Questions To Ask A Therapist for EMDR Therapy in Phoenix
I think no matter where you live, interviewing a therapist can be tough. Although, interviewing one in a post-pandemic world in Phoenix may present some interesting challenges to navigate. Are they virtual or in person? If they’re in person, what area of Phoenix do they serve? Is the office in downtown Phoenix where it will be impossible to park, and you’ll have to walk several blocks, or is there ample parking and fun shops nearby? Phoenix is such a sprawling city that even when you may not feel like you’re in Phoenix, you are still in city lines. Maybe you’ve found a few that you’ve been looking at online, and most of them talk about a free consultation. But if you’re not a therapist, it’s hard to know what to expect. What should you ask? What will you talk about on the consultation call? What’s appropriate for you to share or not share on a first call? Is a consultation call therapy? Don’t worry. We will explore these questions and more about EMDR therapy in this blog.
Do I Need EMDR Therapy?
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So to start off, you may be wondering, “Well, how do I know if EMDR therapy is even what I’m looking for?” I want to provide some information here about EMDR therapy and also some questions you may want to ask when looking for an EMDR therapist in Pheonix. In the realm of therapeutic approaches, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has gained a lot of recognition in recent years for how effective it is when treating anxiety, trauma, and many other psychological issues that stem from trauma. Francine Shapiro developed EMDR therapy which is an evidence-based treatment modality that focuses on reprocessing distressing memories and resolving the associated emotional and physiological responses. By incorporating bilateral stimulation techniques, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds, EMDR facilitates the brain's natural healing process, helping individuals reprocess traumatic experiences and promote adaptive resolution. What that really means when you break it down is this - often times when we experience a trauma, it stays with us and can leave our nervous system stuck in a sense of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. We end up reliving that trauma every day, in small to big ways and maybe at times in ways we don’t even realize. It impacts our decision-making, our levels of anxiety, our sleep, and our tolerance for other stressful situations. It can feel like the trauma is happening in the present, even if it happened 20 years ago. The eye movements or tapping is done while thinking of a distressing memory (after coping skills and a safe therapeutic relationship is established) and can help the memory to become just a memory, without all the charge, emotion, trigger, and shame. To learn more about the phases of EMDR Therapy, you can find information here.
When you’re going into looking for an EMDR therapist, it’s important to know that it isn’t your standard talk therapy and can be quite different from what you have imagined, seen in the media, or even experienced in the past when being in therapy. When considering an EMDR therapist, I feel it’s really critical to have a good handle on what the therapy process looks like with that emdr therapist, if they integrate other modalities, and what the decision-making process looks like in the therapy journey.
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Understanding the training and experience of an EMDR therapist: When seeking an EMDR therapist, it's vital to inquire about their training and experience in providing EMDR therapy. Looking for therapists who have completed EMDRIA-approved training programs and are continuously learning and growing is important. Additionally, it’s good to ask about their overall experience in working with clients who have similar concerns to ensure they have the expertise you’re looking for to guide you through the therapy process effectively.
Integration of EMDR therapy with other therapeutic modalities: While EMDR therapy can be highly effective as a standalone treatment, its integration with other therapeutic modalities can enhance overall outcomes. And depending on what type of therapy fits your needs and personality, this can be a good thing to ask. Inquire about your prospective EMDR therapist's perspective on integrating EMDR with other approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapies, or somatic therapy. Understanding their openness to collaboration can provide insight into their flexibility and ability to tailor the treatment to your unique needs.
Collaborative decision-making and goal-setting in EMDR therapy: Effective therapy involves a collaborative partnership between the therapist and the client right from the start. In EMDR therapy, this collaborative approach is particularly important. Ask your prospective therapist how they involve clients in the decision-making process and goal-setting for therapy. A skilled EMDR therapist will value your input, actively listen to your concerns, and work together with you to establish treatment goals that align with your aspirations and needs. This collaborative approach ensures that you have an active role in shaping your therapy journey.
EMDR Therapy Phoenix - Kandace Ledergerber.
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What Do I Ask On A Consult Call with An EMDR Therapist In Phoenix
I want to share here what I did at the beginning of every single consultation call. I believe that every person deserves to find the right fitting therpaist for them. That means the right fit in terms of treatment, personality, time schedule, and form of payment. I recognize that I can not fit that bill for every person that happens to call, and that is why I am 100% more than willing to help every person that reaches out to me find someone that does fit what they need. Everyone deserves the type of healing they are seeking, and if I’m it, then that’s great! If I’m not, let’s find the person who is! Here are some questions you might want to remember during your consultation call with a prospective EMDR Therapist.
What should you ask? What will you talk about on the consultation call? - Most therapists will tell you how they handle their consultation call. Personally, I like to hear a little bit about the person I’m on the phone with, and I give information about myself as an EMDR therapist and how I work with EMDR therapy and yoga-based techniques. If the person is unfamiliar with EMDR therapy, I also give information about what EMDR therapy is, what it can help, and how it can help. If the prospective client has questions, I welcome them to ask and love to dive deeper into the geeky side of EMDR therapy … and I also recognize not everyone cares as much about it.
What’s appropriate for you to share or not share on a first call? - Most therapists would like to know what you are searching for help on and what you are looking to gain out of therapy. This by no means has to be an exhaustive history. In fact, it shouldn’t since you probably have a time frame to stick to for your consult call! You can give general ideas of what you have been struggling with and what you want to get better at so the therapist understands what you are going through is within their wheelhouse and specialty. For instance, “I’ve been struggling with a lot of past trauma stuff coming up in my daily life. I’m overwhelmed and tired of pushing them down all the time. I want to learn better ways of coping, and I want to feel like I can relax again, I want to heal from all this past crap that keeps coming up all the time.”
Is a consultation call therapy? - A consultation call is not therapy. It’s a call to help you determine if this is who you want as your therapist. And you are allowed to say no! If at any point you feel like you and the prospective therapist aren’t a good match, it is okay to say, “Thank you for talking with me, but I don’t think we’re such a good fit because of XYZ.” I even welcome prospective clients to take it a step further and ask, “Could you help me find someone who does ABC?”
As you embark on your EMDR therapy journey, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the therapy process, the qualifications of your therapist, their perspective on integrating EMDR with other modalities, and their commitment to collaborative decision-making. By asking these questions or keeping them in mind as you talk to prospective therapists, you empower yourself to make an informed choice, finding a therapist who aligns with you and the goals you have for yourself in therapy. Remember, EMDR therapy can be a transformative experience, offering profound healing and growth, and finding the right therapist is a vital step toward achieving those outcomes.
From the bottom of my heart, I hope this helps you find the right EMDR therapy provider here in Phoenix. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (602) 805-5200 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I am more than happy to chat and see if I can direct you to the person you might be looking for. If you are looking for help as a sexual abuse survivor or someone struggling with anxiety, you can see the below links for more information about how I help in these areas.
My specialties include EMDR Therapy Phoenix, Online EMDR therapy, EMDR Therapy Tampa, Sexual Abuse Therapy, and Anxiety Therapy
