Taana Abbitt, Licensed Clinical Therapist

With over 23 years of dedicated practice, I specialize in helping people heal from trauma and anxiety.

My approach to problems is rooted in my extensive training and experience in this field, and in experiential therapies, which are powerful therapy methods. I’ve worked with thousands of people over the years, tailoring my therapy approaches to individual needs and learning all the while. I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space, where I hope clients feel truly understood.

I have received training by highly regarded experts in the field of trauma. I am passionate lifelong learner, and I learn from the therapy process with clients as well as in professional trainings. I invest on an ongoing basis into high quality training, consultation, and certification hours.

I have participated in 12 years of therapy myself, with older and wiser therapists. I have participated in the types of experiential therapy work that I now facilitate for my clients.

My passion for helping survivors of trauma was born during my undergrad years in Virginia, 27 years ago. I first volunteered, and then was hired as a crisis intervention counselor working with survivors of domestic/relationship violence and sexual assault at the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley. It was there that I found my professional life purpose.

I have provided assessment and intervention services to people with mental health diagnoses continuously since completing graduate school in 2001.

It makes me feel deeply honored when past clients return to me if they need therapy services again.

While working at The Meadows, I was trained in the Meadows Model, and I had the incredible opportunity to receive training from their fellows, who are highly regarded experts in this field, such as:

I am also fully trained in Attachment-Focused EMDR by Dr. Laurel Parnell

Using EMDR with Complex Trauma by Dr. Roger Solomon (Ego-State Therapy)

I was mentored in treating complex trauma by Dr. Julie Anné Zeig.

I have completed Level 1 of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy training through Dr. Pat Ogden.

I practice client-centered therapy.

Client-centered therapy aims to help people strengthen personal authority over their own healing by promoting self-actualization and creating a safe and accepting space that encourages growth.

My credentials and education:

I am an independently Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Arizona. This is the highest level of licensure available in our field, and requires the successful completion of 3200 hours of supervised work experience, as well as passing two rigorous national clinical exams.

I completed a 61 credit master’s degree in Social Work at Radford University in Virginia, in 2001.

During graduate school, I was inducted into Phi Alpha, the national social work honor society, dedicated to excellence in scholarship and high professional standards. This requires a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5.

I completed a bachelor of arts degree in English, with concentrations in Theater Arts and Women’s Studies, at Virginia Tech in 1998.

Some Trainings relevant to my current practice:

I have completed Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Level 1 training and consultation hours.

I am currently engaged in EMDR certification hours through EMDRIA.

Integrating Yoga Techniques in EMDR.

Training in Psychodrama with Soozi Bolte, Grayce Guzmano, Marlo Archer, and Deb Gion, our local Arizona psychodrama experts (my words, not theirs)!

Training in Psychodrama by Tian Dayton.

Training in Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine.

Training in addiction family systems and recovery by Claudia Black.

Training in EMDR 2.0 by Ad De Jong. I am one of only 1500 therapists in the US currently using EMDR 2.0.

EMDR DeTUR Training: Urge Reduction Protocol for addictions and dysfunctional behaviors–The Accelerated Adaptive Information Processing Model.

Training in Utilization of EMDR Therapy with Complex Trauma by Roger Solomon, PhD.

Training in Addressing Attachment issues through the 8 phases of EMDR Therapy by Roger Solomon, PhD.

IFS informed EMDR therapy for Addiction and Relapse Prevention by Susan Brown.

87 hours of training in Attachment-Focused EMDR by Laurel Parnell, plus 10 hours of consultation with her.

EMDR and the Dance of Attachment, by Deany Laliotis.

IFS & PARTS WORK 101: REAL LIFE SKILLS by Marianne Turley.

Internal Family Systems by Frank Anderson, MD.

40 hour basic training in EMDR and 10 hours of consultation – Ira Dressner, PhD.

My Work Experience:

2021 – current: Private Practice at The Awakened Heart LLC

My outpatient private practice focusing on individual therapy for anxiety disorders and trauma.

2015-2021: Clinical Therapist at A New Beginning in Scottsdale, AZ

Provided individual therapy to adolescent and adult clients with eating disorders and co-morbid diagnoses. Facilitated eating disorder group therapy for adults and adolescents. Outpatient level of care.

2013-2015: Primary Therapist and Family Week Program Director at The Meadows, right after they purchased Remuda Ranch

Here I was assigned two positions at the same time:

  1. Primary therapist for 12+ adolescent and adult clients at a time with eating disorders and co-morbid diagnoses. Led a minimum of 7 group therapy sessions per week. Worked in the inpatient, residential and partial hospitalization programs.
  2. I co-created, organized, and facilitated Family Week once per month for adolescent clients and once per month for adult clients. This included giving psychoeducational presentations on a range of eating disorder topics, facilitating experiential therapeutic activities, and conducting family therapy in a group format for all participants as well as parent and spouse groups.

2015-2018: Therapist at Quail Run Behavioral Health Hospital

Here I worked on the impatient psychiatric units with adolescents and adults providing assessments, group therapy, family meetings, and participating in team meetings and discharge planning. I also assisted the Clinical Director with administrative tasks such as auditing charts.

2012- 2013: Program Director and Therapist at Sendero, a residential treatment center for adolescents owned by Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital in Tucson. 20 months.

Here I worked as a primary therapist for up to 10 adolescents at a time needing treatment and temporary crisis placement. I provided daily group therapy and individual therapy. I was promoted to the Program Director and in that capacity I supervised the staff including hiring staff, and participated in state licensure audits and contract audits.

2012: ER Therapist/Evaluator at University Medical Center – Kino Campus in Tucson.

Performed emergent psychiatric assessments and facilitated dispositions for patients presenting to the Emergency Room. I also provided group therapy and other therapy services to patients admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit. Completed and facilitated Title 36 petition process.

2008-2012: Therapist on the Psychiatric Assessment Team at Carondelet St. Mary’ Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Tucson Heart Hospital. Therapist at the Extended Care Unit.

Here I also fulfilled multiple roles – I performed emergent psychiatric assessments and facilitated dispositions for patients presenting to the Emergency Room across 3 hospitals, as well as on the medical floors. Completed and facilitated Title 36 petition process.

I also worked as a therapist at the Extended Care Unit, providing individual and group therapy to SMI clients court-ordered to treatment and waiting for placement at Arizona State Hospital.

2003-2008: Behavior Specialist, Vail Unified School District. Provided assessment and intervention services to kids K-12 in special education due to behavioral health disorders. Assisted with the creation of a district-wide Functional Behavior Assessment protocol for all district behavior specialists to utilize.

I provided training to school staff on working with kids with behavioral health disorders and behavior problems, and on implementing interventions across the school for individual and group behavior management.

2001-2003: Program Director and Therapist at The Regina School, a residential treatment center for adolescents.

I provided assessments, daily individual and group therapy to adolescents, supervised staff, and participated in responding to contract audits.

1998-2001: Graduate student in MSW program at Radford University.

I completed 2 year-long practicums (20 hours per week and then 40 hours per week) at The Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley (Domestic violence and sexual assault) and New River Family Shelter (family based crisis stabilization services).

Prior to that, I worked first as a crisis counselor volunteer and then was employed as a Night Counselor at The Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley in Radford, Virginia.

1998: Completed my undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech.