Category: Technology

AI is a Bad Therapist

July 6, 2026 / Chris Klem

Written by: Dr. Scott Giacomucci, DSW, LCSW, BCD, CGP, FAAETS, TEP

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become quite popular in recent years as it is remarkably good at answering questions, summarizing information, and even carrying on conversations that feel surprisingly human. It is now common for people to talk to AI about anxiety, trauma, relationships, grief, or depression before ever reaching out to a therapist.

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While AI can be a useful educational tool or source of gathering general information (we use it as a tool too!), it is a poor substitute for psychotherapy. In some cases, relying on AI as a therapist may actually reinforce the very mental health symptoms you are trying to overcome. If you’re struggling with emotional distress, trauma, or relationship difficulties, it’s important to understand the difference between talking to AI and engaging with a trained mental health professional.

Why AI Can Feel Like a Good (Free) Therapist

There are understandable reasons why people turn to AI for emotional support. AI is available 24 hours a day. It doesn’t judge. It responds immediately. It can be accessed for free. It can validate emotions, summarize psychological concepts, and offer coping suggestions within seconds. For someone who feels isolated or overwhelmed, this can provide temporary comfort.

For many people, accessing therapy can be complicated – especially in trying to navigate complex health care systems, insurance benefits, unaffordable self-pay rates, and limited local options for therapy. Many people have had bad experiences, or even hurtful experiences, with therapists in the past which can also contribute to someone turning to AI as a therapist instead of a human therapist. For many, AI isn’t replacing therapy, it is filling a gap created by systemic failures and those realities deserve serious attention. The concern isn’t that people are using AI; my concern is when AI becomes the primary place where someone is seeking psychological healing and guidance on human relationships.

AI has access to enormous amounts of information on the internet which is pretty impressive. This can leave us with an assumption that AI is more knowledgeable than any human and thus better equipped to help us. However, AI’s responses are generated from general information on the internet and the limited text-based information that you provide it – whereas a human therapist is interacting with you based on more individualized and context-specific information while also considering the rich non-verbal communication in the session.
The problem is that therapy is much more than receiving information, identifying patterns, or receiving reassurance.

Therapy Is More Than Advice

Many people assume therapy is simply receiving good advice. In reality, effective psychotherapy is built on much deeper processes than advice giving. Many of us avoid giving advice in most cases and instead focus therapy on helping clients discover their own answers to questions.

Healing often occurs through:

A genuine therapeutic relationship
Emotional attunement
Embodied somatic experiences
Corrective interpersonal experiences
Exploration of unconscious patterns
Experiential learning
Working through difficult emotions
Repairing ruptures in relationships
Building tolerance for uncertainty
Developing new ways of relating to oneself and others

These are fundamentally human processes.

An AI can simulate empathy through its responses, but it cannot genuinely experience empathy, emotional resonance, or a mutual human relationship. It cannot notice subtle shifts in body language, changes in affect, or patterns emerging across interactions in the same way an experienced therapist can.

Many therapy modalities involve complex experiential interventions, such as EMDR, psychodrama and empty chair work, and expressive arts therapies. These interventions are action-based and three-dimensional. They can’t be effectively and safely be implemented by a two-dimensional AI program through a computer screen.

AI Can Accidentally Reinforce Mental Health Symptoms

One of the biggest concerns is that AI often responds in ways that reduce immediate distress rather than promote long-term wellness or recovery. Many psychological disorders are maintained by patterns of avoidance, reassurance-seeking, compulsive checking, or distorted thinking. Unfortunately, AI conversations often unintentionally strengthen these patterns. One of the most common ways that this happens is when someone avoids asking for help or going to therapy and instead only talks to AI about their struggles.

Anxiety

People with anxiety often seek certainty. They repeatedly ask questions like:

“Do you think something is wrong with me?”
“What if this symptom means I have cancer?”
“What if I lose my job?”

Each reassuring response may temporarily reduce anxiety.

Instead of searching websites, someone experiencing health anxiety may repeatedly question AI about symptoms, diagnoses, medications, or rare illnesses. Although each conversation may temporarily reduce fear, it often increases vigilance toward bodily sensations and reinforces the belief that constant checking is necessary to stay safe. This can create an endless feedback loop of symptom monitoring and reassurance that maintains health anxiety.

Unfortunately, this teaches the brain that reassurance, not tolerance of uncertainty, is the solution. Over time, reassurance-seeking often strengthens anxiety rather than reducing it. Instead of helping someone build tolerance for uncertainty, repeated AI interactions may strengthen dependence on external validation.

Someone may begin asking AI dozens or even hundreds of questions every day, creating a digital version of an anxiety compulsion.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

For individuals with OCD, AI can become another source of compulsive reassurance. Someone may repeatedly ask:

“Are you sure I didn’t do something wrong?”
“Does this sound like OCD or psychosis?”
“Can you guarantee this won’t happen?”

Each response briefly lowers anxiety. However, evidence-based treatments for OCD, such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), intentionally reduce reassurance because learning to tolerate uncertainty is what weakens obsessive-compulsive cycles.

Frequent AI reassurance may unintentionally reinforce OCD symptoms or become part of a new compulsive-driven ritual that maintains the OCD symptoms.

Depression

Many people with depression become trapped in cycles of rumination – repetitively analyzing past events, perceived failures, or negative beliefs about themselves.

AI may respond thoughtfully and compassionately, but lengthy conversations about depressive thoughts can sometimes encourage additional rumination instead of behavioral change. Depression often tricks people into believing that if they just think about the problem a little longer, they’ll finally figure it out. Unfortunately, rumination rarely produces clarity, it usually produces more rumination. Spending another hour discussing the same hopeless thoughts with AI may feel productive, but it can unintentionally deepen the habit of living in the problem rather than moving toward life outside of it.

Depression often narrows perspective and reinforces negative beliefs.

If someone consistently frames experiences through hopelessness or self-criticism, AI may respond with validation that unintentionally strengthens those beliefs without adequately challenging cognitive distortions or helping create meaningful behavioral change.

Similarly, depression often involves withdrawal from meaningful activities, relationships, work, and hobbies. Talking with AI can sometimes become another sedentary activity that replaces rather than supports real-world engagement.

While reflective conversations have value, recovery from depression often requires doing something different and taking new action, not simply thinking differently. In many recovery communities, we say that “you can’t think your way into new behaviors, you must act your way into new thinking”.

Effective therapy balances empathy with gentle challenges, accountability, and action.

Trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD

Many individuals with PTSD or CPTS have experienced ongoing interpersonal trauma, neglect, betrayal, or attachment wounds. Because relationships have been sources of pain in the past, trusting another person often feels difficult or impossible.

AI can feel safer as it is consistently available, doesn’t disappoint, and won’t reject you. While these qualities provide temporary comfort, they can also make it easier to avoid the vulnerability required for healing relationships.

Much of the healing in complex trauma occurs through experiencing a consistent, trustworthy therapeutic relationship where safety, boundaries, repair, emotional attunement, and authenticity are experienced over time. These relational experiences cannot be fully simulated through conversation with software.

For some individuals, relying primarily on AI for emotional support may unintentionally reinforce interpersonal avoidance and delay opportunities for corrective relational experiences and a more fulfilling trauma recovery journey.

Trauma recovery involves much more than talking about traumatic experiences.

It requires careful pacing, emotional regulation, nervous system stabilization, and gradually integrating traumatic memories without overwhelming the individual. Trauma therapy is a process of changing our relationships to the trauma within us.

AI cannot monitor physiological arousal, recognize dissociation, assess safety in real time, or modify interventions based on subtle changes in emotional regulation.

As a result, individuals may repeatedly revisit traumatic memories without adequate preparation, containment, or integration. In some cases, repeatedly recounting trauma without processing it may strengthen traumatic memory networks rather than transforming them.

Trauma work requires a therapist who can recognize when someone is becoming overwhelmed, emotionally shut down, or disconnected from the present moment. Trauma recovery involves developing new emotional, relational, and physiological experiences – not simply generating more words about painful events and receiving validation.

AI Will Tell You What You Want to Hear

Another concern is that AI is generally designed to be helpful, agreeable, and cooperative. While this usually improves user experience, it can reinforce existing beliefs rather than gently challenging them. Even when you ask AI not to only tell you what it thinks you want to hear, it will eventually revert back to doing so.

Therapists routinely ask difficult questions, notice inconsistencies, help clients recognize blind spots and carefully confront avoidance. Sometimes growth comes from hearing something that is uncomfortable, but necessary.

If every interaction with AI (or a therapist) simply confirms your current perspective, emotional growth will be limited.

Where AI Can Be Helpful

None of this means AI has no role in mental health or should be avoided completely. AI can be useful for many things including:

Learning about mental health conditions
Understanding therapy concepts
Practicing mindfulness exercises
Organizing thoughts before therapy
Journaling prompts
Psychoeducation
Identifying questions to ask a therapist
Reviewing coping skills between sessions
Summarizing notes after therapy (while protecting privacy)

Used this way, AI functions best as an educational assistant, not as a therapist. Though be sure to instruct AI to only get info from reputable sources, otherwise it will take any information from the internet (including teenagers’ reddit conversations) and present it to you as factual information.

AI is a Bad Therapist, but a Good Therapy Tool

While AI may provide comfort, information, or temporary reassurance, it cannot replace the depth of human connection, clinical judgment, emotional attunement, ethical responsibility, or relational healing that psychotherapy offers. In some situations, frequent reliance on AI for reassurance or emotional support may actually strengthen anxiety, OCD, PTSD, avoidance, or other mental health symptoms by reinforcing the patterns that keep those conditions alive.

It’s worth noting that these concerns aren’t even unique to AI. The same processes can occur with Google searches, Reddit forums, online mental health communities, well-meaning family members, or poorly trained therapists who provide endless reassurance while avoiding uncomfortable conversations or providing new corrective experiences. AI simply reinforces these patterns faster and in a way that is accessible at all times.

If you’re struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties, AI may be a helpful supplement for learning and personal growth, but it should not replace working with a qualified mental health professional.

About the Author:

Dr. Scott Giacomucci, DSW, LCSW, BCD, CGP, FAAETS, TEP (he, him, his) is the Director, Founder, & Owner of the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy. He provides clinical services at the center as well as supervision, consultation, training, and organizational leadership.

Dr. Scott just released his most recent book, Trauma-Focused Psychodrama: Experiential Therapy for Complex PTSD

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Doomscrolling and Trauma

July 29, 2025 / Chris Klem

By: Meryl Lammers, LSW, MT-BC

Doomscrolling, the compulsive and prolonged consumption of negative news online, can significantly impact mental health and potentially lead to vicarious trauma and re-traumatization, especially for individuals with a history of trauma. It can exacerbate existing mental health conditions like anxiety and stress, can trigger trauma responses, and lead to a cycle of negative emotions and behaviors.

Recognizing the potential dangers of doomscrolling and taking steps to break the habit is crucial for protecting one’s mental and emotional well-being. These effects for someone with a trauma history and doomscrolling may include:

Triggering Memories: Negative news and images can trigger traumatic memories, causing flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety.
Hypervigilance: Doomscrolling can increase hypervigilance, making individuals more sensitive to perceived threats and potential dangers in their environment.
Difficulty Regulating Emotions: Individuals with trauma may struggle to regulate their emotions, and doomscrolling can further exacerbate this difficulty.
Seeking Control: Some individuals with trauma may engage in doomscrolling as a way to feel in control of a chaotic world, even if it means focusing on worst-case scenarios.
Re-traumatization: Individuals with a history of trauma, especially complex trauma, may be more susceptible to re-traumatization through doomscrolling.
Numbing and Avoidance: Doomscrolling may be a manifestation of the PTSD symptoms of avoidance and numbing if it is used to dissociate or avoid life, relationships, or feelings.

Doomscrolling and the Brain: Why Can’t I Stop?

Political upheaval at home and abroad can create a sense of lack of safety. Many of us turn to coping mechanisms to soothe our anxieties, yet some may be more detrimental than others. Maybe you have tried to reduce or stop your screen time, but you’re having a hard time putting the phone down. You may be wondering, “Am I addicted? Do I like to be punished? Why can’t I stop?” Maybe you fear missing out on the latest news or feel a sense of control if you are up to date, but you’re still noticing that you just feel worse off afterwards.

There are biological reasons for what you are feeling:

Altered Neural Pathways: Repeated exposure to negative information can strengthen neural pathways associated with fear and anxiety, making your brain more likely to trigger these responses in the future.
Increased Amygdala Activity: The amygdala, which processes emotions like fear and anxiety, can become overactive during doomscrolling, making you more sensitive to stress and negative emotions.
Impaired Prefrontal Cortex Function: The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, can be negatively impacted by chronic stress and anxiety from doomscrolling, potentially affecting your ability to regulate emotions and think rationally.
Reduced Attention Span: Constant exposure to short, attention-grabbing content can make it harder to focus on complex tasks, such as reading or engaging in deep conversations.
Erosion of Critical Thinking: Doomscrolling can hinder your ability to think critically and evaluate information, especially with the prevalence of misinformation online.
Emotional Fatigue: Constant exposure to distressing news can lead to emotional exhaustion and a feeling of helplessness.

Doomscrolling’s Impact on Mental Health

Even if you don’t have a history of trauma, the negative impacts of doomscrolling are plentiful. Doomscrolling can amplify negative emotions, leading to increased anxiety, sadness, and feelings of despair. Individuals with pre-existing anxiety or depression may find their symptoms worsen with excessive exposure to negative news. Doomscrolling exposes individuals to distressing events, even if they are not directly involved. This can lead to vicarious trauma, where individuals experience psychological effects like those who experienced the trauma firsthand. Doomscrolling can also manifest in physical symptoms, such as headaches, muscle tension, elevated blood pressure, and sleep disturbances.

Breaking the Doomscrolling Habit

Some suggestions for ways to break the habit of doomscrolling include noticing how you feel after spending time on social media, setting time limits on social media and news consumption, curate your feed to follow accounts that provide positive and uplifting content, find activities that help you disconnect from your phone and engage with the real world, and seek professional help if you are struggling with the effects of doomscrolling, especially if you have a history of trauma.

If you are noticing that doomscrolling is triggering your past traumatic experiences and you are experiencing flashbacks, hopelessness, heightened anxiety or depression, or nightmares, experiential trauma therapy can help. Call the Phoenix Center today to schedule with one of our trained trauma therapists. You don’t have to navigate your experiences alone. We are here to help!

Meryl Lammers Trauma Therapist, Delaware County PA

Written by: Meryl Lammers, LSW, MT-BC

About Meryl Lammers

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In-Person and Virtual Trauma Therapy: Pros and Cons

October 29, 2024 / sgiacomucci

by Sarah Jayne Oltz, MS, NCC, CTP

Trauma therapy is a deeply personal healing process that requires careful consideration of how therapy is delivered. Today, there are two main formats for therapy: in-person and virtual. Both have distinct advantages and potential drawbacks, particularly for trauma therapy. Below is an exploration of the pros and cons of each option to help you decide which format may work best for you or your clients.

In-Person Trauma Therapy

Pros

Deeper Human Connection
In-person sessions foster a stronger sense of connection and presence. Non-verbal cues like body language, eye contact, and even physical proximity can enhance the therapeutic bond and process, which is essential for healing trauma. The sense of safety and trust can be more immediate and tangible in a physical space with a therapist.
Fewer Technological Barriers
There’s no need to worry about Wi-Fi interruptions, audio lag, or technical difficulties that could disrupt the flow of an important session. This can be crucial when dealing with sensitive or traumatic material, where breaks in connection could impact the therapeutic process.
More Grounding and Experiential Support
Many trauma therapists incorporate grounding techniques and sensory experiences into their practice. In-person sessions allow therapists to use physical objects and other tools that can help clients regulate their emotions and process more effectively.
Safe Space
In-person therapy provides a controlled, safe environment where clients can express and process intense emotions without distractions from the outside world. Being in a designated therapeutic space can also help clients create a mental separation between therapy and their daily life.

Cons

Limited Accessibility
In-person therapy can be less accessible for clients who have physical disabilities, live in remote areas, or have busy schedules.
Cost and Travel Time
In-person therapy often requires additional expenses, such as transportation and time off work, which can add stress to an already emotionally taxing process. Commute times can also make regular attendance challenging.
Unfamiliar Space
For some trauma survivors, being in a new or unfamiliar physical space can trigger anxiety or a sense of overwhelm. Some individuals may feel more safe in their own space, especially in the early stages of therapy when trust is still being built.

Offering Trauma Therapy at the Phoenix Center in Media, PA or Online!
484-440-9416 | Support@PhoenixTraumaCenter.com

Virtual Trauma Therapy

Pros

Convenience and Accessibility
Virtual therapy can be especially helpful for individuals with physical limitations, those who live in areas with limited mental health resources, or those juggling work and family commitments.
Scheduling Flexibility
Virtual therapy often offers more flexibility in terms of scheduling since the client does not need to account for travel time. This can lead to more consistent attendance, which is crucial for trauma recovery.
Comfort in a Familiar Space
For some clients, particularly trauma survivors, being in a familiar environment can feel safer. Virtual therapy allows clients to engage in therapeutic work while remaining in the comfort of their own space, which may help reduce anxiety and facilitate openness.
Sense of Anonymity
Some clients may feel more comfortable with virtual therapy because it offers a sense of anonymity. They may find it easier to disclose sensitive or painful experiences without the added pressure of being physically present in a therapist’s office.

Cons

Technology Issues
While virtual therapy is convenient, it also relies heavily on technology. Poor internet connections, software glitches, or interruptions can disrupt the flow of a session. This can be particularly problematic in trauma therapy, where the therapeutic alliance and sense of safety are critical.
Limited Non-Verbal Communication
Much of the subtle communication that happens in therapy comes from body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues. Virtual therapy may limit the therapist’s ability to pick up on these cues, which could affect the depth of the therapeutic relationship.
Difficulty in Creating a Therapeutic Environment
Not everyone has a private, quiet space to engage in therapy at home. Distractions like family members, noise, or pets can make it harder to focus, reducing the effectiveness of the session. Some clients may also struggle with boundaries, finding it difficult to fully “enter” therapy mode when they are in a home setting.
Licensing Restrictions on Virtual Therapy
Most state licensing boards only permit therapists to engage in telehealth sessions with a client who is physically located in the state the therapist is licensed in at the time of the session. This can be very limiting for clients who are traveling out of state.
Therapists’ Lack of Training Providing Therapy Online
Most therapists have no training on providing therapy remotely, especially if they completed their schooling or training before the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
Therapists’ Limited Familiarity with Local Services
One of the risks of engaging in telehealth is that your therapist may not be familiar with mental health service providers in your area, especially if your therapist’s office is far away from your home. In the case of an emergency or the need for a referral to a more intensive level of care, your therapist may not have direct experience or knowledge of programs in your town.

Which is Right for You?

The choice between in-person and virtual trauma therapy ultimately depends on your personal preferences, circumstances, and therapeutic needs. Both formats can be effective, but it’s essential to consider what environment will make you feel most comfortable, supported, and safe.

If you value the immediate connection and presence of face-to-face interactions and have access to a therapist nearby, in-person therapy may be the best fit. On the other hand, if you need more flexibility and comfort or live in an area with limited mental health resources, virtual therapy might provide the support you need with fewer barriers. Sometimes, a hybrid model—where sessions alternate between in-person and virtual—can offer the best of both worlds. Many times, we have found success in starting sessions in-person to build a strong connection between therapist and client, and switching sessions to online after a strong bond has been established.

We often will recommend meeting in-person if there are particular sessions when we plan to engage in trauma processing of core memories (sometimes these are scheduled for longer than an hour). Being in person with your therapist allows your therapist to better assess where you are in the process (especially through non-verbal cues such as complexion changes, voice tone, body language, posture, etc.), which will better allow your therapist to provide safe and effective trauma processing.

Trauma therapy is rooted in safety and autonomy, and the setting that fosters your personal growth and comfort will always be the right choice. Don’t be afraid to experiment with both formats to find what works best for you. Contact the Phoenix Center today to get started with one of our trauma therapists in-person or virtually.

Offering Trauma Therapy at the Phoenix Center in Media, PA or Online!
484-440-9416 | Support@PhoenixTraumaCenter.com

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Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy

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Based on 50 reviews

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2 months ago

I had an incredibly disappointing and deeply concerning experience at the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy in February 2026. As a mental health advocate who was a lead group participant in this director's early work back at Mirmont in 2018, I returned to his clinic eight years later as a long-time success story with continuous sobriety. Unfortunately, the clinical care I received this time was completely mismanaged.

I was placed with an intern for only four sessions before my care was abruptly terminated with zero explanation or proper transition plan, raising serious ethical concerns regarding patient abandonment. Upon paying an additional $118.61 out of pocket just to access my own records, I discovered that a significant portion of the files left by the intern consisted of complete fabrications that painted an entirely false, inaccurate picture of my reality. Worse, during my final session, external medical information and a completely false psychiatric history were brought up that I never disclosed to anyone at this practice. Because I never signed a Release of Information (ROI), this points to a severe breach of confidentiality, potential HIPAA violations, and a total failure in accurate record-keeping.

It is profoundly disheartening that my care was fabricated and discarded in February 2026, right as the director was releasing his latest 2026 textbook on treating Complex PTSD. While the practice profits heavily off marketing trauma care and ethical standards, their actual real-world execution completely contradicts basic clinical ethics. Speaking from my own lived experience, I am deeply concerned about how they might treat someone in a more vulnerable situation who doesn’t have the resources to advocate for themselves. Be incredibly cautious before trusting your care or your permanent files to this clinic.

Charles Roberts

I just completed my first professional training with Dr. Scott Giacomucci, and I am awestruck. This training was so personally and professionally impactful. Scott creates so much safety. Even though he is one of the leading experts in trauma treatment and psychodrama, he leads with kindness, humility, respect and welcome. I cannot wait to be back for my next experience.

Rich Arnold

6 months ago

I honestly don’t know where to start. I started seeing Lincoln Blackwell a few months after my dad passed. Lincoln spent a few sessions with me getting to know my back ground and building trust. Over the following months the work I did with Lincoln addressed everything from grief to trauma using a variety of approaches and I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt I don’t know where I would be without him. I’ve never felt more listened to or safer to discuss and work through the things that had me tied up for decades. I can honestly say I trust him with my life(which is a huge deal because I didn’t trust anyone when I started). I can not recommend this practice enough. My time here has improved my life in real, measurable ways and given me a new perspective on grief and loss. Seeing the therapists here is the greatest gift you could give yourself and your loved ones.

Kelsey Laird

9 months ago

I recently completed a 5-day Psychodrama Directing Intensive with Center Director Dr. Scott Giacomucci, and the experience exceeded every expectation. Scott is deeply knowledgeable, highly attuned, and clearly committed to serving underserved communities. He brings skill and heart to his work as a trainer, teacher, clinician, and social advocate. I’m already looking forward to training with him again.

CMS

1 year ago

I've attended quite a few of your webinars. They have been informative and I have learned quite a bit in 1 hr webinars. The diverse topics have allowed me to stretch myself a bit and have more compassion and understanding. I highly recommend!!!

Ed Teach Crow

My experience with Phoenix Center and their practitioners have been life changing- I truly encourage anyone suffering from complex trauma to seek out their services. They have been endlessly compassionate, affirming, and have given me the tools to turn my life around

Alyssa Amabile

I had a great experience with Denise Chain. She is professional and made me feel very comfortable. Denise helped me to process heavy childhood trauma using EMDR. I’m confident that I’ll be able to better cope with triggers related to that trauma. I highly recommend The Phoenix Center and Denise. I’d give 10 stars if I could!!

John R

Carolyn Smith is probably one of the best therapists I've ever had, and we've only done one session.

Mark Jordan

I have had experience with therapy several times over my life, but when my wife passed, I needed help more than ever before. I found that help, and more, in the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma. They helped me so much in getting through that trauma, but they also have been instrumental in moving forward in my new life as I put all the pieces back together in a new and different way. I don't hesitate to recommend the team at the Phoenix Center for even a moment. They are wonderful!

Marita Walker

At the lowest point in my life I reached out to several places but no one accepted my insurance or had waiting lists. I was referred to Phoenix for counseling for my PTSD. I have had 2 wonderful intern counselors thus far who have had their own individual styles of counseling; they both have kindness, compassion, and helpfulness in common.

1st, I'm thankful for a practice thst offers sliding scale pricing.

2nd, Im thankful to have professionals that understand my individuality while teaching me very useful technics to help myself in daily life.

A humble thank you to your practice for sharing my 2 therapist Alex and Kennesha. I will never forget how they helped start my path from survival mood to actually starting to live after years of trauma. 😊

Bri Wuenschel

My experience at The Phoenix Center has been nothing but positive. The treatment practices are effective and rewarding to its patients. I am so glad I chose to take part in what Phoenix has offer in my therapy. The atmosphere is relaxed and nurturing and Drew Weinstein has worked so hard to build to my complete trust in each session. I am so satisfied with my time at the Phoenix Center.

Sam Miller

2 years ago

The work I’ve been able to engage in at the Phoenix Center has significantly improved my life. I highly recommend the amazing clinicians here to colleagues, friends, and clients! Having access to a space where I can foster personal and professional development has given me new insight and courage to be my authentic self. Thank you!!

Gina Morrison

Denise is the greatest. This office is awesome! Such a great experience getting the help I need here!

Shadiqua Snipe

Clara Mccauley

Lavonda Lockley

Love the staff here! Everyone here is skilled and knowledgeable to support clients through their journey.

Anjoli Santiago

I took the weekly in-person women's group with Danielle, exploring creative expressive arts for post-traumatic growth. As an artist, it took me time to fully understand how sacred this space was for healing and not performing.

My evolution in healing is in great part because of Danielle's facilitation style and the supportive community in the room each week. We were all on this journey together.

I fully understand the potential for creative practices within oneself and in communion with communities. I am grateful to Danielle and the Phoenix Center for working with me in my full humanity, including providing a sliding scale offering.

Sarah Fish

Dr Scott has helped me find the strength in me to be the best psychodramatist I can be for my clients and community!

He heals and guides the healers with respect, honesty, and humility!

I look forward to returning to do some more training and workshops!

Bryn Ruggiero

My experience with the Phoenix Center has been exceptional. The quality of their clinicians and trainings are top notch. Highly recommend!

Justin King

There simply are no words to explain my gratitude and appreciation for the Phoenix Center for Experimental Trauma Therapy. For the first time, I was understood deeply and therefore able to recognize that the path forward required me to be the author of the narrative of the past. Trauma, when understood properly, CAN be transformed into a beautiful future!

Mary Harris

I can’t say enough about the workshops and training programs offered by Dr Giacomucci and the Phoenix Center. I am 33 years into my career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I have attended many trainings over the years to expand my clinical skills repertoire. The level of expertise and care put into each of the workshops I have attended at the Phoenix center has been top-notch—from the highly trained facilitators to the welcoming and comfortable facilities, everything is done with such quality. I also love the location, as Media has great places to grab lunch with a new colleague and window shop. I leave every time feeling confident and empowered to put the new things I’ve learned to work right away with current clients I’ve been feeling stuck with. I highly recommend the continuing education offerings of this very professional, cutting edge clinical training center. I also don’t hesitate to refer clients there for trauma treatment, as these folks really do have a level of expertise that I tend to refer out for.

S. Kelly

Started by Scott Giacomucci, a brilliant, modest and highly ethical trauma treatment specialist. I would trust anyone in this practice because I trust Scott's judgment and high standards implicitly.

Alec Addleton

3 years ago

I attended a training at The Phoenix Center that Dr. Giacomucci facilitated. I found the experience to exceed my already high expectations in all domains. I received useful, helpful, rich information that encouraged further learning and development. I experienced the leadership and facilitation as professional, respectful, flexible, inclusive, and refreshing. I intend and hope to continue personal and professional growth with the Phoenix Center in the future and confidently recommend it.

Amy Hetrick

5 years ago

The strengths-based psychodrama workshop was an incredible experience. Scott is a skilled educator and facilitator. I look forward to applying what I learned in my practice!

Steve Killelea

Dr Scott regularly conducts Trauma training sessions for our staff at the Manor of Hope. To say he is the best at what he does is an understatement. He is a total professional take difficult information and simplify it so it is easy for everyone to understand. An accomplished Author, lecturer, professor and the CEO of an amazing group of talented professionals at the Phoenix Trauma Center. Scott and his team will never let you down. He has my unqualified recommendation

Spilove Psychotherapy

7 years ago

Scott is a prodigy at trauma work and especially psychodrama and experiential therapy. He has put together a wonderful center to participate in important, symptom reducing experiences. I often send my own clients to Scott for important experiential work that impacts the brain so that they can experience success.

Karen M

The Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy is a must for anyone who needs to recover from trauma. Dr Giacomucci has created a center where the best of trauma focused techniques are used to get results in healing. Scott is a talented teacher and clinician and has recruited talented clinicians to provide stellar service. Highly recommended!!

Maria Sotomayor

Great and ethical practice. I have been to Scott’s trainings many times and have learned tremendous information and tools. Staff at Phoenix center are welcoming, professional and experienced. Will highly recommend for clients and for professional development growth.