Don’t let old memories get in the way of healing.

EMDR Therapy for women in Toms River & Online in NJ.

Have you tried talk therapy and did not see the results you were hoping for?

Does this sound like you?

At some point in your life, you learned something that not only stuck with you, but feels like it literally got you stuck. You may feel that parts of your past have followed you to the present. These disturbing experiences feel trapped in your brain, and you are looking for a mental break.  While we cannot erase these memories that have you feeling negative beliefs, we can find rest by unlocking the negative feelings, thoughts and beliefs associated with that memory, and reprocess how your brain holds that memory. How would life be different for you if those triggering memories no longer had control?

You did not get to choose what happened to you, but you do get to choose how you heal

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, or EMDR, is an evidence based treatment that is used to help people heal from their traumas. It does that by unlocking a memory that is stuck and continues to trigger us.  These memories can cause a lot of pain, discomfort and negative feelings and emotions. EMDR unlocks these memories by using your own brain to do the healing through bilateral stimulation and unconscious material. 

The brain needs two parts to process memories: the part that learns, and the part that stores information you need to resolve it. When these two areas do not link up, you can continue to be triggered over and over by events. EMDR allows these two parts to link back up, allowing you to process these events. This can be done for a single event, a lifetime of events, or even a future event (like the anxiety about going to the dentist!).

Essentially, your brain changes the way it stores the memory.

Let EMDR do the work so your mind, body & soul can heal

EMDR allows your own brain to do the healing by using bilateral stimulation to unlock negative beliefs you have about yourself and/or a memory. Your brain then stores these,  which may be why you have people pleasing tendencies, triggers related to traumatic events like sights, smells, etc, and overwhelming physical responses to painful memories.

In our sessions, we will do the 8 phases that belong to EMDR. This includes

  • History taking

  • Preparation

  • Assessment

  • Desensitization

  • Installation

  • Body scan

  • Closure

  • Reevaluation of treatment effect

There is no right or wrong way to do EMDR, and we move at your pace. Sometimes we integrate Internal Family Systems to see if any “part” of you is having trouble with the healing. Check out the Internal Family Systems page for more information.

What to expect…

EMDR can help with…

  • Identifying your pain and triggers that block you from finding peace and confidence

  • Improving your self esteem by reprocessing difficult events that caused negative thought & belief systems

  • Finding physical relief from anxiety, depression & trauma

  • Connect with the ‘whys’ behind thoughts, feelings and behaviors

  • Improved quality of sleep

Together, let’s do some therapy that actually brings relief

  • Acute and Chronic traumas such as assault, abuse & violence

  • Childhood traumas

  • Medical traumas

  • Pregnancy & Birth Traumas

  • War and political turmoil

  • Work trauma for veterans, LEO & first responders

  • Car accidents

  • Performance Anxiety

  • Bullying

  • Social Anxiety

  • Phobias

  • And so much more…

Areas I can help…

FAQs about EMDR

  • There are 8 stages to EMDR and no time limit to healing. We work on regulating your system before we reprocess the memories, so there is no guide line, time table, or right way of EMDR.

  • This is the number one concern I hear from clients. There is no “right way” of doing EMDR, the clinician will guide you so you can focus on you and not “the right way” of doing it/

  • Yes, and it is pretty wonderful!

  • Standard sessions are 50 minutes. We can also do 90 minutes, or half or full day intensives. Please inquire about intensives.