Process months of trauma work in 3 to 5 hours. Our EMDR and IFS Intensives offer accelerated healing for complex trauma, intergenerational patterns, and stuck emotions—in a safe, culturally responsive space.
Led by Iliamari Vázquez Houston, LCSW | EMDR-Certified & Ketamine Assisted EMDR™ Certified | IFS Level 1 Trained | Serving Arizona clients in-person and virtually
If you're ready to process trauma but don't have months to commit to weekly therapy, EMDR and IFS Intensives offer a powerful alternative.
Traditional therapy happens one hour at a time, week after week. Intensives condense that work into focused, extended sessions—allowing you to make significant progress in a single day rather than over several months.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a gentle, compassionate therapy that helps you understand the different "parts" of yourself—the side that feels hurt, the protector, the achiever, the critic. Instead of fighting these parts, IFS helps you listen to them with curiosity and care. At your core, you already have a calm, wise Self that can guide your healing.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy proven to help people heal from traumatic memories, painful experiences, and limiting beliefs. Through bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements), EMDR helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer trigger you the same way.
EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories. IFS helps you understand the protective patterns those memories created. Together, in an extended format, they create space for profound healing—targeting both the root trauma and the parts of you that developed to survive it.
EMDR and IFS Intensives work best for people who:
Maybe it's a single incident that keeps replaying, a cluster of childhood memories, or a relational wound that's affecting your life today.
You've built a foundation of coping skills and self-awareness. Now you're ready to target the root of what's been holding you back.
You're preparing for a major change—becoming a parent, ending a relationship, starting a new chapter—and want to clear old patterns before moving forward.
You're a busy professional, caregiver, or parent who needs focused healing without the ongoing weekly commitment.
You've been talking about your trauma for a while, but it's not shifting. You're ready to process it differently—through the body and nervous system, not just through words.
You're looking for an EMDR therapist who understands cultural trauma, intergenerational patterns, and first-generation experiences—and adapts the approach accordingly.
At With An Open Heart, we practice culturally responsive EMDR therapy—meaning we adapt this evidence-based treatment to honor your cultural values, family systems, and lived experiences.
Traditional EMDR training doesn't always account for the nuances of intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, or the systemic oppression that many BIPOC and Latine individuals carry. We do.
Call or Text: 480-234-9256
Email: info.withanopenheartllc@gmail.com
Office Location (In-Person Intensives):
4500 S. Lakeshore Dr., Suite 415 Tempe,
Arizona 85282
EMDR for intergenerational trauma – We understand that trauma doesn't start with you. We help you process not just your own experiences, but the patterns and pain passed down through generations.
Bilingual EMDR therapy – Sessions can be conducted in English or Spanish, and we honor the way language connects to memory and emotion.
IFS that recognizes collective identity – We know that "parts work" looks different in cultures that value family and community over individualism. We honor that in how we approach healing.
No cultural translation required – You won't spend session time explaining why you can't "just set boundaries" with your mom, or why leaving your family feels impossible. We get it.
You deserve trauma therapy that doesn't ask you to leave parts of yourself at the door.
For some clients, traditional EMDR alone isn't enough. If you've tried EMDR before and found it difficult to access emotions, stay present with memories, or complete processing, Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ may be an option.
This is a specialized treatment that combines low-dose ketamine (a legal, FDA-approved medication) with EMDR therapy. Ketamine helps reduce emotional overwhelm, making it easier to process trauma that feels "too big" to touch in regular sessions.
Iliamari is trained in Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ and can discuss this option during your consultation if it's clinically appropriate.
Important: Ketamine Assisted EMDR requires additional screening, medical clearance, and preparation.
It's not the first-line approach, but it can be transformative for clients with complex PTSD or treatment-resistant trauma.
EMDR and IFS Intensives are cash-pay services and are not covered by insurance.
Iliamari is the founder and Clinical Director of With An Open Heart, LLC. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, EMDR-certified therapist, EMDR Consultant In Training (working toward becoming an EMDR consultant), and IFS Level 1 trained practitioner
Iliamari is also trained in Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy™ and is working toward becoming an EMDR-approved consultant in 2026.
As a proud Latina trauma therapist and daughter of Puerto Rican parents, Iliamari specializes in helping BIPOC women, first-generation individuals, and cycle breakers heal from intergenerational trauma and create healthier patterns for themselves and future generations.
With over 15 years of experience in mental health—including work with first responders, maternal mental health, and underserved communities—Iliamari brings both clinical expertise and cultural understanding to every intensive.
Find answers about our resources, languages, and how to request what you need.
Weekly EMDR typically takes 3-6+ months of 50-minute sessions. Intensives condense that work into a single 3- or 5-hour session, allowing for deeper, uninterrupted processing. Both are effective; intensives are ideal for people with specific targets and limited time.
Intensives are carefully paced and trauma-informed. We build in breaks for regulation, check in frequently with your nervous system, and adjust the session based on what you need. You're never pushed beyond what feels safe.
Intensives work best for people who have some previous therapy experience and established coping skills. If you're new to therapy, we recommend starting with weekly sessions to build a foundation first.
Yes. Virtual intensives are available for Arizona residents and are just as effective as in-person sessions. We'll discuss the best format during your consultation.
No. EMDR and IFS Intensives are cash-pay services. Insurance typically only covers 50-60 minute sessions, and extended intensives fall outside standard billing structures.
Reach out to us anytime.
