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EMDR therapy in Phoenix, Scottsdale & Mesa

EMDR is a well-researched therapy that helps your brain reprocess painful memories so they lose their grip, often without having to talk through every detail of what happened. If trauma still feels loud, this is one of the most effective ways to quiet it.

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The basics

The idea behind EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It was developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s.

The idea behind it is simple. Your brain knows how to heal from hard experiences, the same way your body knows how to heal a cut. But some memories get stuck, still carrying the same fear, panic, or shame you felt at the time. EMDR helps your brain finish processing those memories so they settle into the past, where they belong.

During a session, your therapist guides you through gentle back-and-forth eye movements, taps, or tones while you briefly bring a memory to mind. That side-to-side rhythm, called bilateral stimulation, is thought to help the brain reprocess the memory and lower its emotional charge.

One thing that surprises people: you do not have to describe the worst moments out loud in detail. EMDR works with the memory itself, not a play-by-play retelling.

What to expect

How EMDR works, phase by phase

EMDR follows eight phases. Your therapist moves at your pace, and the early phases are all about safety and readiness long before any memory work begins.

1

History & planning

Your therapist learns your story, and together you decide what to work on. Nothing else happens until this feels right.

2

Preparation

You build grounding and coping tools first, so you feel steady before any memory work begins.

3

Assessment

You name a specific memory, the belief stuck to it, and where you feel it in your body.

4

Desensitization

With gentle bilateral stimulation, you let the memory move and slowly lose its intensity.

5

Installation

A truer, kinder belief about yourself takes its place and gets stronger.

6

Body scan

You notice any tension that lingers and keep going until your body settles.

7

Closure

Every session ends with you grounded and back in the present, never mid-storm.

8

Reevaluation

Next time, your therapist checks what has held and what to work on next.

Who it is for

What EMDR can help with

EMDR is best known for trauma and PTSD, but the same reprocessing can ease a range of struggles that trace back to painful experiences.

What to know

Before you start

In practice
60 to 90 minutes
A typical session length
A few sessions to several
At a pace your therapist sets with you, never rushed
In person or online
Any Valley office, or telehealth anywhere in Arizona
The evidence

A frontline trauma treatment, recognized by major health bodies and shown to be effective for PTSD, often in fewer sessions than talk therapy alone.

U.S. VA & DoDAmerican Psychological AssociationISTSSUK & Australia guidelines

When you're ready, we'll match you with a therapist trained in EMDR.

More ways we help

We help with a lot more, too

Carrying more than one thing at once? Here are a few related areas, or see everything we help with.

FAQ

Common EMDR questions, answered

Does EMDR really work?
EMDR is one of the most researched trauma therapies there is. Dozens of clinical trials, and treatment guidelines from the VA, the UK, and Australia, support it, and studies find it works about as well as trauma-focused talk therapy, often in fewer sessions. What that looks like for you is something you and your therapist figure out together.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No, and this surprises a lot of people. EMDR works with the memory itself, not a play-by-play retelling. You stay in control of how much you share out loud.
Is EMDR safe?
Yes. Your therapist is trained in it, moves at your pace, and spends the early phases building coping tools before any memory work starts. You end every session grounded in the present.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on you and what you are working through. Some people feel relief in a handful of sessions; layered or long-standing trauma can take longer. Your therapist will talk it through with you rather than put you on a clock.
Can I do EMDR online?
Often, yes. We offer EMDR in person at our Valley offices and by telehealth for clients located in Arizona. Your therapist will help you decide which fits your situation.
Does insurance cover EMDR?
Often. We are in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and we verify your coverage for free before your first session.