Joseph Fuhrmeister, LMHC

Treatment Approach

The focus of my therapeutic practice is to help individuals who have experienced trauma, the LGBTQIA+ community, and those wishing to understand and manage emotions. If you struggle to recover from your past, feel disconnected, isolated, and frustrated, and if it feels like you are stuck in the same patterns over and over with little support or guidance, I can help. Many of the clients I work with have endured abuse, neglect, or are survivors of other traumas. I also specialize in helping clients navigate adversities related to their gender and/or sexuality.

Clients I have worked with describe my style as direct, supportive, and exploratory. I take a person-centered approach, meaning I put the client in the driver’s seat while facilitating the self-discovery process. I borrow from various psychotherapy modalities, such as Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat trauma and adversity, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) for identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to distressing emotions, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) for resolving psychological dysfunction. I am a trained EMDR therapist, and I use it frequently with clients to treat trauma. EMDR therapy helps develop skills and utilizes techniques to process through trauma and other life experiences with the intent to improve how you view yourself, the world, and other people, in addition to reducing PTSD symptoms (See www.emdria.org for more info).

Specialties

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • LGBTQIA+ Affirming

  • Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance

  • Stress Management

  • Religious Trauma

About Me

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Gainesville, Florida in private practice. My professional experience has been in community agency settings providing outpatient therapy for individuals, couples, and groups from a diverse population with mental health and social concerns ranging from mild to severe. I am professionally trained in a type of therapy called Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat trauma and adversity, though this is not the only approach I use in therapy. I have experience working with LGBTQIA+ clients, individuals wanting to heal from trauma and adversity, mood disorders and anxiety, anger management, and religious trauma.

I have a Master of Arts degree in Counselor Education from University of Central Florida (2021) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from University of Florida (2017).

Some fun facts about me: I grew up in the Midwest and transplanted to Florida in 2010. My husband is Brazilian and I am learning Portuguese (not currently fluent). We have more plant babies than I am willing to admit!

My office is a welcoming space where learning and growth are encouraged and supported. As you settle into the environment we create together, you’ll find it to be a comfortable retreat—an inviting place to pause, reflect, and recharge. Please feel free to enjoy a beverage from the refreshment bar while you wait, and take in the calming atmosphere designed with your comfort in mind.

Therapeutic Setting

  • Trauma Treatment

    Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This is a type of therapy that utilizes eye-movements, ear tones, and hand vibrations to reprocess past experiences. https://www.emdria.org/

  • LGBTQIA+

    Self-identified LGBTQIA+ therapist. Many of my LGBTQIA+ clients have reported they feel more comfortable and safe with someone they can relate to or who understands their experience.

  • Other Treatment Modalities

    Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

  • You can request an appointment by clicking here or you can contact me directly by either calling me at 352-316-7745 or emailing me at joseph@innerpathcounseling.net

  • My self-pay rate is $130 for a 50 minute session. You may also be eligible for some or all of the cost of services to be covered by your insurance company. Verify with your insurance company first for eligibility and whether a copay or coinsurance applies.

  • It is recommended that you check with your insurance company first to ensure my services are covered. I accept Florida Blue (BCBS), Gator Care, United Healthcare, Aetna, AvMed, Oscar Health, and Optum insurance plans.

  • Therapy sessions are 50 minutes long and require an initial assessment to identify presenting problems, treatment planning, and potential diagnosis. After the initial assessment, we will work together to address your immediate concerns and start implementing strategies for lasting change. Traditional talk therapy requires a safe and trusting relationship between the client and therapist. I will work hard to utilize my skillset to help you think and act in more constructive ways, cope with life's stressors, heal from your past, and gain confidence in the present. Therapy typically lasts 3-6 months depending on the presenting problem(s) being treated, though it is not uncommon for therapy to last greater periods of time.

  • While it is important for you to decide what you need, everyone could use some therapy at some point in their life. If you struggle to manage emotions, are having a hard time navigating current stressors, struggle with adversities related to your gender and/or sexuality, experience conflict in relationships, are trying to cope with grief and loss, feel depressed and anxious, and experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (e.g. nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of trauma reminders, feelings of fear or anxiety after the trauma, altered negative beliefs about yourself, others, and the world after the trauma, dissociation, etc.), therapy might be right for you. While this list does not include all the reasons people come to therapy, it provides some common examples.

FAQ