The Awakened Heart Therapy and Consulting
Hi! I’m Taana Abbitt, LCSW
I am an expert EMDR therapist in Arizona for anxiety, phobias, and trauma.
If you’re looking at lots of therapy websites, you may be wondering, what’s different about me?
Highly Qualified – I am an independently licensed therapist in Arizona.
Highly Experienced – I have 23 years of practice experience.
Highly Trusted – I have had the honor of helping thousands of people over my career.
Highly Trained – I have over 250 hours of EMDR therapy training and extensive training in other specialty therapy methods.
I help people who want to:
- Process emotions and challenging experiences
- Develop a healthy relationship with their inner, authentic selves and their emotions
- Show up in a healthy way in relationships
- Achieve lasting relief from anxiety, phobias, and trauma
How is my work and perspective different than other therapists?
The most common therapy approach is to use talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, and Cognitive Processing of Trauma. These are ineffective for 50% of people, and even less effective in the long-term.
I use experiential forms of therapy to help you listen to and understand your emotions, and connect with your body (somatic therapy). Together, we find and target the emotional root causes of problems. I guide people to use their brain and body’s own natural ability to resolve emotions. This helps the symptoms to stop happening.
I provide trauma-focused therapy for these mental health issues:
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Complex trauma
- Depersonalization and Derealization
- Low Self-Esteem and Insecurities
- Inner Critic
- Perfectionism
- Codependence – fixing and caretaking
Expert therapy for healing the effects of childhood trauma.
Many anxiety disorders in adults stem from unresolved past experiences. Events or circumstances that felt overwhelming during your childhood or teen years can leave a lasting impact, shaping how you feel and behave as an adult.
The typical approach to therapy for anxiety disorders is to treat the symptoms, often by trying to teach people to over-ride their emotions with logic.
But, typical therapy for anxiety falls short when it doesn’t identify or address the root causes. Without that, symptoms persist or come back, and lasting relief feels out of reach.
But there is a path to freedom and peace.
I offer help to identify and resolve the root causes of anxiety disorders using experiential therapy.
I use EMDR Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy or Ego-State Therapy, and Psychodrama.
I provide in-person EMDR therapy in Tempe, Arizona or to people located any where in Arizona through a secure tele-health platform.
Voicemail: 480-687-7631
Did you know? Only a licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner has the education, training, and legal permission to provide assessment, interventions or treatment for mental health problems. Any unlicensed person claiming to provide help for a mental health problem is operating outside of Arizona state laws. No certifications of any kind qualify a person to provide mental health services.
Wondering if working with me would be right for you?
I accept a limited number of clients that I believe would have good outcomes from working with me.
I am an excellent choice if:
You are able to connect with your emotions and body. People who have experience with yoga, meditation, or mindfulness do really well with the experiential therapy techniques I use.
You are able to visualize in your mind’s eye and think abstractly and creatively rather than concretely (Can you picture a lemon? Can you pick an object to represent your Boss?).
You have tried some general or talk therapy, and feel ready to do deeper work to try and resolve emotional issues.
You recognize that growth in therapy requires sitting with things that may feel uncomfortable, and you’re willing to tolerate this and put in the work.
You’ve talked about your trauma with a therapist, but it still hijacks your thoughts, emotions, and behavior and keeps you stuck. You realize talking about it isn’t enough.
You have tried logic-based therapy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but you still have anxiety and trauma responses stuck in your body and mind (CBT is only effective for 40-50% of people).
You have tried Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) for OCD or a phobia, but you just keep developing new obsessions or compulsive behaviors, or the phobia persists.
You are in couple’s counseling, and you want to do some individual processing of experiences or trauma.
You know your current symptoms are probably rooted in childhood experiences or trauma, and you are looking for a therapist who knows how to help.
You are ready and willing to do some focused trauma work.
We will not be a good fit if:
You are not able to keep yourself safe in your daily life and take care of your basic needs.
You are not able to invest in therapy sessions at least twice a month, without it being a hardship. This is the minimum necessary to build and maintain momentum towards your goals.
You have suicidal or homicidal thoughts.
You have self-harm behavior like cutting, burning, head banging, or hitting (DBT treatment is recommended).
You put people on a pedestal, and end up disappointed and upset with them.
You unleash your anger or rage if you feel someone has wronged you. You have no problem “taking someone down” or “humbling” them, if you feel they are in the wrong.
You enjoy debating with, challenging or testing your therapist to see if they can “take it.”
If you expect someone to meet your needs without having to ask.
You don’t take responsibility for improving your problems and are looking to be “fixed” or “rescued” by someone else.
You struggle to maintain sobriety from drugs or alcohol, and it feels out of your control (Substance abuse IOP is recommended).
You are invested in defending the idea that you don’t have any trauma.
Ready to Start Your Healing Journey?
The process of facing anxiety and trauma can be daunting, but the rewards—peace, strength, and freedom—make the effort worthwhile. Life is too short to live in the shadow of old wounds and old circumstances.
Break Free from the Past
Trauma acts like an invisible chain, anchoring us to the past. When we confront it, we begin to release ourselves from its grip. This freedom allows us to live in the present instead of being held back by the past.
Build Healthier Relationships
Unprocessed trauma often creates emotional walls or toxic patterns in relationships. By addressing it, you can heal wounds that might otherwise harm your ability to connect with others. You’ll learn to build trust and intimacy and live authentically.
Improve Mental and Physical Health
Trauma can manifest as anxiety, depression, or physical issues like chronic pain. Studies show that processing trauma reduces stress, improves sleep, and enhances overall well-being. Your mind and body deserve the care that healing offers.
Take Back Control
Ignoring trauma gives it power over your life—your decisions, behaviors, and reactions. Confronting it helps you reclaim control and develop resilience, turning pain into strength.
Discover Your True Potential
Trauma often distorts how we see ourselves, and creates feelings of shame or inadequacy. Healing helps you discover your self-worth, gives you confidence to pursue goals and dreams that once felt out of reach.
Create a Ripple Effect
Healing isn’t just for you—it benefits everyone around you. When you address your trauma, you set an example for loved ones and create a healthier environment for your family, friends, and community.