Port St. Lucie keeps growing, and so do the demands on the women who live here. Maybe you commute down I-95 every morning, run a household in Tradition or St. Lucie West, and still carry memories you’ve never had the space to deal with. If you’re searching for EMDR in Port St. Lucie, you might already know what you want to work on. You just need someone trained to help you do it, at a pace that feels steady.
I’m April Forella, LMHC, and I’m an EMDR Certified Therapist through EMDRIA. My practice is in Palm City, Martin County, not Port St. Lucie: 901 SW Martin Downs Blvd., Suite 306, about 20–25 minutes from most of the city via I-95 Exit 110. I see adult women in person for weekly trauma therapy and for EMDR Intensives. Because the office sits so close to the interstate and the Turnpike, getting here usually means one highway and a few turns.
From Tradition or St. Lucie West, take I-95 south (entering at Exit 121, 118 or 114) to Exit 110, SR-714, and head east on SW Martin Hwy toward SW Martin Downs Blvd. and number 901, Suite 306. From eastern Port St. Lucie near Port St. Lucie Blvd., Florida’s Turnpike south to Exit 133 also connects to SR-714.
901 SW Martin Downs Blvd., Suite 306, Palm City, FL 34990 · St. Lucie County
Trauma therapy and EMDR close to Port St. Lucie
Trauma isn’t only the dramatic events people picture. It can be a single moment, like an accident or medical emergency, or it can be years of growing up in a home where you had to stay alert. Complex trauma often shows up later as people-pleasing, perfectionism, trouble trusting, or a sense that you’re always one mistake away from being rejected. My trauma therapy work is designed for both kinds, and you don’t need a diagnosis or a dramatic story to deserve help.
EMDR gives that work a clear structure. We begin with your history and a plan, then build grounding and resourcing skills before processing anything difficult. You stay present and in control the whole time and never have to share every detail. The American Psychological Association conditionally recommends EMDR for PTSD, and it’s widely used for trauma that started in childhood as well. Your story is welcome here, in as much or as little detail as you choose.
Why Port St. Lucie women choose an EMDR Intensive
A 20–25 minute drive each way is manageable for weekly sessions, but for busy women it can add up. An EMDR Intensive concentrates the work into longer blocks: a 90-minute pre-intensive assessment, one to three days of 3-hour therapy sessions, and a 90-minute follow-up 1–2 weeks later. Instead of starting and stopping every week, you get uninterrupted time to go deeper on one specific issue, and you only make the trip from Port St. Lucie a handful of times.
Intensives tend to fit women who are ready to focus, short on time, or feeling stuck after previous therapy. They work best when you’re not in immediate crisis and have some coping tools and support in place. The pre-intensive assessment exists partly to check that timing with you honestly, and if weekly sessions are the better fit right now, I’ll say so. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 or call 911. You can learn more on the EMDR Intensives page.
Ready to focus on a specific trauma, trigger or pattern
Short on time for an ongoing weekly appointment
Have done therapy before and feel stuck
Emotionally stable, with some support in place
What to expect: first call to first session
Your first step is a free phone consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re hoping to change, whether weekly EMDR or an intensive makes more sense, and any questions you have about the process. Phone (561) 818-6964 or email april@aprilforella.com. Calls and messages are returned within 24–48 business hours, and appointments are Monday through Friday. You don’t need to have the right words ready. Plenty of women start with “I’m not sure where to begin,” and that’s enough.
Weekly sessions are $200 for 60 minutes, and you’ll get a written Good Faith Estimate before starting. If your plan has out-of-network benefits, a superbill can help you request partial reimbursement for weekly sessions. EMDR Intensives are $1,350 for one 3-hour day, $2,025 for two days and $2,700 for three, each with the pre- and post-intensive sessions and a workbook included. Intensives are private pay and not reimbursable. For a full breakdown, see what an EMDR Intensive costs.
The Palm City office at 901 SW Martin Downs Blvd. is about 20–25 minutes from most of Port St. Lucie. From Tradition or St. Lucie West, it’s a straight run south on I-95 to Exit 110 (SR-714). From eastern Port St. Lucie, Florida’s Turnpike south to Exit 133 is another option. Traffic on I-95 at rush hour can add time.
Is there an EMDR Intensive near Port St. Lucie?
Yes. April Forella, LMHC, offers EMDR Intensives in person at her Palm City office, a short drive south of Port St. Lucie. Intensives include a 90-minute pre-intensive assessment, one to three 3-hour intensive days, a 90-minute follow-up and a workbook. Packages are $1,350, $2,025 or $2,700, and the assessment helps decide whether an intensive is right for you now.
Can I do an intensive if I live in Port St. Lucie and already have a therapist?
Often, yes. Working with April for an intensive doesn’t mean leaving your current therapist. Many women use an intensive to work on one stuck memory or pattern with concentrated time, then return to their regular therapist with that work underway. You’re welcome to coordinate with your therapist, and April can talk through how that might look during your consultation.
Do you work with complex trauma or childhood trauma?
Yes. Complex trauma (CPTSD) and childhood trauma are among April’s specialties. Work with complex trauma usually takes more preparation time, so the early phases of EMDR focus on stabilization, grounding and emotional-regulation skills. The pace is set together, and you never have to go further than feels manageable in a given session.
Do you offer telehealth for Port St. Lucie clients?
Sessions are primarily in person in Palm City, and EMDR Intensives are always in person. For Florida residents, telehealth may be an option when it’s clinically appropriate. If the drive up from Port St. Lucie is a concern during certain weeks, such as a busy season at work, ask about it during your free consultation and you’ll get an honest answer about what fits.
Your next step
You don’t have to be the strong one all the time.
Schedule a complimentary phone consultation. Share what you’re carrying, ask your questions, and find out whether weekly therapy, extended sessions or an EMDR Intensive fits what you need right now.
