Longwood, Florida
EMDR Therapy in Longwood, FL
If talk therapy alone hasn't moved you past what happened, EMDR may be the work that does. Our Longwood clinicians offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic, grief, and the stuck patterns that don't respond to insight alone.
At Longboat Counseling Services we have a number of therapists who are specifically trained and specialized in EMDR and techniques for treating PTSD.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro and refined through decades of clinical research since. Originally designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR has been studied across a much broader range of issues and is now used effectively for anxiety, panic, grief, phobias, depression, performance issues, and the persistent negative beliefs people carry about themselves that talk therapy can name but often can’t shift.
EMDR is recognized as a first-line treatment for PTSD by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. It’s one of the most thoroughly researched trauma therapies in existence.
How Does EMDR Actually Work?
When something difficult happens to us, the brain typically processes the experience, integrates it, and stores it as a memory we can recall without re-living. But when an experience is overwhelming: traumatic, frightening, deeply painful, the normal processing system can get interrupted. The memory gets stored in a way that keeps it “live”: the body responds as if the event is still happening, the emotions stay just as raw as the day they were laid down, and the beliefs that came with the experience (“I’m not safe,” “It was my fault,” “I’m not enough”) become embedded in how you see yourself.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation: typically guided eye movements, but sometimes alternating sounds or taps, while you focus briefly on the difficult memory. This process appears to help the brain reprocess the stuck material the way it would have if the original event hadn’t been so overwhelming. The memory itself doesn’t disappear, but it loses its charge. You can remember what happened without re-living it. The body stops reacting as if the danger is current. The negative beliefs you developed about yourself start to shift, often without you having to consciously argue with them.
For many clients, EMDR accomplishes in months what years of conventional therapy couldn’t quite reach.
What EMDR Treats
EMDR is most associated with PTSD and trauma recovery, but the range of conditions it’s been shown to help is wider than most people realize:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): including combat trauma, sexual assault, motor vehicle accidents, medical trauma, and childhood abuse
- Complex trauma: the cumulative effect of ongoing or repeated traumatic experiences, often beginning in childhood
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Grief and complicated bereavement
- Phobias: flying, driving, medical procedures, specific fears tied to past experiences
- Performance anxiety: public speaking, test anxiety, athletic or professional performance blocks
- Persistent negative core beliefs: “I’m not safe,” “I’m unlovable,” “It was my fault,” “I’m not good enough”
- Depression with roots in past experiences
- Stuck patterns in relationships that trace back to earlier wounds
If you’ve ever said to yourself or your therapist, “I know intellectually that I’m safe / it wasn’t my fault / I’m okay now, but my body and emotions haven’t caught up,” EMDR is often what closes that gap.
Is EMDR Right For You?
EMDR isn’t the right fit for every client or every issue, and a responsible practice will tell you that. It works best when you have enough stability and grounding capacity to engage with difficult material safely, when there’s a specific target (a memory, an event, a recurring pattern, a stuck belief) to work with, and when you have a therapeutic relationship that feels safe enough to do the work. Clients in acute crisis, active substance use, or unmanaged severe dissociation typically need stabilization work first before EMDR is appropriate.
The best way to know if EMDR is right for you is to talk to one of our trauma-trained clinicians. We offer a free 15-minute consultation by phone, email, or video. There’s no pressure, no commitment, just a conversation about what’s going on and whether EMDR (or some other approach) might be the right next step.
What an EMDR Session Looks Like
EMDR is more structured than typical talk therapy, and it follows an eight-phase protocol developed over decades of clinical practice. Early sessions are spent gathering history, identifying the specific memories or issues to target, and building the resources and grounding skills you’ll use throughout the work. The reprocessing phases, the part most people picture when they hear “EMDR”, come after that foundation is in place.
During reprocessing, you’ll be asked to briefly bring up a target memory while following your therapist’s hand or a light bar with your eyes (or attending to alternating sounds or taps). The bilateral stimulation happens in short sets, with check-ins between each set. You don’t have to narrate the memory in detail, and you don’t have to relive it. Many clients find EMDR less verbally exhausting than traditional talk therapy because the work happens in a different way.
Sessions are typically 60 to 90 minutes. Some clients see significant shifts within a few sessions; others do longer-term work for complex or layered material. Your therapist will help you understand what to expect based on what you’re bringing in.
Our EMDR-Trained Clinicians
EMDR work is only as good as the clinician doing it. At Longboat Counseling, EMDR is offered by therapists with specific training and clinical depth in trauma work:
- Maritza Garay, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern: Former 9/11 first responder with two decades in trauma work. EMDR and IFS Level 1 trained. Specializes in first responders, survivors of traumatic events, and domestic violence recovery. Bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Miguel Muñoz, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern: Retired US Army veteran with 16 years of service. EMDR-trained, with particular focus on combat trauma, military and veteran clients, and trauma in men and in Hispanic families. Bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Erica Hall, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern: EMDR-trained therapist specializing in trauma recovery for individuals and couples: particularly healthcare workers, first responders, veterans, military families, and special-needs caregivers.
If you’re not sure which clinician would be the right fit, reach out: Romina and Alex personally handle every new client inquiry and will match you with the therapist whose training, style, and availability fit your situation.