Online EMDR Therapy in Tampa and throughout Florida
When a memory still makes your heart race, your stomach drop, or your thoughts spiral, even years later, it's often because that experience never fully finished processing. EMDR therapy helps the brain do what it's naturally designed to do: integrate difficult experiences so they can become part of your story rather than something that keeps happening inside you.
As a Certified EMDR therapist licensed in Florida, I offer online EMDR to adults throughout Tampa Bay. We follow the standard eight-phase protocol, adapted thoughtfully for video, at a pace that respects your nervous system.
- Free consultation
- Online in Colorado & Florida
- $200 per session
Licensed in Florida
Becky Romero, LMHC, LPC
After the storms: EMDR for what lingers
Recent hurricane seasons have tested Tampa Bay. Even people who came through without major damage may notice they tense up at the sound of wind, check the forecast compulsively, or feel a wave of dread when a storm appears in the Gulf. For others, storms stirred up older experiences of chaos, loss, or not feeling safe at home.
EMDR can target those reactions specifically. We identify the moments that still feel stuck, notice the beliefs attached to them, like 'I'm not safe' or 'I can't handle this,' and process them with bilateral stimulation until they lose some of their intensity. Of course, EMDR is not only for storm-related stress. Car accidents, medical trauma, grief, and painful childhood experiences can all be addressed with EMDR as well.
Therapy for Tampa residents, from home
Anyone who commutes across the Howard Frankland or sits on I-275 at rush hour knows how much of a Tampa Bay day disappears into traffic. Adding a weekly drive to a therapist's office on top of that is often the thing that makes people quit before they start. With online sessions, your therapy hour is just that, an hour.
The Bay area is a mix of longtime Floridians, military families connected to MacDill, USF students and staff, healthcare workers, and people who moved here for a fresh start. Each of those lives carries its own kind of stress. I meet Tampa clients by video from wherever they have privacy, whether that's a home office in Westchase or a quiet bedroom in Riverview.
Storm seasons here have been hard in recent years. Telehealth means that if you have to evacuate within Florida, our work doesn't have to stop.
- Licensed in Florida (LMHC #MH14720)
- EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions
- Free 15-minute consultation
Is talk therapy not working for you?
- 01
Revisiting the same pain without relief
Do you feel like you've talked about your trauma endlessly, but nothing has changed? Sometimes, healing requires going beyond words to address the deeper layers of trauma stored in the body and mind. EMDR therapy can help you finally experience the shift you've been seeking.
- 02
Feeling disconnected from your emotions
Have you gained insight from therapy but still feel numb, stuck, or unable to access real emotional relief? Trauma often requires more than intellectual understanding. It needs healing on an emotional and somatic level. Together, we'll explore how to reconnect with your feelings safely and gently.
- 03
Difficulty trusting the process
Have years of therapy left you wondering if true healing is even possible? It's understandable to feel disheartened, but a fresh approach can reignite your hope. Together, we'll create a customized plan that honors your experiences and builds the healing you've been waiting for.
The fact that you're still searching for answers shows your resilience. You have the strength to heal, and I'm here to help you tap into it.
The 8 phases of EMDR therapy
EMDR follows a structured, evidence-based protocol. As a Certified EMDR therapist, recognized by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), I'll guide you through each phase at a pace that always feels safe.
History and treatment planning
We'll gather information about your history and current struggles, and identify specific targets (memories or experiences) to process in therapy. We'll work together to create a treatment plan that aligns with your healing goals.
Preparation
We'll establish a sense of safety and trust, so you feel comfortable and informed about the EMDR process. I'll introduce relaxation techniques and coping skills to help you manage any emotional or physical discomfort during sessions.
Assessment
We'll identify the negative beliefs, images, and body sensations associated with the target memory, as well as a more adaptive belief you want to replace it with. This sets the foundation for processing the memory in the phases that follow.
Desensitization
Using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements), we'll begin processing the memory. You'll be guided to notice and release distressing emotions, thoughts, and sensations tied to the memory, while gradually moving toward a more neutral or positive perspective.
Installation
We'll strengthen the positive belief you want in place of the negative one, so it feels more integrated and empowering in your day-to-day life.
Body scan
After the target memory is processed, we'll do a body scan to identify any remaining physical tension or discomfort. If any sensations are still present, we'll process them too.
Closure
At the end of each session, we'll make sure you're feeling calm and grounded. If we haven't finished processing a memory, we'll create a plan to safely close the session and return to it next time.
Reevaluation
We'll revisit your target memory to assess changes in your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, address any remaining distress, and reinforce the progress you've made.
What EMDR can help with
EMDR is best known as a treatment for PTSD, but it helps with far more than a single traumatic event. In my practice, I use EMDR, often alongside Internal Family Systems (IFS), for:
- Childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and attachment wounds
- Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
- Grief and loss, including sudden or complicated loss
- Relationship trauma and betrayal
- Medical trauma and grief
- Low self-worth and stubborn negative beliefs like "I'm not enough"
- Feeling stuck after years of talk therapy
I'm also trained in Attachment-Focused EMDR, Advanced EMDR Protocols, and EMDR and Parts Work for Complex Trauma, so we can adapt the standard protocol when your history is layered or your system needs more preparation before processing.
What online EMDR sessions look like
EMDR works well over secure telehealth. Bilateral stimulation can be done with eye movements that follow a moving point on your screen, with tapping, or with alternating sounds through headphones. We'll find the option that feels most comfortable for you.
You'll join from a private, quiet space where you feel safe. Many clients find that doing this deep work from their own home makes it easier to settle afterward. Sessions are available to adults who are physically located in Colorado or Florida at the time of the session.
EMDR therapy can help you…
Fewer emotional triggers
Traumatic memories no longer feel as overwhelming or intrusive, leading to better emotional regulation.
A kinder self-image
Negative beliefs about yourself shift toward more empowering, adaptive thoughts, building self-worth and confidence.
Healthier relationships
Healing past trauma leads to more secure, compassionate connection, with better communication and intimacy.
Less anxiety & stress
As the emotional charge of past events settles, anxiety and stress become easier to manage.
Greater resilience
You develop healthier coping strategies and responses to life's challenges.
A restored sense of safety
You feel more at ease in your own body and your surroundings, with a greater sense of calm and security.
Clearer problem-solving
With old wounds healed, you can approach challenges with clarity, creativity, and confidence.
More presence
With the past no longer pulling at you, you can connect more fully with the present moment.
EMDR therapy offers a powerful path to healing, allowing you to break free from the past and embrace a future filled with clarity, peace, and emotional resilience. Through reprocessing traumatic memories, you can experience lasting change in your emotional well-being and relationships, and live more fully in the present.
S.D. · Orlando, FL
More client stories“I started therapy with Becky due to my worsening anxiety and panic attacks. Throughout our sessions Becky was able to pinpoint the root cause of my anxiety and prepared me for EMDR. Becky is an amazing person and made me feel safe during sessions, which enabled me to open up and process the emotions I felt after losing a very important person in my life. Without her, I would still be unable to drive or do basic tasks such as grocery shopping without an attack. She truly gave me my life back and I will forever be grateful for her!”
EMDR Therapy in Tampa: common questions
Have a question that isn't answered here? I'm happy to talk it through in a free consultation.
Often, yes. If you evacuate to somewhere else in Florida, or happen to be in Colorado, we can keep meeting by video once you have a safe, private place and a working connection. If you leave for another state, I'd need to pause our sessions until you are back, because my licenses cover Florida and Colorado only. During a storm, your safety comes first, and we'll reconnect when you're ready.
Absolutely. Because I'm online, I can work with anyone across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, and the rest of Florida. St. Pete, Clearwater, Dunedin, and Largo are all the same distance from me: one secure video link. What matters is that you are physically in Florida during our session and that you have a private space to talk.
For many adults, it works very well. Being home can help your nervous system settle faster than sitting in an unfamiliar waiting room. EMDR, IFS, and somatic work all translate to video when the setup is thoughtful. If at any point online therapy doesn't feel like the right fit for you, I'll be honest about it and help you find another option.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that helps people process and heal from trauma and distressing life experiences by using bilateral stimulation, like eye movements, while focusing on a specific memory.
EMDR is believed to work by helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories, moving them from a "stuck," emotionally charged state to a more adaptive and integrated one. The memory stays, but it stops feeling like it's happening now.
EMDR is commonly used for PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, and other trauma-related conditions. It's also helpful for negative beliefs about yourself that seem to have roots in earlier experiences.
Yes. EMDR is backed by extensive research and is recognized as an effective trauma treatment by organizations including the American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The number of sessions varies depending on the complexity of what you're working on. Some people experience relief in a few sessions, while others benefit from several months of therapy. Therapy intensives can shorten that timeline for some clients.
More therapy options in Tampa
EMDR Therapy in other cities
Ready to start therapy from Tampa?
Book a free consultation. We'll talk about what's bringing you in and whether we're the right fit. Sessions are online, so you can join from anywhere in Florida.