Welcome
Your Uptown Phoenix space to be seen, feel heard and start healing
Counseling services for individuals and couples who need help healing from emotional wounds
About Uptown phx Counseling
My Expertise
I am an EMDR therapist who works to find the root causes for clients' symptoms. My goal is to help the client discover the root of what’s causing distress and work to heal the root and not just treat the symptoms. I approach treatment through a trauma-informed lens which means I pay particular attention to adverse experiences throughout one's life and how those experiences and the beliefs one has about that value and identity.including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues.
I also have experience working with PTSD, infidelity, sexual abuse, OCD, grief, and work/life balance. If you're interested in starting counseling, please don't hesitate to email me today.
Uptown PHX Counseling Approach
I partner with my clients in pressing into the current challenges, using EMDR, Internal Family Systems and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy to move toward healing. I believe that when the root causes are identified and restored, the symptoms naturally start to decrease. Christian integration is available if desired.
Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy
During an EMDR therapy reprocessing session, clients self-administer a small amount of sublingual ketamine to support the adaptive resolution of traumatic memories.
At low doses, ketamine has a calming effect that helps reduce emotional overwhelm. Since EMDR therapy involves revisiting distressing memories, this sense of relaxation fosters emotional safety, enabling clients to engage with their memories with less fear and self-judgment.
Trauma can lead to rigid thought patterns and emotional responses that keep individuals feeling stuck. Ketamine enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections—helping clients adopt new perspectives and experience deeper cognitive and emotional shifts during EMDR therapy.
Protective mechanisms like avoidance or emotional numbing can sometimes hinder progress in EMDR therapy. Ketamine helps quiet these defenses, allowing clients to access and process the root causes of their distress more effectively.
Many clients describe entering a state of curiosity, compassion, and clarity under ketamine’s influence. This mindset is particularly beneficial for EMDR therapy, as it encourages individuals to approach traumatic memories with openness and self-compassion rather than fear or criticism.
By integrating the focused bilateral stimulation of EMDR with ketamine’s neurobiological and psychological effects, clients often experience accelerated healing. Memories that once felt unbearable become more approachable, making it easier to release the emotional burdens they carry.
These sessions are conducted in a safe, supportive environment, creating an opportunity for deep healing and transformation.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy-KAP
At Uptown PHX Counseling, we partner with individuals navigating the path to recovery from depression, trauma, and related emotional difficulties. Our Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) service integrates neuroscience, trauma-informed methods, and faith-based principles to foster profound emotional and spiritual healing.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a medication, classified as a dissociative anesthetic, with a long history of safe use in medicine dating back to the 1950s. It has recently gained recognition as an effective treatment for depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges, especially for those who have not responded well to conventional therapies.
In 2019, the FDA approved Spravato (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression. At Uptown PHX Counseling, we collaborate with licensed medical partners to provide a more accessible option: oral ketamine troches (lozenges) used within a structured, guided therapy framework.
How It Works
Ketamine functions by boosting glutamate, a key neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and managing emotions. By blocking specific receptors (NMDA), ketamine encourages the brain to create new, healthier neural pathways, enhancing healing and emotional adaptability.
Additional Benefits:
- Decreases neuro-inflammation in the brain
- Promotes neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to change) and cognitive adaptability
- Disrupts rigid, negative thought patterns by quieting the Default Mode Network (DMN)
- Facilitates deeper self-reflection and insight during therapy
The Uptown PHX Counseling Approach
Jessica is a KAP-trained therapist who combines clinical skill with a Christian faith perspective, fostering a secure, contemplative environment for personal growth.
The Process:
Step 1: Schedule an Intake
Connect with Jessica (online or in-office). You'll complete intake forms so she can assess if KAP is appropriate for you.
Step 2: Medical Evaluation
If eligible, you'll be referred to our medical partner for an evaluation to confirm medical suitability and receive a prescription.
- A full ketamine prescription typically costs $60–$75.
- The standard protocol involves six sessions with an increasing dosage: 150 mg → 150 mg → 200 mg → 200 mg → 250 mg → 250 mg
- Zofran (an anti-nausea medication) can be prescribed if needed.
Step 3: Begin Your KAP Sessions
The program spans three weeks, with two sessions per week, each lasting 2.5–3 hours, held in our comfortable office.
- Please note: You must arrange for transportation home after each session.
What to Expect in a Session
- You will self-administer the medication and monitor your blood pressure.
- Your therapist will guide you in setting an intention and establish a peaceful setting (using prayer, music, or essential oils as you prefer).
- You will recline with an eye mask, choosing to either talk or rest in silence during the main experience.
- As the effects fade, your therapist will facilitate a gentle integration process, helping you discuss your experience and record key insights for future reference.
Expanded Options
We also provide specialized adaptations of the KAP process:
- KAP-Enhanced EMDR & IFS: Low-dose (psycholytic) ketamine can aid deeper trauma processing while you remain fully present and able to drive home.
- Group KAP Sessions: A more affordable choice that includes the benefit of community support.
- KAP for Couples: Utilizing either psychedelic or psycholytic doses to foster deeper connection and heal relational wounds.
Pricing & Accessibility
- Six-session package: $3,000
- Medical prescription: $60 – $75
- Initial intake session: Priced separately
Is KAP Right for You?
KAP might be a suitable option if you:
- Are contending with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or deep-seated trauma
- Desire a healing journey that aligns with your Christian faith
- Wish to gain new perspectives and break free from persistent emotional patterns
- Are receptive to a therapy model that is both spiritually grounded and supported by neuroscience
My Background
I am a Licensed Associate Counselor, and hold a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. I am a member of Alpha Chi at GCU and received my Bachelor's from Wheaton College. I have experience in private domestic adoption as well as in foster care. I utilize EMDR, IFS and KAP and will soon be providing marital intensives.
PROUD Affiliate
Christian Counseling Services
I am under the direct supervision of Jennifer Cecil, M.Ed., LPC at Christian Counseling Services. Learn more about our team at christiancounselingservicesaz.com.
https://christiancounselingservicesaz.com/counselors/jessica-utterback/