RACHEL FLOYD, LAC
An Attachment-Based, Experiential Approach to Therapy
How I understand the work.
I don’t believe people are problems to be solved. The ways we protect ourselves, relate to others, and make sense of ourselves were shaped by the relationships we’ve known, the experiences we’ve lived through, and what we have come to expect from ourselves and others.
Over time, these ways of being can become so familiar they begin to feel like who we are. Therapy gives us a place to become curious about them. Together, we pay attention to what is happening in the present while making sense of the experiences that shaped us and how they continue to influence the way we relate to ourselves and others.
My work is attachment-based and experiential. I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gestalt therapy, EMDR, and psychodynamic perspectives. Across these approaches, I am interested in how experience becomes organized, what happens when our sense of security is threatened, and how new experiences can expand what feels possible.
Change starts with awareness.
Rather than pushing for quick fixes, we slow down and notice what is present. Thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and relational patterns all offer important information when we give them space to come into focus
Therapy is a relational process.
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Our work is collaborative and grounded in real contact, emotional presence, and a therapeutic relationship that supports safety, curiosity, and meaningful change.
Emotion leads the way.
Emotions help us understand what matters, what feels threatened, and what we need. Rather than moving past difficult feelings, we stay with them long enough to understand their meaning and how they shape the way we respond.
Why Figure & Ground.
Figure and ground is a concept from Gestalt psychology that describes how some experiences come into focus while others fade into the background. In therapy, this means attending to what feels most present and meaningful, and understanding it within the context of relationship and lived experience.
Working with me.
I am an active, thoughtful presence in the room. I ask questions. I notice patterns that emerge between past and present, thoughts and emotions, or between what is said and what seems more difficult to put into words. When something feels meaningful, we stay with it rather than rushing past it.
Some sessions are quiet and reflective. Others are deeply emotional. Sometimes we make sense of longstanding patterns. Other times we simply remain present with an experience that has never before had room to exist.
I don’t believe therapy is about fixing people. I believe it is about creating enough safety, curiosity, and honesty that something new becomes possible. I think one of our deepest human longings is to be known. Not simply understood intellectually, but encountered in a way that allows us to recognize ourselves more clearly. My hope is that therapy becomes a place where those parts of yourself can emerge without needing to be defended against or hidden away.
The Space.
Sessions are available in person in Scottsdale, Arizona, and via secure telehealth throughout the state.
Professional Training.
I am a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in Arizona, and I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a credential awarded by the National Board for Certified Counselors recognizing national standards for education, training, and clinical knowledge.
I have additional training in relational, experiential, and trauma-informed approaches to therapy, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
I have experience working with adults, couples, and teens around relationships, anxiety, identity, loss, trauma, and significant life changes. I am committed to ongoing consultation and continued training to deepen the quality of care I provide.