EMDR Therapy in Buckeye, AZ

Ask Us Anything

Healing That Helps You Get Unstuck

head-under

Every person grows and learns in different ways. To that point, every counselor or guide has their own techniques and exercises to help clients. Not every method is effective for everyone, but with the right guidance, you can defeat your inner demons and recapture your life. That's where Christy Maxey thrives.

Christy is a trauma EMDR coach dedicated to empowering people with the knowledge of true self-love. She aims to help men and women overcome negative self-talk and patterns and finally live the fulfilling life they deserve. Christy has a special focus on supporting women who experience anxiety, depression, lack of self-trust, people-pleasing, and feelings of inadequacy. Additionally, she's an expert in helping men who are navigating anger, stress, and relationship challenges.

Life Coach Buckeye, AZ

If you have received help from therapists and life coaches in the past but find yourself falling back into the same patterns as before, know that you're not alone. The simple truth could be that whatever problem you were trying to face was left unresolved.

Essentially, you cut the top of the weed, but you didn't pull out the entire root. In a sense, you put a band-aid on a serious wound when you needed more comprehensive, specialized treatment. Unlike many life coaches, Christy Maxey aims to solve the root cause of your mental and physical symptoms. By addressing the cause of your issues, you can reclaim your life and move forward without the baggage you've carried for so long. Take it from us - it's an incredible feeling!

Some of the most common problems that Christy helps solve for patients include:

  • Difficulty Dealing with the Emotional Content at the Center of Their Problems
  • A Lack of Resistance to and Awareness of "What Is"
  • Fear and Uncertainty About Making Changes
  • Fear of Getting Compassionate Help and Guidance
  • Believing False Narratives Associated with Past Traumas and Experiences

What is EMDR Therapy in Buckeye, AZ?

head-under

EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a technique that assists people in recovering from the effects of distressing life experiences, such as emotional distress and symptoms.

Created by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 as a treatment method for post-traumatic stress disorder, EMDR is an evidence-based treatment approach that provides both trauma-informed treatment and treatment protocol. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR employs bilateral stimulation to replicate the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase of sleep. In fact, EMDR treatments have shown that the mind can heal from psychological trauma faster than traditional talk therapy.

Traumatic events often lead to negative beliefs and emotions, such as shame, anger, and sadness. EMDR enables your brain to reprocess such events, promoting healing, well-being, and positivity in patients.

If you're wondering whether or not EMDR treatment from Christy Maxey might be a good choice for you and your family, ask yourself these questions:

  • Do You Feel Stuck in Your Life?
  • Do You Find Yourself Stuck Feeling the Same Types of Fear, Sadness, or Anxiety?
  • Have You Grown Accustomed to a Negative Inner Critic?
  • Do You Feel Stuck with Feelings of Shame from Past Mistakes or Traumas?
  • Are You Always Repeating the Same Patterns in Relationships? Too Nice, Too Accepting, Avoidant, Easy to Get Triggered, Etc.?
  • Is Your Brain Full of Self-Doubt and Harmful Self-Talk?
 Online Coaching Buckeye, AZ
 EMDR Buckeye, AZ

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

head-under

Once it's agreed that EMDR therapy is suitable for you, your initial sessions involve discussing your goals and enhancing your ability to cope with stress. In the following phases of EMDR therapy, you concentrate on a specific event or focus on a negative image, belief, emotion, or bodily sensation related to the event. You then focus on a positive belief indicating that the issue has been resolved.

While you're focused on the upsetting event, Christy begins sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps. After each set, you are guided to observe what comes to mind. Shifts in insight or changes in images, feelings, or beliefs about the event may occur. It should be noted that you can stop therapy at any moment if necessary. The sets of eye movements, sounds, or taps will be repeated until distress caused by the event decreases. EMDR therapy can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other forms of therapy offered through the Maxx Method.

To help paint you a picture of how EMDR therapy works, think of it like a cast for a broken bone. Unlike other forms of therapy, however, EMDR can be more uncomfortable than traditional treatments. It's important to be ready for possible emotional exhaustion afterward. To cope, you can create a relaxing playlist and plan some activities to unwind. Once the sessions are finished, take some time to recharge and decompress.

Who Should Use EMDR Therapy in Buckeye, AZ?

head-under

EMDR therapy is something anyone can benefit from. It's not only reserved for people with extreme experiences or traumas. Even mild cases of anxiety and depression can be treated by a trained EMDR coach like Christy Maxey. When you remember something that reminds you of a bad experience, your body might react like it's in danger, even if it's not. This is a normal reaction, but if it keeps happening, it can make you feel really stressed out. With EMDR, you can heal and learn new ways to cope without having to talk about exactly what happened. This can help you feel better and live your life without over-worrying and ruminating on negativity.

If you're one of the many people who have experienced lackluster results from one or more EMDR sessions, it's crucial that you do not give up hope. In fact, many men and women come to Christy Maxey having had poor EMDR experiences. Thankfully, they soon realize how impactful and fulfilling the therapy can be for trauma. That's especially true when combined with other therapies like Inner Child Healing and Guided Visualization. Of course, EMDR therapy in Buckeye, AZ, isn't the best choice for every patient - after all, every person is different and responds to therapies in different ways.

To truly discover if EMDR therapy is the right choice for your mind and body, contact Christy ASAP to schedule your initial consultation. That way, you and Christy can get to know each other better and discover the best ways to promote long-term healing and well-being. With that said, patients choose EMDR treatments for many reasons. Some of the most common reasons for using EMDR therapy include the following:

  • Panic Attacks and Anxiety
  • PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome)
  • Eating Disorders like Bulimia, Anorexia, and More
  • Trauma from Abuse and Violence
  • Abusive or Violent Relationships
  • Rest and Sleep Problems
  • Social Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Childhood Trauma and Abuse
  • Anger and Sadness
  • Fear of Speaking in Public
  • Betrayal and Grief
 Relationship Therapy Buckeye, AZ

The Life-Changing Benefits of EMDR Therapy

head-under

Though EMDR therapy is more popular than ever, many people are still unaware of its benefits and how life-changing the therapy can be for people who are stuck. If that sounds like you, keep these benefits in mind as you continue to research this amazing therapy choice.

Triumph Over Trauma

Triumph Over Trauma

Recovering from a traumatic experience can be extremely challenging, but EMDR therapy can provide a solution. Trauma can create triggers that make you feel like you're experiencing the event all over again. EMDR can help reorganize the thoughts, feelings, and experiences associated with the trauma so that you no longer feel controlled by it. While the effects of trauma may never completely disappear, EMDR can significantly reduce its impact on your life and enable you to live in the present without constantly reliving the past.

Enhance Your Mental Fortitude

Enhance Your Mental Fortitude

Achieving personal growth involves accepting one's identity, building self-esteem, and understanding the internal narratives that shape our daily experiences. EMDR and guided therapeutic processing can help create a peaceful, efficient, and confident setting for individuals to accept their past and move forward. This therapeutic process empowers individuals, providing them with the strength and courage to confront any obstacle that impedes their well-being.

Reshape Your Life

Reshape Your Life

During EMDR therapy sessions, traumatic events are broken down, enabling patients to gain a different perspective on negative events. This altered view can be as life-changing as the traumatic event itself, giving individuals greater control over how they adapt to the effects of trauma.

Overcome Circular Thinking

Overcome Circular Thinking

If you struggle with circular thinking patterns related to anxiety disorders, phobias, or generalized anxiety, EMDR therapy may be helpful. EMDR can assist you in overcoming these thought spirals by teaching you how to deal with your fears and worries without becoming overwhelmed by anxiety.

 Life Coaching Buckeye, AZ

Understanding the Phases of EMDR Therapy in Buckeye, AZ

head-under

According to the EMDR Institute, there are eight phases in traditional EMDR treatment:

The EMDR Institute has identified eight phases of EMDR therapy. These are:

  • History and Treatment Planning
  • Preparation
  • Assessment
  • Desensitization
  • Installation
  • Body scan
  • Closure
  • Reevaluation
History and Treatment Planning

History and Treatment Planning

During the initial stage of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Christy will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your medical and emotional history and create a treatment plan. This stage involves discussing the particular issue that led you to seek therapy. You'll also identify behaviors and symptoms associated with the issues you're facing. Based on this information, Christy will develop a personalized treatment plan that outlines the goals to be addressed using EMDR therapy in Buckeye, AZ:

  • The Traumas or Events Causing Issues
  • Present-Day Problems and Traumas Causing Distress
  • Healthy Behaviors and Skills Needed for Long-Term Well-Being
Preparation

Preparation

During this phase, Christy will explain the theory of EMDR, how it is applied, and what you can expect during and after treatment. Christy will then teach you several techniques for relaxation so that you have the tools to calm down in the event of emotional disturbance.

One of the biggest goals of this first phase is to establish trust between you and your EMDR coach. While you don't have to go into great detail about disturbing memories, if you don't trust your therapist, you may not accurately report what is felt and what changes you are or aren't experiencing. If your goal is to please the therapist and say you feel better when you really aren't, no therapy in the world will resolve your trauma.

Assessment

Assessment

In this phase, you will be prompted to access each target in a controlled manner so it can be effectively processed. Processing does not mean talking about it. From there, Christy identifies different parts of the target to be processed. The first step is for you to select a specific image or mental picture from the target event (identified during Phase One) that best represents the memory.

You then choose a positive statement that you would like to believe. The statement should have an internal sense of control, such as "I am valuable/lovable/a good person/in control" or "I can achieve success." In some cases, when the primary emotion is fear, such as after a natural disaster, the negative thought could be "I am in danger," and the positive thought could be "I am safe now." "I am in danger" is considered a negative thought because fear is no longer necessary, but it is still present in the nervous system. The positive thought should reflect what is appropriate in the present moment.

During this phase, you will also identify negative emotions like anger or fear and physical sensations that you associate with trauma.

Desensitization

Desensitization

This phase of EMDR therapy in Buckeye, AZ, hones in on the disturbing sensations and emotions associated with your trauma and the ways that you respond to it. In doing so, patients often resolve similar events as well. The goal of this phase is to use sounds, taps, or eye movements with shifting focus until your subjective disturbance levels are lowered.

Installation

Installation

The goal here is to concentrate on the positive belief that you have identified to replace your negative belief(s). For example, you may have suffered child abuse in your younger years and hold the negative belief that you are powerless. Christy will help strengthen and install positive cognitions that reinforce the fact that you are in control, not the negative thoughts and emotions keeping you stuck.

Body Scan

Body Scan

Research into EMDR sessions indicates that physical responses to unresolved thoughts are common. After your positive cognition is fortified and installed, Christy will ask that you bring the original target event to the forefront of your mind. If she notices any additional body tension, those physical sensations are reprocessed. If you do not have any body tension or symptoms present when your original target event is brought up, your EMDR session is considered successful.

Closure

Closure

Typical EMDR sessions end with closure and a debriefing on what you can expect between your current and subsequent EMDR sessions. If necessary, Christy will provide calming techniques that you can use outside of therapy. This part of the EMDR process ensures that you leave Christy's office feeling better than you did at the beginning of the session.

Reevaluation

Reevaluation

This phase gives Christy insight into any other treatment plans that may be necessary for your healing and well-being. Like any type of sound therapy, reevaluation is critical in determining the success of your EMDR treatment over a period of time.

Reshape Your Life with EMDR Therapy from Christy Maxey

head-under

Regardless of the events and trauma keeping you stuck, EMDR might be a viable solution for reclaiming your life. Christy Maxey provides patients with the safe space needed to do so. If you're ready to let go of past or present traumas and reclaim your love of life, EMDR therapy could be the first step on your healing journey. Contact our office today to learn more about the Maxx Method, EMDR therapy in Buckeye, AZ, EMDR online, and how Christy Maxey can help you defeat the inner demons holding you back.

Free Consultation

Latest News in Buckeye, AZ

1.2 million-square-foot Southern Industrial Center completed in Buckeye

JLL announced today that Parklane Development Group and Miramar Industrial Partners have completed Southern Industrial Center, an award-winning, 1.2 million-square-foot, speculative Class A industrial project located at the southeast corner of Southern Avenue and Apache Road in Buckeye, Arizona.Marc Hertzberg, John Lydon and Kelly Royle from the Phoenix Office of JLL are the project’s exclusive leasing brokers. Graycor Construction Com...

JLL announced today that Parklane Development Group and Miramar Industrial Partners have completed Southern Industrial Center, an award-winning, 1.2 million-square-foot, speculative Class A industrial project located at the southeast corner of Southern Avenue and Apache Road in Buckeye, Arizona.

Marc Hertzberg, John Lydon and Kelly Royle from the Phoenix Office of JLL are the project’s exclusive leasing brokers. Graycor Construction Company served as the project’s design-build partner and Ware Malcomb is the project architect. Development partners include DWS and Westpine Partners (along with original co-developer, Contour). Bank OZK is the construction lender for the project.

“Southern Industrial Center is a reflection of our highly collaborative development, construction and leasing teams,” said Parklane Development Group Chief Executive Officer Ted Fentin. “This project aligns well with market and industry trends. It also sits within a strong labor market, with well-positioned access to regional and interstate highways. It will make the right tenant a very successful home.”

Totalling 1.2 million square feet in a single warehouse and logistics facility, Southern Industrial Center features 40-foot clear height, 202 sectional overhead dock doors, four drive-through dock doors, reinforced speed bays and parking for 914 autos and 250 trailers.

“Southern Industrial Center was designed uniquely for e-commerce, warehouse and logistics tenants seeking space in one of the fastest growing cities – and industrial markets – in the U.S.,” said Royle. “Now completed, it gives interested tenants a tremendous speed-to-occupancy advantage in a metro market that year-to-date has recorded 13 million square feet of leasing activity.”

Winner of the WESTMARC 2023 Best of the West award, Southern Industrial Center is located near the geographic center of Buckeye, which is consistently ranked by the U.S. Census Bureau as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The project offers direct accessibility to Arizona State Route 85 and Interstate 10, placing it within a day’s drive to Southern California’s ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

To reduce the overall carbon footprint, Graycor fabricated the project’s precast panels on site from locally sourced concrete suppliers, incorporated highly reflective TPO roof systems and installed desert landscaping with intelligent irrigation controls. Clerestory windows maximize interior natural light and reduce energy consumption, and shade canopies help to reduce heat gain in the interior environment.

In Phoenix, JLL is a market leader employing more than 527 of the region’s most recognized industry experts offering office, industrial, retail, healthcare and data center brokerage, tenant representation, facility and investment management, capital markets, multifamily investments and development services, and related services within the real estate leasing, investment and management process. In 2022, the Phoenix team completed almost 115 million square feet in lease and sale transactions, with a total transaction volume of more than $11.4 million, and directed $180 million in project management.

Fire crews get large fire at Phoenix recycling plant under control

PHOENIX — A fire at a recycling plant in downtown Phoenix near 7th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road is now under control and crews are beginning to clear the scene, Phoenix fire officials said. Dark clouds of smoke were visible in the sky throughout the Valley.Crews with the Phoenix Fire Department were called to the fire in the three-story building around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. 50 fire vehicles and 70 firefighters battled the fire, officials said.The Phoenix Fire Department said the cause of the fire is under investigation...

PHOENIX — A fire at a recycling plant in downtown Phoenix near 7th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road is now under control and crews are beginning to clear the scene, Phoenix fire officials said. Dark clouds of smoke were visible in the sky throughout the Valley.

Crews with the Phoenix Fire Department were called to the fire in the three-story building around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. 50 fire vehicles and 70 firefighters battled the fire, officials said.

The Phoenix Fire Department said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire was a three-alarm fire, Phoenix fire officials said. A third alarm fire refers to the classification of the size of the fire and the resources required to fight it.

Multiple roads were closed while crews battled the blaze.

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."

Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.

Up to Speed

Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.

Buckeye City Council discusses plans for a new City Hall

The Buckeye City Council is talking about a potential new City Hall.The topic was discussed during the workshop ahead of the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday evening. It's a discussion that is only kicking off and will likely continue in the coming years, said Deputy City Manager Dave Roderique. That's because the city's two primary office locations — City Hall and Sundance Crossings — are almost completely full are almost completely full and will need to make room for more staff.The city's sta...

The Buckeye City Council is talking about a potential new City Hall.

The topic was discussed during the workshop ahead of the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday evening. It's a discussion that is only kicking off and will likely continue in the coming years, said Deputy City Manager Dave Roderique. That's because the city's two primary office locations — City Hall and Sundance Crossings — are almost completely full are almost completely full and will need to make room for more staff.

The city's staff nearly doubled in the past 10 years from about 420 to 800. Early next year, 130 employees will be moved into a new building with room for 220 people on Verrado Way and Roosevelt Street.

But that will only temporarily alleviate the problem for the next 5 to 7 years, and the city's workforce is expected to continue to grow, Roderique said. That means the city needs to address whether it wants to construct a new City Hall and whether it wants a single facility or multiple locations.

Several options are currently being considered to permanently alleviate the issue. While building a new City Hall is one of them, the city could redesign its current facilities to maximize the existing space. But that tends to be expensive and is estimated to cost about $4.5 million for the current building, Roderique said.

Other options include leasing additional spaces or building specialized facilities, such as a separate building for public safety. The city could also switch to more remote work schedules or potentially expand the current City Hall building, which would likely be very expensive.

"Those all appear to be short-term, kind of Band-Aid solutions. The long-term solution, we believe, would be to build a new City Hall complex," Roderique said.

Councilmember Jeanine Guy said she is in favor of leaving the downtown area but questioned how much residents may want to prioritize a new City Hall when the city has other infrastructure concerns. Councilmember Patrick HagEstad said he would like to see a new City Hall that is more centrally located and easier for all residents to get to.

Councilmember Clay Goodman said the fact that the City Hall will be the first impression for interested developers should be factored into the decision. The City Hall should also be located outside of the downtown area for convenience, Goodman said.

Learn more about AZ cities and Buckeye:Phoenix-area mayors share their city secrets. Check out these 5 hidden gems

Vice Mayor Michelle Hess said she likes the idea of a sort of hybrid, where there would be one centralized location for the City Council and smaller satellite locations for basic services such as paying bills. Mayor Eric Orsborn said that, in terms of a location, he thinks the main one should be somewhere along the Interstate 10 corridor because it would offer visibility and offer similar transportation to residents who are far north and far south. Some of the council members suggested a spot between Miller Road and Sun Valley Parkway.

When asked whether the city should start the process now or consider other short-term solutions, Councilmember Craig Heustis said the process probably should have been started five years ago. The project is only in its beginning stages, meaning it could take another five years to complete, Heustis said.

And the longer the city waits, the less land is going to be available, making the short-term step of acquiring the site a very important next step, Roderique said.

There's also the option of developing the new City Hall as a part of a public-private partnership, similar to how Goodyear is developing its GSQ area downtown. Councilmember Tony Youngker said that, while he wants to make sure the area isn't only trendy for the moment and will be functional in the coming decades, it would be nice to have something else in the area, such as museums or parks.

Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.

Buckeye nixed 6,000 homes — but that's not necessarily good news for water

Opinion: Policy changes may have cut off a ton of homebuilding, but that doesn't mean the land will remain vacant — or use less groundwater.Tartesso, a giant development taking shape in Buckeye, has nixed more than 6,000 housing units from its plans.Its developers recently got the city’s green light to...

Opinion: Policy changes may have cut off a ton of homebuilding, but that doesn't mean the land will remain vacant — or use less groundwater.

Tartesso, a giant development taking shape in Buckeye, has nixed more than 6,000 housing units from its plans.

Its developers recently got the city’s green light to convert 1,280 acres from future residential to commercial uses.

As The Arizona Republic’s Alexandra Hardle reports, that could pave the way for “anything from offices to health care facilities to restaurants.”

It also could include light industrial uses, though heavy manufacturing would be forbidden.

Water rules are set up for housing

That might sound like great news.

Fewer people, less water use, right?

Not necessarily.

Arizona’s Assured Water Supply Program was created decades ago to ensure that new users have secured enough water for the long haul, before they build.

But it operates on the premise that housing — particularly that in subdivisions — is the primary driver of growth.

That’s changing.

With housing paused, growth is changing

Yes, metro Phoenix still has major pent-up demand for housing.

But it also is now a top market nationwide for industrial development, particularly now that TSMC is building a giant semiconductor plant in north Phoenix.

Companies that require big swaths of undeveloped land are being funneled to the outskirts, where there is still room to build.

Yet unlike metro Phoenix’s other more built-out cities, areas like Buckeye have not earned an assured water supply designation — meaning they have not proven that they have enough water to support existing and future users for the long haul.

Meanwhile, it’s gotten a lot harder to plan a subdivision in these undesignated areas, after a groundwater model earlier this year found unmet demand and the state said that they could no longer build on those non-renewable supplies.

Other uses could still build on groundwater

It’s no wonder that developers were eager to nix some of Tartesso’s future housing space and pursue other uses instead.

They need to make money. Plus, there’s a market for other uses.

And make no mistake: If Tartesso manages to trade 6,000 homes for jobs and services, elected leaders would be loudly touting that investment, not questioning its water use.

Think again:Most subdivisions are not growing on groundwater

But there is a tradeoff here.

Had those homes materialized under the old rules, they would have been required to prove they had enough water for the long haul.

They also would have likely joined a district that replenishes the groundwater they use, albeit not necessarily from where it’s pumped.

Because, again, those homes would have been built in subdivisions, and subdivisions are what drive the provisions in the Assured Water Supply Program.

It's time to level the playing field

If other uses take their place outside a subdivision in undesignated areas like Buckeye, they could still potentially build on groundwater, without having to prove the strength of their supplies or ever having to replenish what they withdraw.

And that could come back to bite us. Hard.

Growth may be changing but the rules have not, squeezing one part of the industry while others continue unchecked.

No policy change will completely halt construction, even if some readers wish it would. To paraphrase “Jurassic Park,” growth will find a way.

But it’s in our best interest to ensure all uses — be it a for-sale home in a subdivision or a data center on a single lot — prove they have enough water to sustain their presence over time.

Tartesso is just the latest case in point.

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @joannaallhands.

If you love this content (or love to hate it – hey, I won't judge), why not subscribe to get more?

'That was the deal breaker': California couple halts move to Arizona over water woes

The couple put down $30,000 to secure what they thought was their dream home, but backed out due to concerns about the house's water supply.BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Pete and Judy Dorazio thought they'd found their dream retirement home.The couple lives in California, but with the area becoming more and more expensive, they wanted to move to a place where their money would stretch further.The Dorazios thought they found it in Sun City Festival, on the North end of Buckeye, Arizona.While visiting friends who lived the...

The couple put down $30,000 to secure what they thought was their dream home, but backed out due to concerns about the house's water supply.

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Pete and Judy Dorazio thought they'd found their dream retirement home.

The couple lives in California, but with the area becoming more and more expensive, they wanted to move to a place where their money would stretch further.

The Dorazios thought they found it in Sun City Festival, on the North end of Buckeye, Arizona.

While visiting friends who lived there, the Dorazios came across a move-in ready home for sale on the golf course. It was almost perfect, they said.

They put down $30,000 to secure it.

But Pete Dorazio spoke with 12News from California, not from his new dream home in Arizona — because the Dorazios never bought their dream home.

“I started researching and doing more and more research and finding out more and more," Pete said. "There really is an issue out here."

Pete found a 12News story about groundwater in the West Valley. At the beginning of 2023, Governor Katie Hobbs released a report on the groundwater availability in a part of the West Valley. The state's analysis showed that all the available groundwater in that area had been spoken for.

In some urban parts of Arizona, new homes must prove that they have access to 100 years of water. But in most cases, that water is groundwater.

After the release of the state's new report, state officials stopped issuing those 100 year water certifications based on groundwater availability.

If builders want to develop on that land, they would have to find water from somewhere else other than the ground.

"That was the deal breaker," Pete said.

The Dorazios backed out of their deal, ultimately forfeiting their $30,000 deposit.

Even though the home was built and guaranteed to have a 100 year supply of water by the city of Buckeye and the builders, the Dorazios were not convinced.

The Dorazios are concerned about what happens after those 100 years and what happens if the measurements are wrong.

"We could be left with a piece of real estate that there's no water for," Pete said.

12News spoke with water experts who said some large cities have to prove a 100 year supply of water for their residents every 15 years, making it a rolling target. But in the Sun City Festival area, the developer only has to prove a 100 year supply of water one time.

After those 100 years are up, experts said they don't really know what happens. Experts said they assume other sources of water will be found, conservation will be done — but there's no guarantee.

And that was too much risk for the Dorazios.

"I can guarantee you 95% of the people that buy homes out there probably have no idea until they live there," Pete said.

For now, the Dorazios said they will stay in California to plan their next retirement move.

Related Articles

At 12News, we listen, we seek, we solve for all Arizonans. 12News is the Phoenix NBC affiliate owned by TEGNA Inc.

12News is built on a legacy of trust. We serve more than 4.6 million people every month on air, on our 12News app, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and 12News.com.

We are committed to serving all of the Valley's communities, because we live here, too.

12News is the Official Home of the Arizona Cardinals and the proud recipient of the 2018 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Overall Excellence.

Stay connected by downloading the 12News app, available on Google Play and the Apple Store. Catch up on any stories you missed on the show on the 12News Youtube channel. Read content curated for our Spanish-speaking audience on the Español page. Or see us on the 12News Plus app available on Roku or Amazon Fire.

Water Wars

Catch up on the latest news and stories surrounding Arizona’s water crisis on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
>
Call Now Button

Service Areas