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​Individual Counseling in Phoenix
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Desert Oak Counseling provides trauma-informed 1-on-1 therapy for adolescents and adults at our office in Phoenix, Arizona. In-person counseling can be essential for building a trusting therapeutic relationship, offering the privacy, comfort, and connection that some clients need to fully engage in healing. Our office creates a calming space where emotional safety and therapeutic depth come first
Secure Online Therapy (Telehealth)
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We also offer virtual counseling sessions through a confidential and HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. Online therapy provides the flexibility to prioritize mental health without compromising on quality care. Ideal for busy schedules, remote clients, or those who feel most at ease in their own space, telehealth empowers individuals to receive consistent support wherever they are.
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What to Expect
In The First Therapy Session. At Desert Oak Counseling in Phoenix, your first session is a welcoming space to explore your reasons for seeking trauma-informed therapy. We’ll discuss your background, current challenges, and goals for counseling. You’ll also receive an overview of our therapeutic approach, including modalities like EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness approaches. This will help you determine if our care aligns with your needs.
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Choosing a therapist is a meaningful decision. Therapy requires a commitment of time, energy, and emotional investment, and we encourage you to reflect on whether our approach feels supportive and safe.
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Scheduling and Planning. If you decide to move forward, sessions are typically scheduled every 1–2 weeks and last 55 minutes, which is covered by most insurance plans. Your therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan based on intake insights, integrating techniques like parts work, nervous system regulation, and cognitive reframing to support your healing journey.
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Therapy length varies depending on your goals, motivation, and the complexity of issues being addressed. We’ll regularly assess your progress and adjust the duration of care to ensure it remains effective and empowering
Counseling Areas
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The trauma-informed counselors at Desert Oak are comfortable and effective at treating a range of challenges individuals may face. Each issue is addressed with empathy and expertise, ensuring clients feel understood and supported. This may include:
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Anxiety
Addiction
Attachment Issues
Anger
PTSD
Eating Disorders
Dissociation
Stress Intolerance
Sadness and Depression
Borderline Personality Disorder
Grief and Loss
Self-esteem
Gender Identity Topics
LGBTQ+ Empowerment
Body Image
Interpersonal Issues
Identity-Related Challenges
Life Transitions
Queer Community Needs
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Counseling Specialties
TRAUMA THERAPY​
Trauma can stem from distressing events that cause emotional or physical harm. In cases of complex trauma, these experiences may be subtle, repeated, and span years, often leaving lasting effects on the nervous system and sense of safety.
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At Desert Oak Counseling, we begin with a focus on safety and stabilization. This phase helps you build a secure foundation at home, in your relationships, and within your own mind. You’ll learn about your nervous system’s response to stress, and develop coping skills to manage emotions, reduce overwhelm, and tolerate distress.
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When you’re ready, we’ll begin the trauma processing phase using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (learn more about EMDR here), a proven method for healing trauma through bilateral stimulation. This phase supports the integration of painful memories and emotional release, allowing you to move forward with clarity and strength.
As therapy progresses, you’ll begin to integrate your growth into daily life, reclaiming your sense of self, building resilience, and planning for a future rooted in healing.
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ADDICTION AND UNWANTED BEHAVIOR
Trauma and addiction are deeply interconnected. Research shows that more than 75% of individuals struggling with substance use have a history of trauma. Addiction often emerges as a coping mechanism to numb overwhelming emotions, suppress painful memories, and escape intrusive internal dialogue.
While therapy offers tools to manage cravings and recognize triggers, true healing requires going beyond symptom management. Addressing the root causes of addiction, whether they stem from childhood trauma, neglect, or chronic emotional distress, is essential for long-term sobriety and personal transformation. Navigating this process can be the most challenging part of recovery, which is why compassionate, trauma-informed support is critical to move forward with clarity, strength, and resilience.
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health concerns, often deeply linked and disruptive to daily life. Anxiety may present as persistent worry, fear, or racing thoughts, while depression is marked by sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities.
At Desert Oak Counseling in Phoenix, we offer trauma-informed therapy that creates a safe space to explore these symptoms and their root causes. Through modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), clients learn to reframe negative thought patterns, regulate emotions, and strengthen resilience to future challenges. Therapy not only supports symptom relief, it helps clients reconnect with purpose, self-worth, and inner calm through compassionate and personalized care.
Counseling Approaches
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors by teaching coping skills and strategies.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them, and to commit to making changes that align with their values and improve their overall quality of life
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
Helps individuals process and heal from traumatic memories by using guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation
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Internal Family Systems Therapy
Emphasizes fostering harmony and understanding among distinct sub-personalities or "parts"
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Attachment-Based Therapy
Focuses on understanding and improving the dynamics within an individual's relationships by addressing issues stemming from early attachment experiences
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help individuals manage emotions, develop healthier interpersonal relationships, and cope with distress.
Somatic Therapy
A holistic approach that integrates the mind and body to address psychological and physical issues by exploring bodily sensations, physical movements, and the mind-body connection.
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Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Integrates mindfulness practices, such as meditation and mindful breathing, into therapeutic sessions to help individuals increase awareness and acceptance of their thoughts and feelings
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Person-Centered
Approach where the therapist provides a supportive and accepting environment to help individuals explore and resolve their own issues, fostering self-awareness and personal growth.
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Compassion-Focused Therapy
Designed to help individuals develop self-compassion and inner strength by addressing feelings of shame and self-criticism through techniques that promote kindness and understanding towards oneself.
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Strength-Based Therapy
Focuses on identifying and utilizing an individual's inherent strengths and resources to empower them and promote personal growth
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Interpersonal Therapy
Aims to improve interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce psychological symptoms by addressing communication patterns and relationship issues
Our counselors use techniques from the following therapeutic approaches: