
Research on mirror neurons, co-regulation, and neuroplasticity confirms what many of us know intuitively: we grow in relationship.
In consultation groups, your nervous system is being regulated while your clinical brain is being sharpened. You’re not just gaining knowledge—you’re rewiring how you show up with clients, students, patients, and families.
And that changes everything.
10. Let’s Collaborate
If you’re a therapist:
Join one of my consultation groups. Whether you're trauma-trained, trauma-curious, or trauma-exhausted, we’ll find the right space for you to keep learning and staying grounded.
If you’re a school or district leader:
Let’s talk about what’s actually happening in your classrooms—and how I can help staff shift from reactivity to responsiveness.
If you’re a physician:
Bring me in for a consult on that tricky patient you can’t quite crack. I’ll help you see the trauma threads and what kind of referrals can help.
If you’re a family law attorney:
Let’s decode that psychological report together and create strategies for trauma-informed advocacy or support for the client’s you have intimate knowledge of.
11. Ready for the Next Step?
Consultation isn’t a luxury. It’s professional hygiene. And if you’re working with humans—especially dysregulated ones—you deserve support.
🔹 Want to join a consultation group?
Email me to get on the interest list or inquire about openings.
🔹 Need a speaker for your team?
Let’s build a talk or workshop that brings clarity, engagement, and real transformation https://www.selahvietherapy.com/services
🔹 Want a one-time consult?
I do that too. Reach out and let’s find a time https://www.selahvietherapy.com/book-consultation
You can find me in the Bay Area of Norther CA, in person—or anywhere via Zoom.
Because showing up for others starts with showing up for yourself. And in this work? That’s the bravest and most relatable, ethical thing you can do.
Dr. Brett Gaynor, Psy.D. https://www.selahvietherapy.com/about
Trauma Psychologist in Berkeley and Walnut Creek, CA | EMDR Specialist for Youth, Parents, Adults.
📍 Serving California in person and via telehealth https://www.selahvietherapy.com/
📩 Reach out to schedule a consultation group, speaking engagement, or private consult today.
