About Dr. Nouna Jalilzadeh
Ph.D., LMHC-D, LPC, ACS, NCC, PMH-C
EMDR Certified and Approved Consultant by EMDRIA
Dr. Nouna Jalilzadeh is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privilege, an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and an Assistant Professor at St. John's University. She is also the recipient of the 2025 EMDRIA Emerging Leader Award. Dr. J aims to create a safe and trusting space for clients to explore their lived experiences, guided by the belief that the power of healing lies within each individual. In her therapy sessions, she helps clients uncover and nurture these strengths. Drawing from her Middle Eastern background, Nouna incorporates multicultural, social justice, and intersectionality lenses into her counseling, academic, and supervisory approaches.
Her clinical experience spans working with adolescents, adults, and couples who face challenges related to trauma, adjustment, anxiety, depression, relational dynamics, and racial identity issues. Nouna integrates interventions from humanistic, post-modern, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic approaches. She is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). She also holds certifications in Therapeutic Art, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Yoga and Mindfulness, and Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP).
Dr. Nouna is an active member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), and the Association for Multicultural Counseling & Development (AMCD). Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Counseling Skills from Middlesex University, a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Molloy University, and a Doctoral Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University. Her research interests include trauma, social justice, marginalized identities, and multicultural considerations through an intersectionality lens in counseling, counselor education, and supervision.
About Me
Pronouns
She/Her
Languages
English, Farsi
Education
Middlesex University, Molloy University, Pace University
Locations
Rockville Centre, Bethpage, Telehealth
Specialties
Immigration Evaluations
Our immigration evaluations provide comprehensive psychological assessments for various immigration cases, including asylum, hardship waivers, and U-visa applications. These evaluations are conducted online for residents of New York and New Jersey.
Asylum Evaluations
Asylum evaluations are crucial for individuals seeking refuge in the United States due to persecution in their home countries. Our assessments document the psychological impact of trauma and persecution, providing essential support for asylum claims. We work closely with immigration attorneys to ensure that our evaluations meet the necessary legal standards and provide a thorough understanding of the client's mental health status.
Our evaluations include a detailed clinical interview, psychological testing, and a comprehensive report that outlines the findings and provides recommendations for treatment. We understand the sensitive nature of these cases and approach each evaluation with compassion and professionalism.
Hardship Waivers
Hardship waivers are necessary for individuals facing extreme hardship if separated from their family members. Our evaluations detail the emotional and psychological consequences of such separation, strengthening waiver applications. We assess the impact of separation on the individual's mental health, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions.
Our comprehensive reports provide a clear picture of the hardship that would be experienced, supported by clinical evidence and expert opinion. We also offer follow-up consultations to address any additional questions or concerns that may arise during the immigration process.
U-Visa Applications
U-Visas are available for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse. Our evaluations provide thorough documentation of the psychological effects of the crime, aiding in the U-Visa application process. We conduct in-depth assessments to understand the extent of the trauma and its impact on the individual's daily functioning.
Our reports include detailed descriptions of the psychological symptoms experienced, the connection between the trauma and the crime, and recommendations for ongoing mental health support. We work with legal professionals to ensure that our evaluations are comprehensive and meet the requirements for U-Visa applications.
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Evaluations
VAWA evaluations are designed for individuals who have experienced domestic violence and are seeking legal protection under the Violence Against Women Act. Our evaluations document the psychological impact of domestic violence, providing crucial support for VAWA petitions. We assess the emotional and psychological effects of the abuse, including symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Our comprehensive reports provide a detailed account of the abuse, its impact on the individual's mental health, and recommendations for treatment. We approach each evaluation with sensitivity and care, ensuring that the client's experiences are accurately represented and supported by clinical evidence.
Cancellation of Removal Evaluations
Cancellation of removal evaluations are conducted for individuals facing deportation who need to demonstrate that their removal would cause exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family members. Our evaluations assess the potential psychological impact of deportation on both the individual and their family members.
We provide detailed reports that outline the emotional and psychological consequences of deportation, supported by clinical evidence and expert opinion. Our evaluations help to strengthen cancellation of removal cases by providing a thorough understanding of the hardship that would be experienced.
Contact For Immigration Evaluations
EMDR Treatment & Consultation
Dr. Nouna Jalilzadeh is an EMDR Certified Therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and the 2025 recipient of the EMDRIA Emerging Leader Award. She specializes in complex trauma, developmental trauma, reproductive mental health, and multicultural counseling. Dr. Nouna offers EMDR therapy for individuals seeking trauma treatment, as well as consultation for clinicians pursuing EMDR certification or deepening their EMDR practice.
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that supports the brain's natural capacity to heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to facilitate adaptive processing of traumatic memories, reducing emotional distress, negative beliefs, and nervous system activation.
Dr. Nouna integrates EMDR within a trauma-informed, attachment-informed, and culturally responsive framework. Her clinical work often addresses complex and developmental trauma, identity-based trauma, immigration and intergenerational trauma, reproductive and perinatal trauma, medical trauma, and burnout among high-achieving professionals.
While EMDR follows a structured eight-phase model, treatment is always individualized and paced according to each client's readiness, nervous system regulation, and cultural context.
EMDR Consultation
As an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Emerging Leader Award recipient, Dr. Nouna provides individualized and group consultation to therapists working toward EMDR certification and to clinicians seeking to refine advanced EMDR skills.
Her consultation approach emphasizes:
- Complex case conceptualization and developmental trauma
- Integration of EMDR with attachment theory, somatic approaches, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Intersectional and culturally responsive trauma treatment
- Ethical decision-making and scope of practice
- Managing dissociation, countertransference, and clinician nervous system regulation
Dr. Nouna's consultation space is both clinically rigorous and relationally grounded, supporting therapists in developing competence, confidence, and depth in their EMDR practice.
Individual Counseling
We provide evidence-based individual counseling specializing in developmental and complex trauma, reproductive mental health, and multicultural issues. Our therapy sessions are designed to help clients navigate personal challenges, strengthen emotional well-being, and foster meaningful personal growth.
Counseling services are offered both in-person and virtually to accommodate your schedule and location. During individual therapy sessions, we utilize a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to your unique needs. These include EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), somatic approaches, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness practices, all grounded in person-centered and humanistic principles to ensure a personalized and collaborative treatment experience.
We prioritize and hold space for cultural identity through a multicultural and intersectional lens that recognizes and honors the diverse and layered lived experiences of our clients. By offering culturally responsive and socially attuned care, we consider how culture, race, gender, sexuality, religion, immigration status, socioeconomic factors, and other intersecting identities shape your experiences and well-being. Our goal is to create an inclusive, affirming, and supportive environment where you feel understood, valued, and empowered to create meaningful and lasting change.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy is designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. We utilize evidence-based approaches such as EMDR, somatic interventions, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to support recovery, increase nervous system regulation, and promote long-term resilience.
Ready to get started?
Virtual sessions available with flexible scheduling
Schedule a SessionOr reach out to learn more →
Ready to get started?
Virtual sessions available with flexible scheduling
Research, Publications & Speaking Engagements
Publications
2025
Understanding digisexuality, technology, and AI in sex-positive relational counseling
International Journal of Systemic Therapy
with Robertson, H. C. & McCants, Z.
2025
Teaching Online Group Facilitation to Counselors-in-Training
Journal for Specialists in Group Work
with Robertson, C. H.
2025 — Book Chapter
Integrating AI in Counseling Research: Utilizing ChatGPT for Literature Review and Research Question Development
In Robertson, H. C., Integrating telemental health practice into counselor education training. American Counseling Association.
2025 — Book Chapter
Developing Informed Consent for Online Groups Utilizing ChatGPT
In Robertson, H. C., Integrating telemental health practice into counselor education training. American Counseling Association.
2025 — Book Chapter
Training on Compassionate Inquiry
In Owenby & Campbell (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Mental Health Trainings, Certifications, and Credentials. ONBLLC Publishing.
2025 — Book Chapter
Training on Polyvagal Theory
In Owenby & Campbell (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Mental Health Trainings, Certifications, and Credentials. ONBLLC Publishing.
Presentations
2026
American Counseling Association Annual Conference, Columbus, OH
“Integrating Broaching & Intersectionality for Perinatal Health Equity”
2026
American Counseling Association Annual Conference, Columbus, OH
“Digisexuality and AI Relationships: Sex-Positive Counseling Approaches”
with Robertson, H.
2026
American Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference, Portland, OR
“Empowering Students and Families in Transition: Trauma Informed, Culturally Sustaining Counseling Practices”
with Spellman, Q.
2026
American Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference, Portland, OR
“Digisexuality and AI Relationships: Sex-Positive Counseling Approaches”
with Robertson, H.
2026
Counselors for Social Justice Virtual Conference
“Bodies Remember, Communities Resist: Immigration Trauma and Collective Liberation”
2025
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA
“Integrating Digisexuality and Technology-Facilitated Sexual Identity into the Counseling Curriculum”
with Robertson, H.
Research Interests
Services are exclusively virtual and available to residents of New York and New Jersey.
© 2025 Dr. Nouna Jalilzadeh. All rights reserved.