1930 Marlton Pike East, Suite O-75, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Jersey Behavioral Health 856-856-4499

Therapy we offer

EMDR therapy in Cherry Hill, NJ

A proven therapy that helps your brain heal from trauma, so painful memories stop running your life.

Call 856-856-4499
  • DMHAS, New Jersey Department of Mental Health and Addiction ServicesLicensed by the State of New Jersey
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What is EMDR?

Helping painful memories lose their grip

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. When something traumatic happens, the memory can get "stuck," still triggering the same fear and pain years later.

EMDR uses guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation while you briefly recall the memory, helping your brain reprocess it so it feels less intense. The World Health Organization recommends EMDR for PTSD.

Finding trauma support close to Haddonfield

When trauma affects sleep, relationships or your sense of safety, choosing care involves more than choosing a therapy name. For Haddonfield and South Jersey residents exploring our Cherry Hill programs, the first conversation can focus on what feels manageable and how much support you need.

Preparation and readiness matter before memory-processing work begins. Ask admissions about EMDR-trained clinician availability and whether a specialist referral is appropriate. Our Haddonfield mental health care guide also explains nearby program options.

EMDR by the numbers

6 in 100
people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. [1]
WHO
recommends EMDR as a treatment for PTSD in adults, children and adolescents. [2]
8
structured phases guide every course of EMDR therapy. [3]
1987
the year Dr. Francine Shapiro first developed EMDR, now backed by decades of research. [3]

How EMDR helps

  • Reprocess stuck memories

    Help painful memories get filed away like other memories, instead of feeling like they are happening now.

  • Calm the body's alarm

    Reduce flashbacks, nightmares and the jumpy, on-edge feeling trauma can leave behind.

  • Replace painful beliefs

    Shift beliefs like "I'm not safe" toward "I survived, and I'm safe now."

  • Less talk required

    You do not have to describe every detail of what happened.

  • Lasting relief

    Many people notice changes in a shorter time than with traditional talk therapy alone.

  • Every plan is personal.

    You'll build coping skills, emotional regulation and relapse prevention strategies.

The EMDR process

EMDR follows eight structured phases, grouped here into five simple steps.

  1. History and planning

    Your therapist learns your story and identifies which memories to target.

  2. Preparation

    Build calming and grounding skills so you feel safe before reprocessing begins.

  3. Reprocessing

    Focus briefly on a memory while following guided eye movements or taps, until it feels less upsetting.

  4. Installing positive beliefs

    Strengthen a healthier belief about yourself in place of the old one.

  5. Closure and review

    End each session feeling settled, then check progress at the next visit.

Clinically reviewed

  • Reviewed by Mark Sigmund, MA, LPC, CCDP, Clinical Director
  • Based on peer-reviewed research and national guidelines
  • Delivered by licensed New Jersey clinicians
  • Sources listed at the bottom of this page

Where we offer EMDR

EMDR can be part of individual therapy in our Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program and Virtual IOP, at our Cherry Hill office or by secure telehealth anywhere in New Jersey.

856-856-4499

Conditions we treat

What EMDR can help with

  • PTSD and trauma

    The condition EMDR was first developed to treat.

  • Anxiety and panic

    Ease fears rooted in past experiences.

  • Depression

    Address painful memories behind low mood.

  • Grief and loss

    Process loss without being stuck in it.

  • Childhood trauma

    Heal experiences that still shape how you feel today.

  • Trauma and substance use

    Treat the trauma that can drive substance use.

Types of bilateral stimulation

Woven through both group and individual sessions.

  • Eye movements

    Following the therapist's hand or a light bar side to side.

  • Tapping

    Gentle alternating taps on the hands or knees.

  • Audio tones

    Sounds that alternate between the left and right ear.

  • Safe place exercise

    A calming image you can return to anytime.

Insurance we work with

We work with most major plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Horizon BCBSNJ, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Optum. We'll verify your benefits for free, usually the same day.

  • Aetna insurance logo
  • Anthem insurance logo
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance logo
  • Cigna insurance logo
  • UnitedHealthcare insurance logo
  • Optum insurance logo
  • Carelon insurance logo
  • Harvard Pilgrim insurance logo
  • UMR insurance logo
  • Horizon BCBSNJ
  • Humana
  • Magellan
  • Beacon
  • Compsych
  • Health Net
  • Independence Administrators
  • Carefirst

Getting started

  1. 1

    Reach out

    Contact our Admissions Team 24/7 or fill out a brief online form to verify insurance and begin the process.

  2. 2

    Complete a pre-screen

    We'll assess your needs and match you with a personalized treatment plan developed by licensed professionals.

  3. 3

    Start healing

    Schedule your initial intake evaluation and meet your treatment team, often within 24 hours of reaching out.

Frequently asked questions

What is EMDR therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a structured therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories, so they feel less intense and less disruptive in daily life.

How does EMDR work?

While you briefly focus on a memory, your therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements or taps. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge and more helpful beliefs can take hold.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

Not necessarily. Unlike some therapies, EMDR does not require you to describe the memory at length or complete homework about it.

Is EMDR evidence-based?

Yes. The World Health Organization recommends EMDR for PTSD, and the American Psychological Association's PTSD guideline includes it as a conditionally recommended treatment.

What can EMDR help with besides PTSD?

It is also used for anxiety, panic, depression, grief and other distress connected to painful life experiences.

Where do you offer EMDR?

EMDR can be part of your individual therapy in our PHP, IOP and Virtual IOP programs. Our admissions team can tell you what fits your plan.

Sources

  1. [1] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD. How Common Is PTSD in Adults? https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp
  2. [2] World Health Organization. Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress, 2013. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241505406
  3. [3] EMDR Institute. What is EMDR? https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/
  4. [4] American Psychological Association. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of PTSD: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing

Treatment can be life changing. Reach out today.

We'll verify your benefits for free and schedule a confidential assessment.

856-856-4499

In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911.

Clinically reviewed by Mark Sigmund, MA, LPC, CCDP, Clinical Director. This page is for information only and is not medical advice.

Jersey Behavioral Health · 1930 Marlton Pike East, Suite O-75, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Serving Cherry Hill and South Jersey

Our Cherry Hill office is an easy drive from towns across Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties, and our virtual IOP is open to adults anywhere in New Jersey. Clients come to us from: