Story & Lesson Highlights with Beth Freese of Central Phoenix

We recently had the chance to connect with Beth Freese and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, my biggest source of joy has been preparing for our first baby. My husband and I are expecting in December, and this season has been such a meaningful mix of anticipation, nesting, and slowing down to savor what’s ahead. It’s brought a lot of sweetness into our everyday life — from setting up the nursery to imagining what life will feel like once he’s here.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Beth Freese, a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner of Evolve Therapy in Phoenix, Arizona. I specialize in deep, nervous-system–based trauma therapy, particularly modalities like Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), and somatic approaches. My practice focuses on high-achieving adults, professionals, and caregivers who are tired of just coping and want real, lasting change. I also offer therapy intensives for when 50 minutes isn’t enough, and business coaching for other clinicians building private practices. What makes my work unique is the blend of neuroscience, trauma-informed depth work, and a warm, grounded approach that helps people move from survival mode into a life that actually feels like their own.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Misattunement is one of the quiet ways relationships start to fray.
In simple terms, misattunement happens when two people just miss each other emotionally — when one person needed comfort, closeness, understanding, or presence, and the other person didn’t quite land it. It isn’t usually dramatic; it’s the everyday moments of “I didn’t feel seen,” “you weren’t really with me,” or “that response didn’t match what I needed.” Over time, those small misses can create distance, tension, and hurt.

What repairs that disconnection is attunement — the act of truly tuning in.
Attunement is when someone responds to you with presence, warmth, and curiosity. It’s the feeling of “you get me,” “you’re here,” or “you’re trying to understand what I’m experiencing.” It doesn’t require perfection; it requires noticing, slowing down, and reconnecting. Even a simple moment of, “Hey, I think I missed you earlier — can we try that again?” can begin rebuilding trust.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most has been caring too much about what other people think.
It’s a quiet fear that can shape so many choices — how you show up, what risks you take, what you say yes or no to. For me, it often looked like over-functioning, perfectionism, and trying to be the “easy” or “pleasant” version of myself so no one would be disappointed.

The truth is, caring about others is human — but organizing your life around approval is exhausting. It keeps you small. It makes you second-guess your intuition. And it slows down the parts of you that want to be bold, creative, or fully expressed.
Stepping out of that fear has been a practice of coming home to myself — trusting my own voice, letting people have their opinions, and building a life that feels aligned rather than curated. I’m still human, so the pull is there sometimes, but it no longer gets to drive the car.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me is authenticity, meaningful connection, and helping people feel safe to be themselves. They’d say I care deeply about doing things with intention — whether it’s my work, my relationships, or building a life that feels aligned.
They’d also tell you I’m fiercely loyal and that I pour a lot of heart into the people I love. And right now, they’d absolutely say that family and preparing for our first baby are at the center of what matters to me.
At my core, I think they’d say I value growth, safety, integrity, and creating spaces — personally and professionally — where people can breathe, soften, and feel like they truly belong.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m at home with my husband and our dog, usually curled up with a good book.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.evolvephx.com
• Instagram: evolvephx
• Facebook: evolvephx

Image Credits
kayla koch