Approach: EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that helps people process distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming. It uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or alternating taps, while you focus on parts of a memory. We offer EMDR in person in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and Manhattan, and online across Florida and New York.
The Phases
Many people choose EMDR because it doesn't require retelling a painful experience in detail, over and over. You decide how much to share, and parts of a memory can stay private while you work on them.
We take time with the preparation phase before any memory work begins. Some people move through it quickly and others need longer, and we go at a pace that feels manageable to you.
EMDR can also be done by secure video if you're in Florida or New York at the time of your session. On video, bilateral stimulation comes from a moving point on your screen or from alternating taps you do yourself.
Whether online EMDR suits you depends on your history and the support you have between sessions, so you and your therapist decide on it together.
More About EMDR
Bilateral stimulation means alternating left and right input, such as following a moving light with your eyes, feeling alternating taps or hearing tones that switch between your ears. It's done in short sets while you keep part of a memory in mind, and your therapist checks in with you between sets.
You can pause or stop at any point. We agree on a stop signal before any processing begins.
Memories and feelings can keep shifting for a while after an EMDR session, so before you leave, we make a plan with you for the days that follow.
If something feels too big between sessions, bring it to your next appointment. Talking about it helps you and your therapist adjust the pace, and it doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.
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