Go beyond talking
EMDR Therapy for Trauma & PTSD in Pensacola, Florida
Dr. Maria Niitepold, PsyD – EMDRIA-Trained Trauma & Somatic Therapist In-person at 3000 Gulf Breeze Parkway · Online across 40+ PsyPact states (850) 696-7218 – call or text anytime
You’ve tried talk therapy.
You understand what happened.
But your body still reacts like the danger is happening right now.
That’s where EMDR therapy in Pensacola comes in.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most researched and effective treatments for PTSD, childhood trauma, betrayal, accidents, and any experience that still hijacks your nervous system. The VA, World Health Organization, and American Psychological Association all recommend it as a treatment for trauma. As a trusted EMDR provider in Pensacola, Florida, we utilize this approach to help you find relief.
And you do not have to retell every detail to heal.
What Actually Happens in EMDR Trauma Therapy?
Most people think EMDR is just “waving fingers in front of your eyes.”
It’s not magic — and it’s not hypnosis.
It’s your brain doing what it was designed to do during REM sleep: process and file away experiences that got stuck.
When something overwhelming happens, your brain can freeze the memory in its raw form — complete with the images, sounds, emotions, and body sensations from that moment.
Years later, a smell, a sound, or even a feeling can trigger the whole thing again. That’s why you might:
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Flinch when someone moves too fast
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Feel your chest tighten driving past a certain spot
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Shut down when someone raises their voice
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Wake up at 3 a.m. with your heart racing
EMDR helps your brain finish the job it started — moving that memory from the “emergency” folder to the “past event” folder so it no longer runs your life.
Our EMDR Expertise & Training
Dr. Maria Niitepold is an EMDR Therapist who has completed the comprehensive EMDR Basic Training, which is approved by EMDRIA (EMDR International Association).
I have completed my training through Scaling Up, an organization whose curriculum is officially EMDRIA-Approved. This assures you are receiving the highest standard of trauma therapy available in Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, including the required 35 hours of lecture, practicum, and consultation necessary to practice this life-changing modality.
The 8 Phases of EMDR
Phase 1 History & Planning
We talk about what’s bothering you now and what goals you have for feeling different. No graphic retelling required.
Phase 2 Preparation & Resourcing
I teach you simple tools (breathing, grounding, safe-place imagery) so you always feel in control
Phase 3 Assessment
We pick one specific memory or belief to work on first (e.g., “I am not safe” or the moment everything changed).
Phase 4 Desensitization
You hold the memory lightly in mind while following bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones). Most people say the memory starts to feel distant, like watching it on a screen far away.
Phase 5 Installation
We strengthen a new, truer belief (“I am safe now” or “I did the best I could”).
Phase 6 Body Scan
We check if any tension is still held in your body and clear it.
Phase 7 Closure
Every session ends with you feeling grounded and calm — never raw.
Phase 8 Reevaluation
Next session we check: Is it still bothering you? Usually the answer is “I know it happened, but it doesn’t feel like it’s happening now.”
Who EMDR Helps Most (And Why It Might Be Perfect for You)
I see the fastest, deepest results with:
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Veterans healing combat trauma, moral injury, or transition stress
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High-achieving adults who look fine but feel empty or on edge
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People-pleasers carrying childhood emotional neglect
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Survivors of betrayal, narcissistic abuse, or relational trauma
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Anyone who says “I’ve done the work in talk therapy, but my body hasn’t caught up”
If you’ve avoided therapy because you don’t want to keep talking about what happened — EMDR was made for you.
EMDR vs Traditional Talk Therapy — The Real Difference
Traditional Talk Therapy
Focuses on understanding the “why”
Can take months or years
Requires repeated retelling
Works through the thinking brain
Talk therapy is wonderful for insight.
EMDR Therapy
Focuses on changing the “how it feels now”
Most people notice big shifts in 6–12 sessions
No detailed retelling needed
Works directly with the nervous system & body
EMDR is wonderful for relief.
Many of my clients do both — insight when they want it, EMDR when they’re ready for the body to finally let go.
What a Session With Me Actually Looks Like
Settling in
● 50–90 minute sessions in my quiet Gulf Breeze office or online via secure video.
● Comfortable chair
● A few grounding breaths or a body scan.
Processing
● You bring up a memory or feeling.
● I guide gentle bilateral stimulation: eye movement, tones, or taps.
● You just notice what comes up — images, feelings, thoughts.
What People Typically Experience
● Feels like watching a movie become less intense
● We pause whenever you need.
Ending the Session
● Grounded, calmer, lighty.
● No homework
● No reliving
● Just Relief
EMDR for Veterans & VA Community Care
I’m honored to work with many veterans through VA Community Care.
If you have VA authorization, your sessions are fully covered — no out-of-pocket cost.
EMDR is one of the VA’s top-recommended treatments for PTSD because it works fast and doesn’t require long narratives.
Common things veterans say after a few sessions:
“I can finally drive without being anxious.”
“I can sleep through the night again.”
“I can think about deployment without my chest tightening.”
Pricing, Insurance, & Payment
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Private pay: $175–$225 per session (sliding scale available)
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VA Community Care: $0 with authorization
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Superbills provided for possible out-of-network reimbursement
Frequently Asked Questions
About EMDR in Pensacola & Gulf Breeze
Q: How many sessions will I need?
Most people feel significant relief in 6–12 sessions. Complex or childhood trauma may take longer — we go at your pace.
Q: Do I have to talk about everything that happened?
No. Many clients never share details. We work with the feeling or image that’s stuck, not the whole story.
Q: Can EMDR be done online?
Yes — and it’s just as effective. I’m authorized in 40+ PsyPact states.
Q: What if I cry or get overwhelmed?
That’s normal and okay. We always stop, use grounding tools, and only continue when you feel ready.
Q: Is EMDR safe for dissociation or complex trauma?
Yes — when done by a trained therapist who goes slowly and builds resources first (how I always work).
EMDR Trauma Therapist Near Me?
Contact Me
Email: maria@hayfieldhealing.org
Phone: 850-696-7218
Address: 3000 Gulf Breeze Pkwy
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Hours: Monday - Friday 6 PM - 8 PM
Sunday 9 AM - 7 PM
I offer EMDR therapy in Gulf Breeze, FL with options in-office or online therapy across all PsyPact States
Request a free 15-minute consult for EMDR Therapy in Pensacola. We'll talk about what's been hard, what you're hoping for, and whether EMDR or another therapy like Brainspotting might be the right fit for you.
Healing doesn’t have to be hard.
It just has to start.
— Dr. Maria Niitepold, PsyD
Trauma & Somatic Therapist
EMDR Trained by an EMDRIA-Approved Curriculum
Gulf Breeze · Pensacola · PsyPact nationwide