The answers to your questions.
FAQs About Trauma & EMDR Therapy in Mesa, Arizona
Below are common questions I hear from new and prospective clients in Mesa and the surrounding Phoenix-area cities. If your question isn't here, reach out and I'll be glad to answer it.
Looking for service-specific questions? Each service page also has its own FAQ section.
WONDERING IF TRAUMA THERAPY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
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If you've been quietly wondering whether you "need" therapy, please know that you're not alone in that question. So many people compare their story to someone else's and decide that theirs doesn't quite measure up.
Here's what I want you to know: there isn't a line where life becomes "hard enough" to deserve support, and the people who come to therapy aren't only the ones in crisis. They're often the ones who noticed something kept surfacing in their life, whether that was anxiety that wouldn't quiet down, relationships that felt heavier than they should, or patterns they recognized but couldn't seem to change. Eventually they decided they didn't want to keep doing it alone, and they were ready for something to change.
You don't need a diagnosis or anyone's permission to come here. You just need to be ready to stop carrying it the way you've been carrying it, and that is more than enough.
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Yes. Many of the people I work with are the ones everyone else thinks are doing great. They show up, they hold it together, they're the dependable one. And inside they're tired in a way sleep doesn't fix. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone, and you're not making it up. You're describing one of the most common reasons people come to therapy.
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I specialize in trauma, anxiety, relationship strain, faith-based concerns, and the long shadow of difficult childhoods. Many of my clients arrive without a single, easy label for what they're carrying. Just a sense that something has been heavy for a long time, and they're tired of carrying it alone. If that's where you are, you're in the right place.
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That's not just normal. It's a sign you're paying attention. Therapy asks something real of you, and being nervous about it makes sense. The free 15-minute consultation exists for exactly this reason: a no-pressure conversation where you can ask questions, get a feel for how I work, and decide whether you want to take the next step. Nothing is required of you in that call beyond showing up as you are.
Do you offer EMDR therapy?
Yes. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the primary tools I use for trauma work and for patterns that don't heal with talk-therapy alone. I've moved beyond foundational EMDR training to pursue advanced certification. You can read more on my Trauma and EMDR specialty pages.
My approach to trauma therapy and EMDR in Mesa, AZ.
However you got here, there's a way back.
How is faith-based therapy different from regular therapy?
Faith-based therapy is clinical therapy provided by a licensed therapist who shares your faith framework. The clinical work itself uses the same evidence-based approaches you'd find in any therapy setting. The difference is that your faith is welcome in the room as part of how you make sense of your story. Faith-based therapy is different from pastoral counseling, which is typically offered by a spiritual leader rather than a licensed clinician. They serve different purposes; neither replaces the other. More on this on my faith-based therapy page.
Do I have to be a Christian to work with you?
No. While my framework is shaped by a Christian worldview, I'm a licensed clinician trained to serve people across faith traditions and people without faith at all. I won't impose my beliefs, use religious language without your consent, or steer the work toward conversion of any kind. Your worldview leads the session.
Logistics, Insurance, & Fees
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My office is in Mesa, Arizona, in the Dana Park Shopping Center near the intersection of Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road. I also see clients in nearby cities including Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, and Scottsdale. Once you book your first session, I'll send you detailed directions.
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Both. I see clients in person at my Mesa office and offer secure virtual sessions for anyone physically located in Arizona at the time of the session. Many clients mix the two: in-person when they can, virtual when life makes it easier. You don't have to decide upfront which one you want.
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Online therapy is traditional counseling conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform built specifically for healthcare. It lets you receive high-quality care from the comfort and privacy of your own space.
What you'll need:
A reliable internet connection
A device with a camera and microphone (smartphone, tablet, or computer)
A private, quiet space where you can talk freely without being overheard
One important limitation: As a licensed therapist in Arizona, I can only provide therapy to clients who are physically located within the state of Arizona at the time of the session. This is a legal requirement of state licensure, not a preference.
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I am currently in-network with:
Aetna
Optum / United
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona(through August 1, 2026)
I'm in the process of stepping back from BCBS-AZ on the dates above. If you're a current or prospective BCBS-AZ client and want to talk through your options before those dates, please reach out.
For clients using accepted insurance, your out-of-pocket cost per session depends on your specific benefits: copayment, coinsurance, or the full session fee until your annual deductible is met. I verify your benefits before your first session, though it's ultimately your responsibility to know your plan's specifics (including whether your deductible has been met and whether your plan requires a referral from your primary care physician).
If you're not in-network with one of my accepted plans, I can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement if your insurance allows it. Check your out-of-network benefits here.
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If you're paying out-of-pocket without using insurance:
Intake session (75 minutes): $230
Ongoing sessions (50 minutes): $175
The first session is longer than ongoing sessions to allow time for the intake assessment, paperwork, and the deeper exploration that gets us oriented to your story.
If you're using insurance, your cost per session depends on your specific benefits plan (copay, coinsurance, or full session fee until your deductible is met). Payment is due at the time of service.
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Yes. Everything you share in therapy is protected by law and clinical ethics, with a few specific legal exceptions: if you or someone else is in imminent danger, if there's suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, or if I'm required to share information by court order. I'll go over these limits with you in your first session so you know exactly where the lines are. Inside those lines, what you bring stays between us.
What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
What can I expect during my first appointment?
Your first session is called an intake assessment and runs about 75 minutes. It's a low-pressure conversation focused on getting to know you and what's bringing you in. We'll cover the basics first (confidentiality, scheduling, fees), then spend most of the time exploring your story: what's weighing on you, what you've already tried, your background, and what you're hoping might feel different.
How long do I need to be in therapy?
The honest answer is: it depends on your goals and the depth of what you're working through.
Short-term, focused work. If you're dealing with a specific current issue (a recent loss, a decision you're stuck on, a relationship in crisis), therapy often runs 8 to 12 sessions of weekly work.
Longer-term, deeper healing. If you're dealing with long-standing patterns (chronic anxiety, complex trauma, deep-seated shame, lifelong relationship dynamics), the work naturally takes longer. Typically 6 months to a year or more.
You're always in control of the pace. We check in regularly on whether the work is moving in a direction that matters to you, and you decide when to stop. Many clients also choose to transition to less frequent "maintenance" sessions as they consolidate their growth.
How often will we meet?
Most clients start with weekly sessions, which builds momentum and lets the work compound between meetings. Some shift to every other week once things feel more stable, and some return to weekly during particularly hard seasons. We'll talk through what rhythm makes sense for your goals and your life.