EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals recover from trauma, anxiety, depression, and panic disorder. It goes beyond eye movements, using the brain’s natural healing processes to reprocess traumatic experiences.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR stimulates brain activity similar to REM sleep, where the brain processes survival information and memories. This supports emotional healing and learning. Disruptions like anxiety or substance use can hinder REM sleep, affecting memory processing.

What to Expect in an EMDR Session?

An EMDR therapist first gathers background information and builds a therapeutic relationship. You’ll learn coping skills before recalling memories for reprocessing, using bilateral stimulation like eye movements, tones, or tapping.

EMDR Group Therapy Intensive Program: Heal Together with G-TEP

Our EMDR Group Therapy Intensive Program uses the Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) to help participants process and heal from trauma in a supportive group setting. G-TEP is an adaptation of EMDR therapy tailored for groups, making it ideal for those who’ve experienced shared traumatic events.

How G-TEP Works:

Preparation: Grounding exercises and building personal coping resources.
Assessment: Identify a specific traumatic memory and rate distress levels.
Desensitization: Use bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, sounds) to process trauma.
Installation: Replace negative beliefs with positive ones.
Body Scan: Check for any remaining physical tension.
Closure: Ensure safety and stability, then visualize handling future situations.

Benefits:

Supportive group environment
Time-efficient trauma processing
Effective for recent trauma
No pressure to share personal stories

Program Details:

Intake Assessment (45min) $175
8-weeks Wednesday 6:30pm-7:30pm $600 ($75 per group)

Registration:

Group Registration: For communities or groups.
Individual Registration: This is for those who want to join a group but are processing their own trauma.

Take the first step toward healing together in a safe and supportive space!

EMDR Therapist

Frank Guastella, LCSW, is a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Frank earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) from Adelphi University, where he gained extensive experience through internships at both outpatient clinics and residential treatment settings, focusing on individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Concurrently, he served as a direct support professional and behavioral consultant, assisting individuals on the autism spectrum in school and community-based environments.

Frank is an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) certified provider and a consultant-in-training, with specialized training in complex PTSD and recent traumatic events (R-TEP). He has also completed group EMDR training, equipping him to support communities that have experienced collective traumatic events. His expertise in trauma therapy is further enhanced by completing level one hypnosis training (20 hours) from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

At Long Island Behavioral Health (LIBH), Frank has developed a comprehensive social skills curriculum and facilitated social skills classes. He provides anger management coaching and individual psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, and children. Frank integrates a variety of therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and anger management coaching, to deliver person-centered, trauma-informed care.

Frank’s commitment to professional development is evident in his recent completion of R-TEP and G-TEP (Group Traumatic Events Protocol) training, enabling him to effectively assist clients who have endured recent traumatic events. His multifaceted approach ensures that each client receives tailored, high-quality care aimed at fostering resilience and recovery.