Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy in Phoenix Arizona

Do you offer in-person sessions in Phoenix, Arizona?

Yes! I am now offering virtual sessions throughout Phoenix and Arizona (as well as Florida) in addition to Saturday in-person appointments in Tempe.

How Do You Choose a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Phoenix? How long do counseling sessions typically last? 

EMDR therapy sessions with me are 60-90 minutes with the last 5-10 minutes spent wrapping up, making sure we are scheduled appropriately for next week, and transitioning out of the therapy session. Therapy can have such a range of emotions that I think it’s important to give you a few minutes at the end to wind down and transition so you can go back to your life with a bit more ease and less of a sense of feeling jarred. If you want to learn more about what to expect in EMDR therapy, visit this page for more insight before your free consultation.

What happens during the first counseling session? 

For the first counseling session, we’ll get to know each other. We’ll talk about what’s going on in your life that has brought you in, the good stuff that you like about your life, and what you would like to see differently. In this first session, I spend the majority of the time just getting to know you more and determining the best ways I can help you. If we’re really flying along, we might start with some EMDR therapy techniques that draw on your strengths and build your resources for when you leave the therapy room. I want to help you feel comfortable so we can work together on the trauma and anxiety that brought you in.

How do I know if I really need counseling? 

I typically find with most of my clients that something has happened to make them realize that their life isn’t going the way they had hoped or they’re not feeling how they want to feel in their day-to-day lives. When my clients typically come to me, they are tired of dealing with past trauma, anxiety, and how they have been doing in life. They are ready for a change and to feel different. 

How often will I need to come to counseling? 

Counseling with me starts as weekly sessions until you start to feel the earth back beneath your feet and like we have a good portion of the goal accomplished. From there we can start spacing out sessions to bi-weekly and then monthly as a check-in to ensure you feel supported and have accomplished your goals. I like to check in pretty often with my clients to make sure we are making progress in the goals we want to achieve, I don’t want anyone to be in therapy forever. 

But wait! That’s a lot. Why do we meet so much?

I find that weekly sessions support clients to make sustaining and lasting changes they want in their lives. It also gives them the support they need to work through a lifetime of negative messages. Doing healing work at the level that will sustain long-term change takes time. It’s a commitment. Clients who invest in the time get better faster and with less relapse into old patterns and cycles.

Do you give homework?

I will give homework sometimes. This will typically look like you working to incorporate the techniques and resources you are learning from therapy into your daily life so you get better and faster results! I have found that clients progress significantly faster when they do the homework. Much of the homework supports the integration of the deep work we do in the session.

What if I need to cancel our appointment or I get sick?

I have a preferred 48-hour cancellation policy, but I also understand that’s not always possible because “life happens” along the way. I do have a very firm 24-hour cancellation policy, so if you need to cancel for any reason, make sure you give me 24 hours notice to avoid paying the late cancellation fee, which is the full session rate. I can offer a phone session in case something happens last minute that prevents you from coming to your appointment or we can reschedule for later in the week. 

How long will I need to come to counseling? 

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the length of counseling, so it is difficult to predict until we begin working together. Typically, clients commit to counseling for 3-6 months, with progress being measured every month. 

How much do sessions cost? 

Each 90-minute session is $250. I also offer intensive EMDR sessions that are 3 hours for $500. My sessions are priced this way as I am not just sitting back and listening to you vent about your life (although I certainly don’t mind doing that as well!). These sessions are focused on utilizing EMDR therapy to help your brain process past memories so you can start coming back to the authentic you without as much anxiety and trauma!

Are sessions covered by my insurance? 

At this time, I do accept some insurance under Aetna and United Health. I am working to help cash-pay clients find resources where they can pay up front but be reimbursed some amount by their insurance, while still receiving the care they need.

Do you have evening and weekend appointments available? 

At this time I do! I offer several evenings and several appointments on Saturdays for clients I am working with virtually and in person.

Who do you work with? 

I specialize in working with people who feel overwhelmed, anxious, and feel they constantly need to do everything perfectly. A lot of the people I’ve worked with who present this way have struggled with complex trauma across their childhood and most often have experienced sexual abuse. I find that these past experiences continue to be echoed in their daily life which is why I put such an emphasis on helping people find solid ground first and then working to re-process the stuck and traumatic memories with EMDR so they can come home to their true and authentic selves.

What if counseling isn't working?

It is so incredibly important to me that counseling is ACTUALLY working for you, if it’s not…what’s the point?! I check in with my clients every 4-5 sessions to discuss how they feel the counseling process is going, whether is it meeting their needs, and what we may need to change. This helps us to process what has been helpful and what you want to change in the counseling relationship and lets me know if there’s something I need to do better! I find that through these check-in my clients really also get a sense of how much has changed for them and we get a better idea of how to proceed forward, if they’re ready to graduate or if they need something else altogether. 

What is EMDR therapy?

In short, when we experience negative life events, that information is stored not just in our brains, but also in our bodies, in our beliefs and impacts our emotional state. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. With this type of processing, we activate the brain's memory of that event and through the use of eye movements or tapping, we help the brain process through the memory of that negative event and can find a more adaptive lens to look at the memory through. This affects the negative belief we have about ourselves and the tidal wave of emotions we might feel when we think of that memory. To find more about EMDR and what it looks like online or what it looks like with me Click Here. 

I’ve heard EMDR therapy works great for anxiety. Can we still do EMDR during video sessions?

Yes, we can! We have worked diligently to sort this out so that you can receive the best services possible from the comfort of your own home. 

Where do sessions take place? 

All therapy sessions take place through a HIPAA secure video platform or in my office in Tempe just a few minutes from the heart of Phoenix. 

What if I have technical issues?

Technical issues can be frustrating especially when you are trying to connect with someone for help! We will work together to problem-solve so we can get back to your session as quickly as possible. Afterward, I will always reach out to the platform I work with to resolve the tech issues on their end if the issue was coming from them. Oftentimes they can also give me information on what may be causing an issue on another end.

What equipment do I need? What if I’m not good with technology?

It is good to have WiFi or Internet that you can access through a computer with a webcam and headphones. As for the tech-savvy piece – really all you need to be able to do is bring up your email and click the link that will be sent to you via email. I take care of the rest!

Is Online Therapy Like Facetime

So in a lot of ways, it can be. Your face is on a screen as well as mine. We connect through this online platform so we can both see one another in a secure way. And in some ways, it is not like FaceTime or another video calling service. So how is it different? Online therapy is still therapy. In traditional therapy, you would go to an office and be able to close a door, sit down on a comfy couch and meet with someone face to face. Online therapy can be such a gift, you can access it from the comfort of your own home, no need to drive to get to an office or find parking while still being able to connect with a professional from a comfy chair. That being said, one of the most important aspects to consider when doing online therapy is PRIVACY. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for an hour, turning your phone on silent if you can, so that way you can truly have an hour to focus only on yourself. You take care of so many people, you deserve to spend an hour taking care of your own emotional and mental health. Because let's face it, when you go to traditional therapy, no one is banging on the door asking when dinner is. For this reason, I suggest setting some boundaries for one hour one day out of the week, let your family know (if that’s what you need to do and is appropriate) that you are on this call and that you are not to be disturbed so that way you can get the most out of your session.

I am ready to get started. What do I do next?

I offer free 15-minute phone and video consultations to see if we are the right fit for you based on your needs. Click the button below to schedule the consultation so we can help you move forward.