You’ve talked about it. You understand why it bothers you. You’ve tried to move on. But the same things still set you off, keep you awake, or leave you questioning yourself.
You want to have a hard conversation without replaying it all evening. Drive without bracing for another accident. Enjoy time with your family without part of your mind being somewhere else.
If you’re searching for EMDR therapy in Shalimar or Fort Walton Beach, you may already know you’re ready for help. You want to know what can actually change and who can help you get there.
I’m Stephanie Butler, a licensed mental health counselor with 20 years of clinical experience. At Clarity on the Coast, I help adults work through painful experiences and the reactions that keep affecting their lives. My office is in Shalimar, serving Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin, and surrounding communities. I also offer online trauma therapy throughout Florida.
Looking for EMDR? Here’s How I Work
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, helps people process distressing memories. My training includes EMDR, and the approach I primarily use is Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART.
I am a Master ART Practitioner. I completed my Basic and Advanced training directly with ART’s founder, Laney Rosenzweig.
You do not need to choose a therapy method before contacting me. Start with what you want to change. I’ll explain how I recommend we approach it and what the process involves.
We Address What You Feel in Your Body, Too
Sometimes you know you’re safe, but your chest still tightens. Your stomach drops. You feel the urge to leave, shut down, or defend yourself before you’ve had time to think.
In ART, we address those physical sensations as we work with upsetting memories and images. I guide you through each step using eye movements and imagery.
We also use a process called positization. This involves developing new imagery that feels peaceful, positive, or resolving to you. You still know what happened. The goal is for the memory to feel less distressing when you think about it.
You stay in control, and you do not have to tell me every detail.
Read more about what ART is or what to expect in an ART session.
Can You Feel Better After One ART Session?
In my practice, most of my clients report feeling better after their first ART session. I know that can be hard to believe, especially when you’ve struggled with something for years.
That does not mean everything is resolved in one appointment. It means relief can begin sooner than you might expect. Your treatment will depend on what we’re working on and how you respond.
Laney named her book Too Good to Be True? That title captures how surprising it can feel to experience relief when you expected the process to be much harder.
Many people believe they have to suffer to get better. They worry they’ll have to describe every painful detail or leave each session overwhelmed for therapy to work. If you already feel exhausted, the thought of taking on more distress can keep you from starting.
Therapy can involve difficult feelings. But how much you suffer is not a measure of how much progress you’re making.
I explain more in You Don’t Have to Suffer to Heal.
Online Trauma Therapy Across Florida
You do not have to live near my Shalimar office to work with me. I also offer online ART and trauma therapy for adults located throughout Florida.
If you prefer to meet from home or live outside the Fort Walton Beach area, we can discuss whether online sessions are a good fit for your needs.
Take the Next Step
You do not need to figure out the perfect way to explain what’s wrong before reaching out. “I understand it, but it still affects me” is enough to start.
We’ll talk about what is happening, what you want to feel different about, and how we can work toward that change.
Learn more about ART therapy at Clarity on the Coast, or request a free consultation to get started.
About the Author
Stephanie Butler, LMHC-S, NCC, MCAP, is a licensed mental health counselor and the owner of Clarity on the Coast in Shalimar, Florida. She brings 20 years of clinical experience to her work with adults dealing with trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, and chronic self-doubt. A Master ART Practitioner trained directly by ART’s founder, Laney Rosenzweig, Stephanie helps clients work toward feeling and responding differently in their daily lives. She serves Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin, and surrounding communities, with online therapy available throughout Florida.
