Counseling in Litchfield Park, AZ
My office is on Litchfield Road, a few minutes from the Wigwam and from most of Litchfield Park. If you have been looking for a counselor close to home, this page tells you what I help with, what a first appointment is like, and what the office itself is like.
I see adults and teens thirteen and older, in person on three days a week and by video on four. Most people start with a free 15-minute call, and on it I will tell you how soon we could start.
Emily Ward, MS, LAC
Counselor in Goodyear, and online across Arizona
What I help with
Most of what brings people to my office falls into a few clusters. You do not have to know which one you are in. That is part of what the first appointment is for.
Anxiety and stress. That covers constant worry, panic, health anxiety, and the kind of overwhelm that has you organizing your days around avoiding things. I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical approach that helps you spot and change the thinking habits that keep worry going.
Trauma and PTSD. You might have memories that stay raw, nightmares, a constant sense of being on edge, or a numb feeling. My main approach is EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, which helps a painful memory settle so it no longer feels current.
ADHD in adults. I see this especially in women, who are often diagnosed late after years of being told they were disorganized or too sensitive. We build systems that survive a bad week and work on the shame that comes with the diagnosis.
Depression and low self-esteem. This includes the quiet kind that nobody around you can see.
Chronic illness. I help with the grief, the fatigue, and the identity questions that come with a body that changed for good.
Relationships and boundaries. We work on saying no without guilt and figuring out which relationships cost you more than they give.
I also bring in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which teaches practical ways to handle big emotions, wherever those skills would help. On the free call I will tell you which approach I would try first and why.
What a first appointment is like
The first session is mostly a conversation. I ask what brought you in, what you have tried, and what you want to be different. You can share as much or as little as you want, and you can ask me anything. There is some paperwork before we start, and I go over confidentiality and its few limits so you know exactly where you stand. By the end we usually have a rough plan and a sense of whether we fit.
The office
I see clients in person at the Mindful Therapy Group suite on North Litchfield Road in Goodyear, just north of the I-10 and a short drive south of Litchfield Park. From the Wigwam area, Litchfield Road takes you straight there in under ten minutes. From the neighborhoods around Camelback and Dysart it is a little longer. Parking is free, and the lot is right by the door.
My office days are Wednesday through Friday, with afternoon and evening times. Logan, my trained service dog, comes to every in-person session. He is calm and stays out of the way. If a dog in the room is a problem for you, video sessions are the way to go, and I offer those Tuesdays through Fridays from anywhere in Arizona.
Paying for sessions
I take several common insurance plans, and I publish my private-pay fee rather than making you ask.
In person in Goodyear
My office is at 1626 N Litchfield Rd Ste 220, Goodyear, AZ 85395, and I am there on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with afternoon and evening openings.
Online across Arizona
I see clients by video on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. You need to be in Arizona during the session, but you can be anywhere in the state.
Fees and insurance
Sessions are 50–55 minutes and cost $100 without insurance. I am in-network with Aetna/Banner, Cigna, Curative, and United Healthcare, and I take Cigna and United Healthcare employee assistance program (EAP) sessions, which are the free sessions some employers cover. The full details are on the insurance and fees page, and if your plan is not listed, ask me on the free call and I will tell you what your options are.
Questions people ask
Are you taking new clients?
Yes. The quickest way to find out about openings is to text or email me for the free 15-minute call. I will tell you what I have on the days you can do, and if I am full at a time that works for you, I will say so rather than leave you waiting.
Do you see teenagers?
Yes, I work with teens thirteen and older as well as adults. For a teen, a parent is usually part of the first conversation, and then the teen and I meet. At the start I explain the limits of confidentiality to both of you. Parents can ask what we are working on and what the homework is, and I pass along anything the teen wants them to know. Parents can also request records, though those do not usually include the private details of what a teen says in session.
Which insurance plans do you take?
I am in-network with Aetna/Banner, Cigna, Curative, and United Healthcare, and I take Cigna and United Healthcare EAP sessions. Without insurance a session is 50–55 minutes and costs $100. If your plan is not on that list, ask me on the call and I will tell you what your options are.
Where do I park, and how do I find the suite?
The building has free parking right outside. The office is inside the Mindful Therapy Group suite. When you arrive, have a seat in the waiting room and I will come get you at your appointment time.
What does LAC after your name mean?
LAC stands for Licensed Associate Counselor. It means I hold a master's degree in counseling and a license from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, and that I meet regularly with a licensed clinical supervisor while I work toward the next level of licensure. Your sessions are with me, and your information stays confidential. The supervision is an extra set of experienced eyes on my work.
Start with a free 15-minute call
It is not therapy and it is not an intake. You tell me a little about what is going on, I tell you honestly whether I am the right fit, and you decide from there.