EMDR Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
and online throughout Arizona and Texas
You can heal from what happened without having to relive it over and over again.
You’ve done the work.
So why does it still feel like this?
And still certain things set you off in ways that feel bigger than the moment. Memories that won’t stay in the past. A body that braces before your brain even catches up. The sense that no matter how much you understand it, something hasn’t shifted at the level it needs to.
You’ve talked about it. Maybe in therapy, maybe with people you trust, maybe just with yourself at 2am. You understand where it comes from. You can trace it back. You know your triggers.
That is trauma stored in a place that talking doesn’t fully reach.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the most researched and widely validated trauma therapies in the world. Originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, it has since become a widely recognized treatment for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and a range of other mental health concerns.
What is EMDR?
EMDR works by helping the brain do what it naturally wants to do with difficult experiences: process them. When trauma occurs, memories can get stuck, stored in a fragmented, emotionally charged way rather than being integrated into your broader life narrative. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements left to right, tapping, buzzies, or audio tones) to activate the brain’s natural processing system, allowing those stuck memories to be reprocessed and stored in a way that no longer triggers the same emotional and physiological response.
In simple terms: the memory doesn’t disappear, but it loses its grip.
How EMDR Works:
Phase 1 & 2 - History & Preparation
Before any processing begins we spend time building a thorough picture of your history, understanding what we’re working with, and making sure you have the internal resources and stability to do the deeper work. We never start processing before you’re ready.
Phase 3 & 4 - Assessment & Processing
We identify specific memories, beliefs, and body sensations connected to what you’re working on. Then we begin bilateral stimulation - typically we use tappers that vibrate in the palm of your hands - while you hold the targeted material in mind. Your brain does the processing. My job is to hold the container and guide you through the process.
Phase 5 through 8 - Integration & Closure
We work to install positive beliefs, check in on body sensations, and make sure you leave each session feeling grounded. Integration continues between sessions. Many clients notice shifts in how they respond to things in their daily life as processing unfolds.
EMDR can help with…
Complex and developmental trauma
Single incident trauma - accident, assault, medical
Childhood emotional neglect / attachment wounds
Anxiety, panic, and phobias
Depression
Grief and loss
Low self-esteem and chronic shame
Dysfunctional relationship patterns
Substance and process addictions
Clients often notice…
Memories start to feel more distant and neutral
Emotional reactions begin to soften
The inner critic gets quieter
A sense of calm and groundedness
Decrease in trigger intensity and frequency
Improved sleep
More capacity to be present in daily life
Improved relationships
Memories no longer feel raw and vivid
What sets my EMDR practice apart?
I’m an EMDRIA Certified EMDRIA Therapist and Consultant. Certification and becoming a consultant both require completing an approved training program, conducting a significant number of EMDR sessions under supervision, and passing a comprehensive evaluation.
I’ve also completed advanced EMDR training in dissociation and parts work, attachment and developmental wounding, suicidal ideation and self-harm, addiction, OCD, phobias, and Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP). EMDR is not something I do alongside my other work; it’s central to how I practice.
For clients who want to experience the depth of EMDR without the pace of weekly sessions, I also offer EMDR Intensives - extended sessions designed to compress processing into a focused period of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, and this is one of the things that surprises people most about EMDR. You don’t need to narrate every detail of what happened. EMDR works with what your nervous system is holding, not just the story you can put into words. Some clients process significant material without ever fully describing it out loud.
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No. While EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, research and clinical practice have expanded its application significantly. It’s effective for anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, addiction, low self-esteem, relationship patterns, and any concern that has roots in past experience, which is most of what people bring to therapy.
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Traditional talk therapy engages the thinking, language-based parts of the brain. Trauma is often stored in deeper, subcortical areas that talking doesn’t fully access, which is why people can understand their trauma completely and still feel controlled by it. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to engage the brain’s natural processing system, reaching material that talking can’t.
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It depends on what you’re working on. Single incident traumas can resolve more quickly. Complex or developmental trauma, the kind built up over years of difficult experiences, typically takes longer and benefits from a more extended course of treatment. We’ll talk about realistic expectations early on and reassess regularly.
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Yes, and research supports its effectiveness via telehealth. I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform and have tools to facilitate bilateral stimulation remotely. Many clients actually prefer doing EMDR from the comfort and safety of their own home.
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The effectiveness of EMDR depends significantly on the training and experience of the therapist, and whether the approach was well matched to what you needed at that stage of treatment. Complex trauma especially requires careful preparation and pacing that not all EMDR providers are trained for. If previous EMDR felt incomplete or ineffective, it may be worth exploring with a certified specialist who focuses specifically on complex trauma.
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Standard EMDR happens in a weekly or biweekly 50-minute session. EMDR Intensive Therapy consists of extended sessions that allow for deeper, more sustained processing in a condensed timeframe. Intensive therapy is particularly effective for clients who want to make significant progress quickly, or who find traditional weekly sessions don’t allow enough time to fully complete processing cycles.
What if you could remember what happened without it running your life?
That’s what EMDR makes possible.
EMDR Therapy in Scottsdale, Arizona
Services offered virtually throughout Arizona and Texas
6609 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite G102, Scottsdale, AZ 85250