EMDR Therapy in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
Find Relief from Trauma and Anxiety
If you're searching for EMDR therapy near me, you're likely navigating the effects of trauma, anxiety, or painful memories. Our certified EMDR therapists in Tampa and St. Petersburg provide evidence-based care that helps you process difficult experiences and move forward.
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized form of therapy developed to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge. Rather than focusing solely on talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (often through eye movements or tapping) to help the brain reprocess distressing events safely.
At IBW, EMDR therapy is:
Evidence-based and structured
Highly effective for trauma, anxiety, and PTSD
Guided by highly trained, licensed clinicians
Available both in-person and virtually across Florida
Understanding Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR counseling is a powerful tool for addressing trauma, but preparation is critical for both success and limiting potential negative effects. Before starting EMDR, often several sessions are dedicated to understanding your unique situation, establishing rapport, and ensuring you feel safe and supported. This preparation allows your therapist to develop a tailored approach to guide you effectively. If your interested in learning more about how it works, we recommend reading our guide to EMDR therapy.
Our Tampa EMDR Therapists in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
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![Headshot of a Florida-based therapist specializing in anxiety and panic disorder treatment]()
Emma Groskind, MS, LCSW
Licensed Anxiety Therapist – Serving Tampa & St. Pete
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![Headshot of a licensed trauma therapist in Tampa who specializes in EMDR therapy and PTSD recovery]()
Amanda Farris, MS, LCSW-QS
Licensed Trauma Therapist in Tampa – EMDR & PTSD Specialist
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![Image of an EMDRIA-certified trauma therapist offering sessions across Tampa and Florida]()
Paris McDonald, MS, LMHC
Certified EMDR Therapist – Trauma Counseling in Tampa
Virtual & In-Person EMDR Therapy Near Me in Florida
EMDR Therapy in st. petersburg
Our St. Petersburg therapists provide EMDR therapy for adults, teens, and couples throughout Pinellas County—including Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, Gulfport, Feather Sound, and Treasure Island. Clients appreciate the balance of modern, evidence-based treatment with the warmth and personal connection that defines our practice.
emdr therapist in tampa
Our Tampa EMDR therapists, located near Westshore and South Tampa, work with clients across Hillsborough County, including Hyde Park, Carrollwood, Brandon, Riverview, and Apollo Beach. We help high-achieving professionals and families process difficult experiences, reduce anxiety, and feel more in control of their emotions.
emdr therapy in sarasota
Our Sarasota office welcomes clients from across the Suncoast region, including Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Bradenton, and Venice. EMDR therapy here integrates seamlessly with other trauma-informed modalities to support lasting emotional healing and self-understanding.
EMDR Therapy Techniques & Process
Your therapist will work with you to create a safe and supportive environment, ensuring that you feel comfortable and in control throughout the therapy process. They will also help you develop coping skills and strategies to manage symptoms, making the therapy journey a collaborative and empowering experience.
How many EMDR therapy sessions are needed?
For a single distressing event or memory, therapy typically requires 3 to 6 sessions. For more complex or long-term traumas, it may take up to 12 sessions or more to achieve your therapeutic goal.
The Phases of EMDR TreatmenT
EMDR Therapy follows 4 basic steps, which are:
Recall, Bilateral Stimulation, Processing, and Healing
How EMDR Therapy Helps Reprocess Trauma
EMDR counseling helps individuals process and heal from traumatic memories through a structured process. First, the client recalls the troubling memory while the therapist uses eye movements, sounds, or taps for bilateral stimulation. This approach enables the brain to reprocess the memory through adaptive information processing, reducing its emotional impact. As the memory is processed, clients may experience physical sensations tied to unresolved distress, but over time, the memory becomes less painful, promoting healing and emotional relief. This trauma-informed method ensures sensitivity to the client’s mental health throughout the process.
What is Bilateral Stimulation Therapy Commonly Used to Treat?
EMDR is a form of bilateral stimulation, and an approach to trauma therapy that helps individuals with different kinds of problems that come from bad or upsetting experiences. EMDR therapy is used to help people with different kinds of problems that come from bad or upsetting experiences. Here are some common issues that EMDR therapists can help with:
Trauma and PTSD - It’s often used to treat people who have been through scary or traumatic events, like accidents, natural disasters, or abuse. This includes addressing psychological trauma.
Anxiety -EMDR processing can be a powerful healing treatment for people who suffer from anxiety.
Depression - EMDR Therapy can also help with feelings of deep sadness that don't go away.
Phobias - People who live with fear of specific things, like heights or spiders, can get help healing from EMDR.
Grief and Loss - EMDR is used to support people who are having a hard time dealing with the death or loss of a loved one.
Panic Attacks - EMDR processing can help people who have sudden, intense episodes of fear and physical symptoms, called panic attacks.
Self-Esteem Issues - It can also help people who have negative beliefs about themselves and low self-esteem.
Emotional Distress - EMDR can assist individuals experiencing significant emotional distress.
Is EMDR Therapy Effective for PTSD and Anxiety
EMDR is a highly effective therapy for many people, particularly for treating trauma and PTSD. Studies show that it provides quick relief, with long-lasting effects after just a few sessions. Widely used by therapists globally, EMDR receives positive feedback for significantly improving emotional well-being and helping individuals cope better with their issues.
A trauma therapist plays a crucial role in guiding clients through the emotional processing of traumatic experiences, providing psychoeducation on EMDR, and developing tailored therapy plans.
There is a substantial body of research supporting the effectiveness of EMDR, including numerous clinical trials. Here are some key studies and findings:
American Psychiatric Association (APA): The APA recognizes EMDR therapy as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Their practice guidelines recommend EMDR as a first-line treatment for trauma.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs):
van der Kolk et al. (2007): This study compared EMDR with other forms of therapy and found that EMDR significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in a shorter time frame.
Lee and Cuijpers (2013): A meta-analysis of 26 RCTs found that EMDR was highly effective in treating PTSD, with results comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD): Their clinical practice guidelines for PTSD recommend EMDR as a strong option for treatment based on extensive research and clinical evidence. Learn more.
EMDR Therapy for children & Adolscents
Children and teens often express trauma and stress through behavior—like anger, anxiety, or withdrawal—rather than words. EMDR therapy provides a gentle, age-appropriate way to help them process difficult experiences and restore a sense of safety and confidence.
Our therapists utilize EMDR and play-based interventions designed specifically for youth. Whether your child is coping with bullying, parental conflict, loss, or academic pressure, EMDR helps reprocess overwhelming memories so they no longer trigger distress. Parents often notice their child becoming calmer, more resilient, and better able to manage big emotions.
EMDR Therapy for Couples & Marriages
While EMDR is most widely known for treating trauma and anxiety, it’s becoming one of the most powerful tools for helping couples heal from relationship wounds and emotional disconnection. At It Begins Within, our therapists are among the few in Florida trained to integrate EMDR into couples and marriage therapy—helping partners process past hurts, rebuild trust, and feel safe with one another again.
EMDR for couples works by addressing the individual triggers and attachment injuries that keep partners stuck in painful cycles. Rather than focusing only on communication techniques, EMDR helps each partner release the deeper emotional charge behind their reactions—creating space for empathy, understanding, and genuine repair.
Our team uses EMDR in combination with research-based approaches like Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to guide couples toward renewed closeness and lasting change. Whether you’re recovering from betrayal, resentment, or years of disconnection, EMDR can help you move beyond old patterns and rediscover emotional safety within your relationship.
Who Can Benefit from Rapid Eye Movement Therapy
EMDR therapy is a versatile treatment approach that can benefit individuals from diverse backgrounds and with various mental health concerns. While initially developed to address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, EMDR has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety and depression, distressing memories and flashbacks, panic attacks, and phobias. It is also beneficial for those dealing with complicated grief and loss, performance anxiety, and stress reduction.
Individuals who have experienced past traumas, such as physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or natural disasters, can find significant relief through EMDR therapy. Additionally, it can address attachment issues, self-esteem problems, and relationship difficulties. By helping to reprocess and integrate these distressing memories, EMDR therapy paves the way for improved mental health and emotional well-being.
Bilateral Stimulation in Tampa, St. Petersburg & Sarasota
Here at It Begins Within, we offer standard EMDR therapy sessions. All of our standard sessions are 60 minutes (not a “clinical hour” of 45-50 minutes). Due to the nature of EMDR, it can temporarily bring up more intense pain throughout the healing process. As a result of this, we also offer EMDR Intensives, which allow more to be accomplished and potentially limit the worsening of negative emotions outside of sessions. This intensive therapy has been a sought-after approach for many individuals we work with who are leaders in the community and have limited availability but understand the importance of overcoming their negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
In addition to EMDR, we also offer a variety of therapeutic approaches to trauma:
Interested in exploring which trauma therapy approach might be best for me?
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I Have to Revisit Painful Memories?
You don’t have to discuss details, and the goal is to reduce the disturbance of painful memories while ensuring emotional safety. The process is guided and paced to feel safe and comfortable for the individual. EMDR seeks to help individuals relieve the disturbance resulting from traumatic experiences.
How long does EMDR therapy take?
It depends on the complexity of your concerns. Some clients notice changes in 3–5 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Th tailor therapy to your pace and goals.
What are the potential side effects of EMDR therapy?
Common concerns with EMDR therapy include the potential for re-experiencing trauma resulting in physical side effects of EMDR, and feeling overwhelmed by strong emotions during sessions. Some individuals worry about the effectiveness of EMDR for their specific issues and the possibility of memory distortion. Additionally, access to qualified therapists and the cost of treatment can be concerns. The strength of the therapeutic alliance between the therapist and client also plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of EMDR. Despite these issues, many find EMDR to be a highly effective form of therapy.
How do I get started with EMDR therapy?
To get started with EMDR therapy, find a qualified and certified therapist like the providers here at It Begins Within, and schedule an initial consultation to discuss your concerns and treatment goals. The therapist will conduct an assessment and develop a personalized treatment plan, including preparation with coping strategies. Starting your therapy journey with EMDR can be a transformative step towards overcoming past trauma and improving your mental health.
What is the cost of EMDR therapy in Tampa?
At It Begins Within, our EMDR treatment cost are $160 per full 60-minute session. We also offering sliding-scale options for those in need.
How do I find an EMDR therapist near me?
Here at It Begins Within we have several trained and certified EMDR therapists in Tampa & St. Petersburg which you can view above on this page. For those outside of the Greater Tampa Bay area, the EMDR International Association can also be a very helpful resource for locating a local EMDR therapist.
Can EMDR be done virtually?
Yes, in addition to in-person counseling we also offer online EMDR therapy.
Learn more about our Tampa, Sarasota & St. Petersburg therapy services.
Speak with the Top-Rated EMDR Practitioners Near Me
If you are searching for “EMDR near me” we offer comprehensive mental health services and free consultations for all of our skilled therapists. Our belief is that the strongest factor in your success through therapy is the relationship with your therapist - and we want to ensure that.