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EMDR Therapy in Bergen County, NJ

EMDR Therapists in Paramus for Trauma, Anxiety & PTSD

If you’ve been through something distressing—whether it was one clear event or years of chronic stress—your nervous system can keep reacting as if it’s still happening. You might feel stuck in anxiety, panic, intrusive memories, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, shame, or relationship triggers that don’t make logical sense.

At Dr. Stephen Oreski & Associates, we offer EMDR therapy in Paramus, NJ, serving clients across Bergen County. EMDR can help you process painful experiences so they stop hijacking your present.

Call 551-579-4441 to get matched with a therapist and discuss EMDR options.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy approach that helps the brain “re-file” distressing memories so they no longer feel immediate, dangerous, or overwhelming. While EMDR is widely known for trauma and PTSD, many people also use EMDR to work through:

  • Anxiety and panic symptoms connected to past experiences
  • Childhood emotional wounds and attachment injuries
  • Medical trauma, accidents, or sudden loss
  • Performance pressure, shame, or persistent negative self-beliefs
  • Relationship triggers and patterns that feel automatic

EMDR doesn’t erase what happened—it helps reduce the emotional intensity and the body-based alarm response so you can feel more grounded, present, and in control.

Who Is EMDR For?

EMDR may be a strong fit if you:

  • Keep replaying distressing memories or “what if” scenarios
  • Feel easily startled, on edge, or chronically tense
  • Avoid reminders of certain events, places, or people
  • Feel numb, disconnected, or shut down emotionally
  • Struggle with shame, self-blame, or a harsh inner critic
  • Notice strong reactions that feel bigger than the current situation

Our therapists in Bergen County work with adults, teens, and young adults (as clinically appropriate) and can integrate EMDR with other evidence-based approaches when helpful.

What to Expect in EMDR Therapy

We keep the process clear, collaborative, and paced to your readiness. A typical EMDR treatment experience includes:

You and your therapist identify the concerns bringing you in and the experiences that may be contributing to current symptoms. This can include “big T” trauma and smaller, repeated experiences that shaped beliefs about yourself and the world.

Before reprocessing, your therapist helps you build grounding skills and resources (so you’re not just “opening the floodgates”). This phase is especially important for anxiety, complex trauma, and nervous system sensitivity.

With your therapist’s guidance, you briefly focus on an identified memory while using bilateral stimulation (often eye movements or other forms). The goal is to help the brain process stuck material so it becomes less activating.

As emotional charge decreases, many clients report clearer thinking, less reactivity, improved self-trust, and a more steady sense of safety.

You’re in charge of the pace. A good EMDR therapist will never rush you into material you’re not ready to process.

Benefits of EMDR

Clients often pursue EMDR therapy because it can help reduce:

  • Intrusive memories, nightmares, and flashbacks
  • Panic symptoms and body-based alarm responses
  • Avoidance and emotional shutdown
  • Shame, self-blame, and negative self-beliefs (e.g., “I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough”)
  • Reactivity in relationships and conflict patterns
  • The sense of being “stuck” despite insight and effort

EMDR can be effective as a standalone approach or combined with therapies like CBT, DBT-informed skills, trauma-focused therapy, and attachment-based work, depending on your needs.

EMDR Therapy in Paramus, NJ (Serving Bergen County)

We provide EMDR-informed care to clients throughout Bergen County, including:

Paramus, Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, Wyckoff, Ramsey, Mahwah, Oakland, Franklin Lakes, Allendale, Waldwick, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Oradell, River Edge, Hackensack, Teaneck, Englewood, Tenafly, Closter, Fort Lee, Edgewater, Bergenfield, Dumont, New Milford, Hasbrouck Heights, Lyndhurst, Rutherford, and nearby communities.

Prefer remote care? Ask about telehealth therapy in New Jersey (availability varies by clinician and clinical fit).

Why Choose Dr. Stephen Oreski & Associates?

Choosing an EMDR therapist isn’t just about the method—it’s about feeling safe, understood, and appropriately guided.

At our Paramus practice, you can expect:

  • A warm, professional, nonjudgmentalenvironment
  • Thoughtful pacing and nervous-system-informedtrauma work
  • A focus on real-life outcomes: sleep, relationships, confidence, and emotional regulation
  • Coordinated care options when EMDR is best combined with skills-based therapy

If EMDR is the right fit for you, we’ll help you take the next step with clarity and support.

EMDR Therapy FAQs

It depends on your goals, history, and current stress level. Some clients focus on a specific event; others work on complex patterns over time. Your therapist will discuss a plan tailored to you.

Not necessarily. EMDR can be effective without extensive retelling. You’ll share what’s needed for therapy to be safe and effective, and your therapist will guide the process.

No. EMDR is commonly used for trauma and PTSD, but it may also help when anxiety, panic, shame, or relationship triggers are connected to past experiences.

Some people feel emotionally tired or notice temporary increases in dreams or feelings between sessions—especially early on. Proper preparation and pacing help reduce overwhelm.

In some cases, yes—depending on clinical factors, safety, and the clinician’s approach. We’ll help determine the best format for you.

Schedule an EMDR Therapy Consultation in Bergen County

If you’re looking for EMDR therapy in Bergen County or an EMDR therapist in Paramus, NJ, we’re here to help you move from survival mode into a steadier, more confident life.

Call (551) 579-4441 or Request an Appointment Online.

Let’s begin your journey toward a calmer, clearer, and more confident you and feel good again.

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