This Thanksgiving: Reclaiming Your Body & Sexual Self with EMDR Sex Therapy in scottsdale, az
The holidays can be a time of connection, gratitude, and celebration—but for many people, Thanksgiving also brings up stress, family tension, and old emotional wounds. When you’ve experienced sexual trauma or body image struggles, this time of year can feel especially difficult. Between family comments about food, body size, or relationships, it’s easy to feel disconnected from your body and your sense of sexual confidence.
That’s where individual sex therapy for body image and EMDR sex therapy can make a powerful difference. At The Connection Couch in Scottsdale, Arizona, this season is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your body, and reclaim your sexual self—one that feels grounded, confident, and free from shame.
Understanding EMDR in Sex Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps people heal from trauma by reprocessing distressing memories so they no longer feel as painful or “stuck.” It’s especially effective for individuals who have experienced sexual trauma, body shame, or anxiety around intimacy.
In sex therapy, EMDR is used to help you reconnect with your body and create a sense of safety within yourself. Many people who seek individual sex therapy struggle with feeling disconnected during intimacy—they might freeze, shut down, or have difficulty trusting their body’s sensations. EMDR helps bring the body back online, allowing you to experience pleasure without fear or guilt.
Imagine being able to touch your partner—or yourself—and feel present rather than anxious. That’s the kind of healing EMDR can support.
Why the Holidays Can Trigger Body Image Struggles
Thanksgiving is centered on food, family, and togetherness—but it can also bring body comparison, diet talk, and old shame to the surface. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about eating in front of others, or guilty for how your body looks, you’re not alone.
Many of my clients in sex therapy for women share that they’ve spent years feeling at war with their bodies. They’ve internalized messages that say their worth depends on size, desirability, or how “sexy” they look. These beliefs don’t just affect self-esteem—they also impact sexual desire and confidence.
In therapy, we work to challenge those beliefs, reconnect with the body through mindfulness, and use EMDR to release stored shame and trauma responses. The goal isn’t to force confidence, but to gently rediscover it.
How EMDR Helps Rebuild Trust with Your Body
During EMDR sessions, we use gentle eye movements or bilateral tapping to help the brain process difficult memories. Over time, this allows you to remember experiences without being overwhelmed by them.
When applied to sex therapy, EMDR can help you:
Feel safer in your body during sexual or intimate moments
Reduce anxiety about being touched or seen naked
Let go of critical inner voices about appearance or performance
Reclaim a sense of pleasure that feels natural, not forced
Think of EMDR as emotional spring cleaning for your nervous system—it helps your mind and body align so you can enjoy the present rather than relive the past.
Individual Sex Therapy: Healing at Your Own Pace
Individual sex therapy is a space where you don’t have to perform or explain away your experiences. Whether you’re dealing with sexual pain, performance anxiety, or shame about your body, therapy can help you unpack those feelings in a compassionate, trauma-informed way.
Every person’s journey to sexual confidence is different. Some clients focus on building comfort with self-touch or exploring pleasure without pressure. Others want to address relationship patterns, attachment wounds, or trauma memories that get in the way of intimacy.
In therapy, you’ll learn to tune into your body’s signals and create a sense of safety from the inside out.
The Role of Online EMDR Therapy in scottsdale, az
If you’re traveling this holiday season or prefer to heal from the comfort of your own home, online sex therapy can be a great option. Virtual EMDR sessions use the same tools—eye movements or tapping techniques—through secure online platforms.
Online sessions can be especially helpful if:
You feel anxious about leaving home or being in a new space
You want to maintain consistency while visiting family during the holidays
You live outside of Scottsdale but want to work with a therapist who specializes in sex therapy and trauma
Research shows that online EMDR can be just as effective as in-person therapy. What matters most is the safety of the connection you build with your therapist.
Reclaiming Your Sexual Self This Thanksgiving
Healing your relationship with your body and sexuality doesn’t happen overnight, but it starts with one small decision: choosing to care for yourself differently.
This Thanksgiving, instead of focusing on what your body “should” look like, try honoring what your body has survived. Notice the moments it feels safe, warm, or connected. Practice gratitude for the parts of you that keep showing up, even when things feel hard.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward healing, EMDR in sex therapy can help you release old patterns and reconnect with the version of yourself that feels whole, empowered, and at peace.
If you are ready to enjoy your body—not just tolerate it, here’s how to get started:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation. This no-pressure call is an opportunity for you to share a bit about what you’re facing and ask any questions you may have. It’s important that you feel at ease from the very beginning, and this quick chat can help ensure we’re a good fit.
Book your first sex therapy session. Choose a time that works for you with your therapist online from the comfort of your home. In this private, supportive setting, we’ll start exploring your story and tailoring a plan just for you (remember, it’s at your pace).
Begin your journey to a more confident you. With guidance from me (Holly, your therapist), we’ll work step by step to challenge negative thoughts, practice new techniques (like the ones we discussed), and build up your comfort with intimacy over time. Little by little, you’ll replace shame with self-compassion and avoidance with connection. It might be a journey, but you won’t be walking it alone.
Everyone faces roadblocks when it comes to sex and self-image, but with the right support, those roadblocks can become stepping stones to growth. You don’t have to keep putting off intimacy or suffering in silence, hoping things will “just get better.” You have the power to change your relationship with your body and your sexuality, and help is available. Reach out to The Connection Couch today and take that first brave step toward the fulfilling, joyful, intimate life you deserve.
Along with sex therapy for body image concerns, I also work with individuals, couples, PTSD, painful sex, BDSM/kink, and performance anxiety.
Beyond Scottsdale, I also serve Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Tucson, Queen Creek, Gilbert, Salt Lake City, Park City, and Alpine, Utah.
About the Author
Holly Nelson, LPC, NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified EMDR Therapist in Scottsdale, Arizona. She specializes in trauma-informed sex therapy for women and couples, helping clients heal from shame, anxiety, and painful sexual experiences. Holly is currently completing her AASECT Sex Therapy Certification and is the founder of The Connection Couch, a practice dedicated to helping individuals and couples create sex lives that are free from anxiety and full of connection.
Holly has been featured in major publications such as HuffPost, Stylist’s Strong Women, Well Beings News, and VoyagePhoenix. Through her practice, The Connection Couch, Holly offers compassionate, trauma-informed care that empowers clients to embrace their sexuality with confidence and ease.