EMDR therapy · EMDR intensives · Phoenix
EMDR Therapy in Phoenix: Process the Past So It Stops Running the Present
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. Weekly EMDR therapy and focused EMDR intensives with EMDRIA-trained therapists, in Phoenix and across Arizona by telehealth.
- Who
- Adults located in Arizona
- Where
- Phoenix office or telehealth statewide
- Hours
- Mon–Fri · mornings, days & evenings
- Insurance
- Private pay, no insurance billing
- First step
- Free 15-minute call
What is EMDR?
A well-researched therapy for trauma and distressing memories
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy recommended for the treatment of PTSD and widely used for trauma, anxiety and other distressing life experiences.
When something overwhelming happens, the memory can get stored in a raw, unprocessed way. Sights, sounds, feelings or situations can set it off, and your body reacts as if it is happening again.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping, while you briefly focus on a memory. This helps the brain do what it could not do at the time: process the experience and store it as something that happened, not something still happening. Most people find the memory is still there, but it no longer hurts the same way.
EMDR can help with
- PTSD and single-incident trauma, such as accidents or assaults
- Childhood and complex trauma
- The impact of what you didn't receive, such as emotional neglect or missing support
- Anxiety, panic and phobias
- Grief and traumatic loss
- Negative beliefs like "I'm not enough" or "I'm not safe"
- Performance anxiety and blocks for athletes, performers and professionals
The research
One of the most studied trauma therapies in the world
EMDR isn’t a trend. It has been studied in randomized controlled trials for more than 30 years and is recommended by leading health organizations as a first-line treatment for PTSD.
Recommended by leading health organizations
- World Health Organization (WHO): recommends EMDR as a treatment for PTSD in adults, adolescents and children.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense (2023): recommends EMDR as one of three first-line, trauma-focused psychotherapies for PTSD, ahead of medication.
- Also recommended by the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
What studies have found
- Single traumatic events: in a controlled study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Wilson, Becker & Tinker), about 84% of participants with a single trauma no longer met criteria for PTSD after three 90-minute EMDR sessions, with results holding at a 15-month follow-up.
- Single and multiple traumas: a Kaiser Permanente–funded study (Marcus, Marquis & Sakai, 1997) found that 100% of single-trauma and 77% of multiple-trauma participants no longer had PTSD after six 50-minute sessions.
- Combat veterans: a randomized study of veterans with combat-related PTSD (Carlson et al., 1998) found that 77% no longer had PTSD after 12 sessions.
- Intensive format: an eight-day intensive program combining EMDR with prolonged exposure for 347 people with severe PTSD (European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2018) found that 82.9% had a clinically meaningful response and 54.9% no longer met criteria for PTSD, with only a 2.3% dropout rate.
Results vary from person to person. Your therapist will talk with you about what to expect based on your history and goals.
EMDR for athletes
Back to the sport, without the event holding you back
Athletes often keep training through trauma: a bad fall, a crash, a serious injury, a frightening moment in competition. The body remembers, and it can show up as hesitation, fear, tension or a performance slump that practice alone does not fix.
We recently helped an athlete recover from a traumatic event in just three EMDR sessions. Not every case moves that quickly, but single-incident trauma often responds well to focused EMDR work.
Pair EMDR with emotional performance coaching to rebuild confidence and composure under pressure.
EMDR intensives
Faster progress in focused, extended sessions
An EMDR intensive condenses therapy into longer sessions over a short period, such as several hours across one to a few days. Instead of starting and stopping each week, you go deeper while momentum is high.
EMDR intensives are a good fit for busy professionals, athletes between seasons, people working on a specific event or memory, and anyone who wants to make meaningful progress quickly. They can be done on their own or alongside weekly therapy.
Every intensive starts with an assessment to make sure the format is safe and right for you. Ask about EMDR intensive availability during your free 15-minute call.
What to expect
How EMDR therapy works
History & planning
Your therapist learns about your history and goals and identifies the memories to target.
Preparation
You build calming and grounding skills so you feel steady before any processing begins.
Processing
Using bilateral stimulation, you briefly focus on a memory while your brain reprocesses it.
Integration
Positive beliefs are strengthened and progress is checked so the change lasts.
EMDR therapists in Phoenix
EMDR with EMDRIA-trained therapists
All EMDR at Live Empowered is provided by licensed therapists trained through EMDRIA-approved programs, the professional standard for EMDR. Weekly EMDR fits into ongoing therapy, while EMDR intensives offer longer, concentrated sessions for focused, accelerated progress.
EMDR for anxiety and performance
EMDR isn't only for major trauma. Many people use it for anxiety, panic, phobias, performance blocks and the stubborn negative beliefs that hold them back, such as "I'm not good enough" or "I'm not safe." Athletes, executives and performers use EMDR to clear the experiences behind freezing, hesitation or fear in high-stakes moments.
EMDR in person or online
EMDR is available at our office at 1825 E Northern Ave in North Central Phoenix, or by secure telehealth for clients located anywhere in Arizona. Online EMDR uses adapted bilateral stimulation, such as visual tracking or self-tapping, and works well for most clients.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It depends on what you are working on. Single-incident trauma can resolve in a few sessions, while complex or childhood trauma usually takes longer. Your therapist will give you a sense of the timeline after your first sessions.
Does EMDR work over telehealth?
Yes. EMDR can be done effectively by secure video for clients located in Arizona.
What is an EMDR intensive?
An EMDR intensive is a series of longer, concentrated EMDR sessions over a short period. It allows deeper work and faster progress than weekly sessions alone.
Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Live Empowered is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance for EMDR or any other service.
Can EMDR help athletes?
Yes. EMDR is often used for sport-related trauma such as injuries, falls and crashes, and for performance anxiety that traces back to a specific experience.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. It is widely used for trauma, PTSD and anxiety.
How do I find an EMDR therapist near me in Phoenix?
Look for a licensed therapist with EMDRIA-approved training. Our therapists are EMDRIA-trained, and we offer EMDR in person in North Central Phoenix and by telehealth across Arizona.
Is there EMDR coaching outside Arizona?
EMDR is a therapy, so it is only offered to clients located in Arizona. Clients outside Arizona can explore emotional performance coaching, which uses nervous system regulation and breathwork tools.
Keep exploring
Next step
Ready to start therapy in Arizona?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call, and we'll respond within a few hours. In person in Phoenix or telehealth anywhere in Arizona. Call 602.633.5025.