Florida Healthy Minds, Inc.
About
My name is Polly Charette
Brief.
Providing Specialized Evidence-Based Therapies
EMDR, Brainspotting, Vagal Nerve Healing, IFS, Somatic Therapy
For PTSD, Depression, OCD, Anxiety Disorders, Somatic Pain, and complications from traumatic Brain Injury
My treatment methods
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a gentle, focused therapy that helps access and process trauma, anxiety, and emotional experiences that may be stored deeper in the brain than words can reach. By using specific eye positions, we allow your brain to process and release unresolved experiences naturally. You don't have to retell every detail of what happened for healing to occur. Many clients describe Brainspotting as helping them feel calmer, more grounded, and less emotionally reactive over time. I guide you through the process at a pace that feels safe and comfortable, allowing your brain to do the work it was designed to do.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps us understand the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Together, we'll slow things down and look at the stories your mind is telling you. Are they accurate? Are they helpful? Do they still fit the life you want today? Rather than telling you what to think, I'll help you examine your options, weigh the costs and benefits of different choices, and develop practical tools for responding in ways that align with your values and goals. CBT is a collaborative, solution-focused approach that gives you skills you can use long after therapy ends.
EMDR
One of the things I appreciate most about EMDR is that healing doesn't always require talking through every detail of a painful experience. Your brain already knows how to heal—sometimes it just needs the right conditions to do so. Traumatic and distressing experiences can sometimes become "stuck" in the brain, causing them to continue affecting how we think, feel, and respond long after the event has passed. EMDR helps your brain process these memories so they become part of your past rather than something that continues to feel like it's is happening in the present. During EMDR, we'll use bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or alternating taps, while you briefly focus on a memory or current concern. You never have to share more than you're comfortable sharing, and we'll move at a pace that feels safe for you. As the brain reprocesses these experiences, many people notice a reduction in emotional distress, negative beliefs begin to shift, and they are able to respond to life's challenges with greater confidence and resilience. EMDR can be effective for trauma, anxiety, grief, phobias, and many other concerns. Typically there is some relief (not resolution) in just on session.
​Internal Family Systems
We all have different "parts" of ourselves. You may have a part that worries, a part that strives for perfection, a part that avoids conflict, or a part that wants to protect you from getting hurt. These parts aren't flaws—they developed for a reason, often as a way of helping you survive difficult experiences. Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps us understand these different parts with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of trying to get rid of them, we'll explore what they're trying to protect, what they need, and how they may be affecting your life today. As you begin to heal the wounded parts of yourself, you'll feel more balanced, compassionate toward yourself, and better able to respond from your calm, confident core rather than from old survival patterns. IFS is a gentle, respectful approach that can be especially helpful for trauma, anxiety, childhood wounds, relationship difficulties, and building greater self-understanding.
Mind-body approach
Our minds and bodies are constantly communicating with one another. Stress, trauma, anxiety, and grief don't just affect our thoughts—they can also show up as muscle tension, chronic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, headaches, or a constant feeling of being "on edge." A mind-body approach recognizes that healing involves more than talking about problems. In our work together, we'll learn to notice how your body responds to stress and use practical techniques to help regulate your nervous system. This may include breathing exercises, grounding skills, mindfulness, body awareness, movement, or other strategies that help you feel calmer, safer, and more connected to yourself. Rather than fighting your body's reactions, we'll work to understand what they're trying to communicate. As your nervous system begins to feel safe, many people notice improvements not only in their emotional well-being but also in how they experience stress in everyday life.
About Me
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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience helping adults navigate trauma, anxiety, major life transitions, relationship challenges, and the lasting impact of difficult life experiences. I earned my Master of Social Work from Boston College and have worked in a variety of clinical settings, including extensive work with active-duty military members, veterans, and their families.Trauma treatment has been a significant focus of my career. My approach integrates evidence-based and mind-body therapies, including EMDR, Brainspotting, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed work, and somatic approaches. I have particular experience working with PTSD, military and combat-related trauma, moral injury, childhood and family-of-origin issues, anxiety, and the challenges that can accompany significant changes in health, relationships, or identity.My style is warm, conversational, and down-to-earth. I believe therapy should feel like a collaborative process rather than a clinical checklist. I use humor when appropriate, provide a safe space to process difficult experiences, and also gently challenge clients when they feel stuck in patterns that are no longer serving them.I especially enjoy working with people who have spent years being strong for everyone else and are ready to better understand themselves, develop healthier boundaries, rebuild trust in their own judgment, and create meaningful change in their lives.
EMDR &
Brainspotting
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy technique to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences or distressing memories. While the exact mechanisms of how EMDR works are not fully understood, it is believed to have several effects on the brain that contribute to its therapeutic benefits. Here are some ways in which EMDR may help the brain:
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Memory reconsolidation: EMDR appears to facilitate the reprocessing and integration of traumatic memories. During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the client to recall the distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, which can involve eye movements, taps, or sounds. This bilateral stimulation activates the brain's information processing systems, allowing the individual to reprocess the memory and form new associations. This process may help the traumatic memory to be stored in a more adaptive and less distressing way.
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Desensitization: EMDR aims to reduce the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories. By repeatedly revisiting the distressing memory during EMDR sessions while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, it is thought that the emotional charge of the memory can be diminished. This process is known as desensitization, and it can reduce the intensity of negative emotions and symptoms associated with the traumatic experience.
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Integration of information: Traumatic experiences can sometimes be stored in isolated memory networks and not fully integrated with other memories and beliefs. EMDR helps connect the memory's fragmented aspects with more adaptive and positive information. This integration process may lead to a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of the traumatic experience and oneself.
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Neurobiological changes: EMDR may also have effects on the brain's neurobiology. Research suggests that EMDR can influence the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotional processing, decreasing its reactivity. Additionally, EMDR has been found to increase activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making and emotional regulation. These neurobiological changes may contribute to a reduction in anxiety and distress associated with traumatic memories.
Somatic therapy can help address both physical and emotional pain. Here's how somatic treatment can aid in pain management:
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Body awareness: Somatic therapy helps individuals develop a heightened awareness of bodily sensations and signals. This increased awareness allows individuals to notice pain more acutely, understand its patterns, and recognize its triggers. By becoming more attuned to their bodies, individuals can gain insights into the root causes of their pain and make more informed decisions about managing it.
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Regulation of the nervous system: Somatic therapy techniques focus on regulating the autonomic nervous system, which plays a crucial role in pain perception and response. By engaging in activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness practices, somatic therapy helps calm the sympathetic nervous system (associated with the "fight-or-flight" response) and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (associated with relaxation). This regulation can help alleviate pain by reducing muscle tension, promoting circulation, and encouraging a sense of calm.
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Release of physical tension: Emotional and psychological stress can often manifest as physical tension in the body, contributing to pain. Somatic therapy techniques, such as bodywork, gentle movement exercises, or somatic experiencing, help individuals release physical tension and unwind patterns of holding or bracing in the body. By addressing and releasing these physical tensions, individuals may experience reduced pain symptoms.
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Resolving trauma-related pain: Traumatic experiences can significantly impact the body and contribute to chronic pain. Somatic therapy approaches specifically addressing trauma, such as somatic experiencing or sensorimotor psychotherapy, can help individuals process and release unresolved trauma-associated energy. As trauma-related tensions and sensations are discharged from the body, pain symptoms may decrease or resolve.
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Integration of body and mind: Somatic therapy emphasizes the integration of the mind and body, recognizing that emotional and psychological factors can influence the experience of pain. By exploring pain's emotional and cognitive dimensions, individuals can gain insights into the underlying factors that contribute to their pain. This integrated approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of pain and supports developing coping strategies that address physical and emotional aspects.
