It’s late, you’re typing EMDR therapy Miami into your phone, and all you really know about it is a friend’s one-line summary: you follow a light with your eyes, and the memory stops hurting so much.
The real thing is less magic and more structured. EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a trauma-focused therapy with set phases, plenty of preparation before any hard memory comes up, and a therapist who checks in the whole way. It isn’t hypnosis. You stay awake and aware, and you talk with your therapist between short rounds of movement.
This guide covers a session step by step, what the research does and doesn’t say, side effects, who may need to wait, and how EMDR compares with CBT. It’s general information, not personal medical advice.
Buxani Counseling Care, a mental health clinic in Miami, lists EMDR among its therapies, and parts of this page describe how the clinic presents it. A licensed therapist can tell you whether EMDR fits your situation.
EMDR Therapy Miami: What It Is and What Happens in a Session
EMDR is a structured therapy in which you briefly hold a distressing memory in mind while following a steady left-right movement, tone or tap. The goal is for that memory to feel less overwhelming when it comes up.
The American Psychological Association describes it as a structured therapy that has you briefly focus on a trauma memory while you take in rhythmic left-right stimulation, usually eye movements, though tones or taps can stand in. Therapists call this bilateral stimulation.
Why would a left-right movement matter? Nobody has a final answer. The usual explanation is that upsetting experiences can stay “stuck” because the brain never fully processed them. The APA’s guideline page presents that as a model built on clinical observation, so it’s fair to hold it loosely.
Do You Have to Talk Through Everything?
Usually not. The VA’s National Center for PTSD says that in most cases you won’t be asked to talk about the details of your trauma, though you will be asked to think about it. For people who dread retelling the whole story, that matters.
The 8 Phases of EMDR, Step by Step
EMDR follows eight phases, and only the middle ones use the left-right movement. The EMDR International Association names them this way, and Buxani’s page on the 8 stages of EMDR follows the same list.
1History taking and treatment planning
You talk about what brought you in and what you’d like to change. You and the therapist choose which memories to work on, and in what order.
2Preparation
The therapist explains the method and teaches ways to calm yourself when feelings run high. This phase can take time, and that’s normal.
3Assessment
You choose one memory and name its worst image, the belief about yourself that goes with it, the feelings it brings and where you feel it in your body.
4Desensitization
You focus on the memory while following the left-right stimulation for a short round at a time, and you say what you notice between rounds.
5Installation
You strengthen a more helpful belief, something like “I did what I could,” until it starts to feel true.
6Body scan
You scan your body while holding the memory and the new belief, and any leftover tension gets worked on.
7Closure
Each session ends with you steady and calm again, even if the memory isn’t finished.
8Reevaluation
The next session starts with a check on what has changed and what to work on next.
What the Processing Phases Feel Like
Phases 3 to 6 are the part most people picture, and they’re quieter than the movies suggest. The therapist asks you to bring the memory to mind, then starts a short round of movement: your eyes follow a hand or a light, or you feel taps or hear tones. Then you stop, take a breath and say what you noticed.
What you notice varies. It might be a new image, a feeling that rises and fades, a memory from another time, or nothing much at all. None of that is wrong. You can ask to slow down or stop at any point, and a good therapist won’t promise how fast a memory will shift.
What the First Session Is Like
The first visits are mostly conversation: your history, what’s bothering you now, how you sleep and cope, and what you’d like to change. Nobody starts with the hardest memory on day one. The preparation phase gives you ways to steady yourself first, and anything that worries you in those early conversations can change how the therapist plans the work.
Is EMDR the same as hypnosis?
No. You stay awake and aware during EMDR, and you talk with your therapist between short rounds of eye movements, taps or tones.
Does EMDR hurt?
Not in a physical way. You may feel uncomfortable while focusing on a hard memory, and the VA’s National Center for PTSD describes that discomfort as usually brief.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It varies. The APA describes EMDR as typically delivered once or twice a week for a total of 6 to 12 sessions, and complicated or long-standing trauma can take longer. Your therapist can give you a rougher idea after the first few visits.
Where does Buxani Counseling Care offer EMDR?
Buxani Counseling Care sees clients in person at its Miami clinic, 9700 S Dixie Hwy #880, Miami, FL 33156. Its EMDR page lists service areas that include Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Kendall, Brickell, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Miami Beach and Doral.
What EMDR Is Used For, and What the Research Says
PTSD is where EMDR has the clearest backing. Major guidelines list it as an option for PTSD, and they don’t speak to other concerns, so it’s worth asking a therapist what is known for yours.
The 2023 VA and Department of Defense guideline lists EMDR among the individual, trauma-focused psychotherapies it recommends for PTSD. The American Psychological Association is more measured: its guideline recommends three cognitive behavioral approaches and suggests EMDR as another option. The VA’s National Center for PTSD calls EMDR “one of the most effective types of treatment for PTSD.”
None of that is a guarantee. People respond differently, and some do better with another approach. Only a licensed clinician can tell you if your symptoms add up to PTSD, and a painful memory doesn’t mean you have it.
Other Concerns People Bring to EMDR
Buxani’s EMDR page lists trauma and PTSD, anxiety disorders, panic, depression, and grief and loss among the concerns it supports. A list like that describes what people bring to therapy, not a promise about results.
Some people come because of painful memories from childhood. The pages on childhood trauma and the causes of trauma explain how trauma can linger, and Buxani’s trauma page places EMDR alongside CBT, mindfulness and grounding techniques, and DBT.
EMDR vs Talk Therapy and CBT: What’s Different?
Both aim at the same target, a memory that still hurts. CBT works through the links between thoughts, feelings and actions, while EMDR works through the memory itself, with left-right stimulation.
| EMDR | CBT | |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Briefly focus on a memory while following left-right movement, tones or taps | Work on the links between thoughts, feelings and behavior; trauma-focused versions often add gradual exposure or work on stuck beliefs |
| Retelling the event | Usually not in detail | Often includes talking or writing about it, depending on the method |
| APA wording for PTSD | Suggested | Recommended (three CBT approaches) |
The APA’s wording gives the three CBT approaches a firmer recommendation, while the VA and Department of Defense guideline recommends EMDR. So it’s reasonable to ask a therapist why they’d suggest EMDR first for you. Some people find the thought-based work of CBT easier to follow, and others like that EMDR asks for less retelling.
Is EMDR effective for PTSD?
It’s one of the treatments the major PTSD guidelines include, though not with the same strength of wording. The VA and Department of Defense guideline recommends it, and the APA guideline suggests it. Results differ from person to person.
Is EMDR used for anxiety or depression?
Some therapists use it that way, but the major PTSD guidelines don’t address those concerns. Ask the therapist what evidence exists for your situation and what else they would consider.
Is EMDR better than CBT?
There’s no clear winner. The APA gives three CBT approaches a firmer recommendation than EMDR, while the VA and Department of Defense guideline puts EMDR in its recommended group. The better fit depends on you and on what your therapist is trained to do.
What concerns does Buxani Counseling Care list for EMDR?
Buxani’s EMDR page lists trauma and PTSD, anxiety disorders, panic, depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, stress and childhood emotional wounds, among others. Those lists describe what clients bring to therapy, not a promised result.
Side Effects: What the Days After a Session Can Feel Like
Most reported side effects are mild and short-lived. The VA’s National Center for PTSD says you may feel uncomfortable while focusing on hard memories, and that this discomfort is usually brief.
Side effects haven’t been tracked as carefully as benefits. A recent review in Current Opinion in Psychology looked at 51 randomized trials of EMDR and found that only nine said anything about adverse effects. Where they were reported, they were usually mild and temporary, and the authors call for better monitoring.
Some people also notice, in the day or two after a session:
- stronger feelings than usual, or a memory they hadn’t thought about in years
- vivid dreams or lighter sleep
- feeling worn out, even after a quiet day
An easy evening helps more than a packed one. Drink water, eat something, walk around the block or along the bay if that settles you, and tell your therapist what came up.
If a memory ever leaves you feeling unsafe or thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the U.S. For an emergency, call 911.
Who May Need to Wait, Prepare More or Choose Something Else
EMDR isn’t always the right first step. If life is in crisis right now, or strong feelings are hard to manage, a therapist may start with stabilizing skills or suggest a different approach for a while.
Things worth telling a therapist early, because they can change the plan:
- a crisis or an unsafe situation in your life right now
- feeling numb, detached or “far away” when you’re upset, or losing track of time
- an eye condition or a seizure history, since taps or tones can sometimes replace eye movements
- several overlapping health or mental health concerns
The last point is there because the same review notes that safety for people with several overlapping conditions hasn’t been well studied. That’s a reason to give the therapist the full picture early, not a reason to avoid EMDR.
Between Sessions: Small Habits That Help
A few lines in a notebook can make the next session more useful. Many EMDR therapists ask clients to jot down what comes up between sessions, such as a dream, a memory or a mood shift. Keep it short: what happened, when, and how strong it felt from one to ten.
How long do EMDR side effects last?
Studies that report them usually describe them as mild and temporary. If something lasts or gets heavier, tell your therapist, who can change the pace.
Who should not do EMDR?
There’s no single rule. A therapist may suggest waiting, or spending longer on preparation, if you’re in a crisis, often feel numb or detached when upset, or have a medical issue that affects eye movements. That’s decided case by case, which is why the first visits are for history and planning.
Is it normal to have vivid dreams after EMDR?
Some people report them, yes. Write down what you remember and mention it at your next session.
How does Buxani Counseling Care describe its EMDR sessions?
Buxani’s EMDR page describes sessions as a safe, structured and supportive space for identifying distressing experiences, working through triggers and memories, and building coping skills. It says sessions are personalized and move at a comfortable pace, and it lays out eight stages, from history taking to progress evaluation.
Can You Do EMDR Online?
Some therapists offer EMDR over video, but it isn’t identical to being in the room. Buxani’s EMDR page says the clinic offers both in-person and secure telehealth counseling. On a screen there’s no light bar or hand to follow, so therapists adapt the left-right part, for example with on-screen movement or taps you do yourself.
The telehealth page says sessions run on a secure video platform, that you join from any device with a camera and an internet connection, and that the service is for people in Florida. It doesn’t spell out how EMDR steps work on video, so ask when you book.
If you try it, pick a private spot where you can stay for a while afterward. A parked car works if it’s truly private. A shared kitchen between meetings usually doesn’t.
Choosing EMDR Therapy Miami Providers: What to Look For
Look for a licensed mental health professional with formal EMDR training who explains the phases before you start and lets you set the pace. Fit matters as much as credentials.
Questions worth asking on a first call:
- Are you licensed in Florida, and what EMDR training have you completed?
- Will the first sessions cover my history and coping skills before any memory work?
- What happens if a session stirs up more than I expected?
- Do you offer EMDR in person, on video or both, and which would you suggest for me?
- How will I know it’s helping, and when would you try something else?
One red flag is a therapist who promises a cure, or a fixed number of sessions, before they’ve met you.
EMDR at Buxani Counseling Care
Buxani Counseling Care is a mental health clinic at 9700 S Dixie Hwy #880, Miami, FL 33156, and EMDR is one of the therapies listed on its site. The clinic’s EMDR page names teenagers and adults, describes sessions as structured and supportive and moving at a comfortable pace, and lays out an eight-stage process like the one above. It lists service areas that include Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Kendall, Brickell, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Miami Beach and Doral.
Sessions can be in person in Miami or by secure telehealth for people in Florida, and the clinic also offers individual therapy for teens and adults. To ask about EMDR, use the booking page, where you can send an online appointment request or fill in the consultation form.
Final Takeaway
EMDR is a structured, phase-by-phase therapy, not a trick with a light bar. Its best-supported use is PTSD, where major guidelines list it as an option. For everything else, ask what the evidence looks like for you.
Expect a slow start, some tiredness or strong feelings afterward, and a therapist who explains each phase before you reach it. If something doesn’t feel right, that’s useful information, not a reason to push through.
When you’re choosing in Miami, trust the therapist who answers plainly and doesn’t promise a result. A good first question is also the simplest: what will the first session look like?
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy
Does EMDR erase memories?
No, erasing memories isn’t the goal. The APA describes EMDR as intended to change the way a memory is stored, so it carries less distress when it comes up.
What if I feel overwhelmed during a session?
Tell the therapist right away. They can slow down, pause the movement or switch to the calming skills from the preparation phase. Stopping is allowed.
Does insurance cover EMDR?
It depends on your plan and the provider. Coverage usually comes down to your plan’s mental health benefits, so call your insurer and ask the clinic what it can help you check. A general answer online, including this one, can’t tell you what your plan does.
How do I find an EMDR therapist in Miami?
Start with licensed mental health professionals who list EMDR training, then ask the questions in the choosing section above. A short first call tells you a lot about how they explain things and how at ease you feel.
Is it normal to feel nothing during EMDR?
Yes. People respond differently, and some notice very little in a given round. Tell your therapist either way. It’s information they can use, not a sign you’re doing it wrong.
Can teenagers do EMDR?
Some therapists use it with teens. Buxani’s EMDR page names teenagers and adults. Whether it fits a particular teen is something the therapist decides after the first conversations, and for a younger child it’s best to ask the clinic directly.
Does Buxani Counseling Care offer EMDR by telehealth?
Buxani’s EMDR page says the clinic offers both in-person and secure telehealth counseling. The telehealth page describes secure video sessions for people in Florida. Neither page explains how the EMDR steps work on video, so ask when you book.
How do I book an EMDR appointment at Buxani Counseling Care?
Use the booking page to send an online appointment request or fill in the consultation form, or call the number listed there. Mention EMDR in your message so the clinic knows what you’re asking about.
Written and reviewed by a licensed mental health therapist.
