Are you seeking in-person trauma therapy in Phoenix, AZ, or online?

Taking the first steps toward connecting with a trauma therapist often occurs after a realization or recognition of patterns. Whether prompted by a thought-provoking podcast episode, a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, or a gradual awakening to the lingering effects of past experiences, you have decided to explore local trauma therapy options in Phoenix. This decision represents a courageous move towards reclaiming one’s sense of self and seeking peace by proactively undoing the root of the issue rather than fighting its effects. But who do you trust in this intimate quest?

Amidst the vast array of promising trauma therapy modalities available in Phoenix, selecting a path forward can feel overwhelming. Do you go with EMDR, ART, IFS, PIT, CBT, DBT, ACT, Existential, Gestalt, Person-Centered, or 400+ other approaches? Choosing the optimal framework and a trauma therapist you click with may feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. This is why I offer an integrative approach based on some of the most sought-after modalities in Phoenix for trauma therapy tailored specifically for you. So, if you feel like one approach is not suitable for you, it can be readily replaced without having to tell your story to a new therapist or having to go through onboarding and other formalities again.

One of the benefits of having a trauma therapist who embraces a holistic approach to healing trauma and PTSD is not only the ability to switch or blend different modalities but also working on stabilization as a number one priority.^[*] Once the symptoms are relieved, your capacity to process trauma increases. Finally, we integrate what you have learned into your daily life during the stabilization and trauma resolution. This approach ensures that your treatment progresses predictably, setting you up for success not only in trauma therapy but also in other challenges you may face.

Common symptoms addressed in trauma therapy for my Phoenix clients

Anxiety

MY APPROACH TO THERAPY IS HOLISTIC, COLLABORATIVE, AND ATTACHMENT-BASED.

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My Trauma Therapy Approach

Trauma therapy is more than sharing helpful tools. Working with me in my Phoenix office or online often involves moving toward steady, sustainable growth through building a deep, trusting connection. This connection fosters genuine engagement and safety, which facilitate healing from trauma over time. Reliving the trauma, especially during the initial stages of therapy, is not always necessary and can be counterproductive if it leads to retraumatizing of the nervous system.

A regulated nervous system allows for exploring and processing traumatic experiences without becoming overwhelmed. Engaging in premature interventions in trauma therapy risks pushing the nervous system into the red zone, resulting in setbacks and a longer path to desired outcomes. When the nervous system is stuck in cycles of fight-flight or freeze, it can lead to a state of morphostasis, where your subconsciousness attempts to stay in the familiar zone resisting change.

I also emphasize an experiential approach to trauma therapy. My clients go beyond insight as they build trust in themselves and confidence in their actions and learn to treat themselves and others with curiosity, compassion, and kindness. Experiential approach means not going through the motions intellectually only; it is about experiencing the inner world in the here and now. Thus, we build a healthy therapeutic relational template, regulate the nervous system through the use of evidence-based modalities, and engage in experiential practices as a foundation of our work.

Trauma Therapy Helps You Resolve:

Generational Trauma

Childhood Trauma

Complex PTSD

Vicarious Trauma

Attachment Trauma

Sexual Trauma

Acute Trauma

Trauma Therapy Modalities Available for You

Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR)

Do memories of the past hold you hostage, preventing you from embracing the present? Can your mind heal from deep emotional wounds? Is it possible to reprocess traumatic experiences and find inner peace? Did you know that your brain has the innate capacity to heal itself? Are you ready to embark on a quest of healing and transformation?
Within the realm of EMDR, we delve into the labyrinth of your memories, where the past meets the present. Together, we navigate the pathways of trauma and anxiety, seeking resolution and resilience.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy
(ART)

Are you searching for a faster way to resolve emotional pain and distress? Can you envision a future free from the burdens of your past? Is it possible to accelerate the healing process and find lasting relief? Does your mind hold the key to unlocking your innate resilience? Are you ready to embark on a journey of rapid transformation?
In the world of ART, we explore the potential for swift healing and emotional resolution. Together, we tap into the power of your mind to process and release traumatic experiences, allowing you to reclaim your inner strength.

Internal Family Systems
(IFS)

Unveil the universal principles illuminating the path to inner harmony and personal growth. Get a solid foundation, unwavering motivation, and a toolbox of practical techniques to delve deep into your inner world and undo the roles you were never meant to play. IFS is a unique opportunity for self-discovery, understanding, and change. You’ll also find invaluable insights through the thought-provoking questions and answers shared by your supportive therapist.

Post-Induction Therapy
(PIT)

Are you feeling trapped in repetitive patterns that seem to be holding you back from the life you desire? PIT offers a unique approach to healing and personal growth, firmly grounded in universal principles and a deep understanding of your inner child.
With PIT, you’ll break free from persistent patterns and codependence that have limited your personal fulfillment and embrace your wise adult, healing and nurturing your inner child along the way. This therapeutic method is your path to self-discovery, empowerment, and meaningful change.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT)

Are your thoughts running on autopilot, shaping your world without your consent? Can you reframe your beliefs and transform your reality? Is it possible to rewrite the stories you’ve told yourself for years? Does your mental chatter hold the key to understanding your emotions and behaviors? Are your fears and anxieties mere thoughts waiting to be challenged?
In the realm of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we explore the inner landscapes of your mind, where thoughts, emotions, and actions converge. Together, we unravel the threads of your thinking patterns, gaining insight into the way they influence your life.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.
It is your time to heal.

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Trauma Therapy FAQ

How is trauma therapy different from talk therapy?

Talk therapy can be helpful overall. It often focuses on changing thoughts intellectually or cognitively by focusing on altering behaviors, gaining insight, and changing your perspective on problem issues. A typical talk therapy approach, such as CBT, focuses on providing coping skills and tools to actively counteract your belief system. In my experience, this approach generally works while you are engaging in performing the skill. However, when the motivation fades, the client often returns to their baseline. Ultimately, it may promote a dependency on techniques and avoidance of root causes and may even maintain current dysfunction by giving you a way to cope with it

In contrast to traditional talk therapy, trauma therapy may or may not involve discussing negative experiences. I help my Phoenix clients engage the mind and body through practices like body awareness, mindfulness, and somatic exercises while carefully monitoring their autonomic arousal. As a trauma therapist, I recognize that trauma is not just stored in conscious thoughts but also in visceral bodily sensations, emotional triggers, and ingrained physiological responses. By engaging with these deeper, somatic layers, I help my clients to process and integrate traumatic experiences more fully. Finally, this comprehensive approach allows my clients to resolve inner conflicts and achieve greater internal peace.

How do I know if I need trauma therapy?

Perhaps your first attempt at healing trauma was talk therapy with a therapist in Phoenix or elsewhere. You’ve shared, gained insights, and thought through the issues. Despite these efforts and coping skills, you still struggle with uncomfortable feelings, negative self-talk, and heavy or tight sensations in your chest and gut. Talking about what happened is a good start, but often, it is a good idea to have a trauma therapist onboard to help heal PTSD or complex trauma.

Research-based trauma therapy methods can help you work through the trauma, heal frozen emotions, and resolve inner blocks. Signs you might need trauma therapy include feeling emotionally overwhelmed by triggers, experiencing flashbacks or nightmares, avoiding certain places or people due to anxiety, shame, and fear, feeling constantly on edge, easily startled, or unable to relax, emotional numbness, detachment from loved ones, and inability to enjoy life, and struggling with anger, irritability, and sudden mood swings. When these feelings persist and affect your present and relationships, despite your best efforts, it may be time to seek trauma therapy for additional support.

How long does it take to resolve a trauma memory?

The length of trauma therapy varies based on several factors. As long as adequate time is allocated to establishing safety and stabilization, it ensures a shorter and more manageable course of treatment. Countless consultations show that trauma resolution efforts result in dissociation, lack of progress, and even worsening of symptoms when therapists bypass or shorten foundational work. This occurs more often than not under the pressure of short-course therapy, such as minimally-researched “weekend intensives” or other short-term arrangements that tend to overpromise and result in disappointment, undermining trust in the therapeutic process in general.

Although some clients may begin to experience improvement after just one session, this is more of an exception than the rule. These exceptions are a phenomenon that may occur due to a combination of readiness for change, working with one isolated event, or a placebo effect. I find that it takes an average of three months for most of my clients to integrate trauma work into their everyday lives. Around this mark, their family and friends often see changes externally. Such clients attend weekly sessions and follow the treatment plan experientially and consistently.

What does successful trauma resolution look like?

It varies from person to person since trauma is relative to the individual. Here are a few examples:

Trauma loses its emotional charge, so recounting trauma memories no longer triggers hyperarousal, dissociation, or similar responses.
Symptoms related to the trauma memory and PTSD have diminished or fully resolved.
You no longer avoid reminders of the trauma.
You are fully participating in everyday life.
Your nervous system returns to normal after everyday stress.

What if I can’t remember my trauma?

Not remembering your trauma doesn’t prevent you from healing. Here’s how therapy can still be effective:

1. Present vs. Past Focus:

Trauma Recovery: This approach emphasizes managing the present effects of trauma on your life. The goal is to develop skills to reduce the impact of trauma-related symptoms, improving your quality of life without necessarily recalling specific traumatic memories.
Trauma Memory Resolution: This involves exploring and processing traumatic memories. While this can be beneficial, it is not strictly necessary for healing.

2. Stability of the Past:

The past is unchangeable; what happened cannot be altered, certainly not via trauma therapy in my Phoenix office. However, we can work with the glimpses and adaptations resulting from past events.
Even if specific traumatic memories are not immediately accessible, therapy can help address their effects on the present. Some memories may resurface as trauma blocks are removed, allowing us to apply a full range of modalities from a more commonly used angle.

3. Changing the Present:

The primary aim of trauma therapy is to change the impact the past has on your present and future.
Therapy can help you build resilience, develop strategies to diminish the symptoms, and reduce trauma’s hold on your life without needing to recall specific traumatic events. This approach focuses on current well-being and future improvement.

I struggle with other challenges besides trauma

It is rare to see someone struggling with an isolated challenge. Trauma therapy is one of the many services I offer in my practice in Phoenix, AZ. Other specialties include anxiety, depression, relational distress, and others.

How do I begin trauma therapy in-person in Phoenix?

Feel free to send me a request for consultation, and I will reach out to you promptly.

Can trauma therapy be done remotely?

The same services, including trauma therapy, are also available online. If you cannot make it to my office in person, I use a private, quality telehealth setup with a professional camera and microphone. Whether you live in Flagstaff, Tucson, Yuma, or any rural area, you can still access some of the best modalities developed for online therapy in Arizona. Ultimately, there is an option to combine in-person and online sessions for additional flexibility.

Trauma Therapy Services in Phoenix, AZ