Online EMDR Therapy for Adults in New Jersey, Pennsylvania

EMDR Therapy for Childhood & Relationship Trauma

You can honor what happened to you without being controlled by it.

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You’re starting to wonder if you’ll ever feel “normal” again.

Someone’s tone changes, and your stomach drops. You were in the middle of an ordinary conversation, but suddenly you feel like a child again—waiting to be criticized, blamed, or told you’re too sensitive. Or it could be an unanswered text that leaves you wondering what you did wrong and whether someone is pulling away.

You are usually great at pushing through and putting others’ needs first. You thought you were past it all, but something keeps bringing you back. Maybe you go quiet during conflict, apologize when you haven’t done anything wrong, or feel guilty whenever you set a boundary. You might avoid certain conversations or family gatherings because of the feelings they bring up.

From the outside, you seem capable and on top of everything. Inside, you’re exhausted from overthinking, trying to get everything right, and watching for signs that someone is upset. Your family may have always called you “sensitive,” but you learned to live with it. Lately, though, keeping it all together feels overwhelming.

Maybe you…

Keep replaying a painful childhood experience, a hurtful relationship, or a moment when you felt powerless, and you can’t figure out why it still has this much power over you.

Have tried therapy before and maybe even found it beneficial, but still have those unresolved feelings swirling around whenever you think about the situation you’re trying to move on from.

Put everyone’s needs ahead of your own, because taking up space physically or emotionally doesn’t feel completely safe.

Feel on edge in your own body, struggle to settle down, or notice yourself bracing for criticism or conflict, even when things seem okay.

Pull away when someone tries getting close to you, or react strongly to the people you love most, and you don’t fully understand why.

Are starting to realize how much your upbringing still affects you now—in your relationships, your boundaries, and the way you see yourself.

Some reactions to daily life might feel completely out of your control, but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.

What is EMDR?

Sometimes a painful experience is over, but it doesn’t feel that way. You may know you’re no longer in that childhood home or hurtful relationship, yet a familiar tone, disagreement, or feeling of rejection brings back the same fear, shame, or helplessness.

Instead of feeling like something that happened to you, the experience can feel like something that is still happening. You understand the difference in your mind, but your reactions haven’t caught up.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy for PTSD that is also used to address distressing memories and their effects.

EMDR can help those memories feel less distressing, so you have more room to respond to what is happening now.

My approach

Many adults I work with grew up around criticism, emotional distance, unpredictability, or pressure to take care of everyone else. Others have experienced hurtful or controlling relationships that left them questioning their worth and judgment.

Talking about and growing to understand those experiences can go a long way, but sometimes understanding alone doesn’t change how you feel. In that case, we may explore EMDR.

Before working directly with painful memories, we spend time building trust, understanding your needs, and developing ways to manage distress. My attachment-focused approach includes resourcing to help you feel more supported as we prepare.

When you’re ready, I guide you through eye movements or alternating taps while you focus on aspects of an experience. We check in throughout the process, and you can ask to pause at any time.

The goal isn’t for you to forget your childhood, your relationship, or any other experience. It’s to help the memory have less control over your present life.

Together, we work toward helping your body feel what your mind may already understand:

“That happened then. I have more choices now.”

Common Questions About EMDR

  • That’s okay! We’ll talk about what’s been difficult, what you hope will change, and whether EMDR or another approach makes sense for you.

  • EMDR generally does not require a detailed retelling of every experience. We’ll still discuss enough to plan treatment and understand what you notice during the work.

  • We can begin with your current concerns and relevant history. You don’t need to identify a memory yourself before reaching out.

  • Not necessarily. We begin by understanding your needs and preparing for the work. The amount of preparation varies.

  • No. You remain awake and aware, and you can communicate with me throughout the session.

  • There isn’t one timeline. Your goals, history, preparation needs, and response to treatment all affect the pace. We’ll review your progress together.