EMDR Therapy in Orlando for Anxiety and Trauma
In-person in Orlando and virtually throughout Florida
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps individuals process traumatic experiences that continue to affect their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and nervous system long after the event has passed.
Why Choose EMDR Instead of Traditional Talk Therapy?
Do you ever feel stuck, even after spending years in therapy?
Many people gain valuable insight through traditional talk therapy and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their past experiences. Yet despite that awareness, they may continue to feel emotionally overwhelmed, triggered, or unable to move forward.
As Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains in his groundbreaking book The Body Keeps the Score, our nervous system often continues to hold onto the effects of difficult experiences long after they are over.
EMDR offers a different approach. Through bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tactile tapping, or auditory tones—EMDR helps the brain and body reprocess distressing memories so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity or impact. Rather than simply talking about the past, EMDR helps the nervous system heal from it.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR can be an effective treatment for a wide range of concerns. Each client is carefully assessed to determine whether EMDR is an appropriate fit for their needs.
EMDR may help with:
-
Trauma
-
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
-
Relationship wounds and attachment injuries
-
Anxiety
-
Depression
-
Phobias and fears
-
Grief and loss
-
Negative self-beliefs
-
Stressful or overwhelming life experiences
What Does EMDR Therapy Look Like?
For in-person EMDR sessions in Orlando, I use a combination of handheld tappers and headphones to create bilateral stimulation.
For virtual EMDR sessions, I use a secure online EMDR platform. Clients are required to have headphones available for virtual appointments and may also choose to follow a visual stimulus on the screen, such as a moving light or ball.
Throughout the process, you remain fully awake, aware, and in control. EMDR is collaborative, and we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
The 8 Phases of EMDR
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol designed to promote safety, stability, and lasting healing.
Phase 1: History Taking and Treatment Planning
We begin by discussing your history, current concerns, and goals for therapy. Together, we identify the experiences and memories that may be contributing to your symptoms and create a treatment plan.
Phase 2: Preparation
Before processing begins, you'll learn coping skills and grounding techniques to help you feel safe and supported throughout the EMDR process. We practice breathing exercises, “safe place” visualization and “container” visualization. More on that later! :)
Phase 3: Assessment
We identify the specific memory to target and explore the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs connected to that experience.
Phase 4: Desensitization
This is where we start to introduce the bilateral stimulation. You will process the targeted memory while allowing your brain to make new connections. Over time, the emotional distress associated with the memory begins to decrease.
Phase 5: Installation
Once distress has lessened, we strengthen a positive belief that you would like to hold about yourself, helping replace negative self-perceptions with healthier, more adaptive ones.
Phase 6: Body Scan
We check for any remaining physical tension or discomfort connected to the memory. If needed, additional processing helps resolve lingering sensations.
Phase 7: Closure
Each session ends with techniques designed to help you feel grounded and regulated before leaving therapy, regardless of whether processing is complete.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
At the beginning of future sessions, we review progress, assess how the targeted memory feels now, and determine next steps in treatment.
​