EMDR Therapy
Heal From the Past. Live More Fully Now.
If you've tried talk therapy but still feel stuck and triggered, and carrying memories that won't let go, EMDR therapy may be what's been missing.
I'm Jennifer Stemmermann, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with offices in Ocean and Springfield, New Jersey. I offer EMDR therapy for adults and teens struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, and more. Whether you're dealing with a single difficult event or a lifetime of painful experiences, EMDR can help your nervous system finally process what it's been holding.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly researched, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process traumatic memories in a way that talking alone often cannot reach.During EMDR sessions, we use guided bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tactile buzzers, or tapping) while you briefly focus on a distressing memory, image, or negative belief about yourself. This process allows the brain to reprocess the memory so it loses its emotional charge, making space for new, helpful information to emerge about your current safety and sense of self-worth. What once felt overwhelming begins to feel like something that happened in the past, rather than something that is still happening now.
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR therapy is effective for a wide range of concerns, including:
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Trauma and PTSD — single-incident trauma, accidents, medical trauma, assault
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Complex PTSD — chronic or repeated trauma, childhood abuse or neglect
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Anxiety and panic
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Low self esteem
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Depression
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Grief and loss
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Divorce and relationship trauma
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Perfectionism
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Anger and emotional dysregulation
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Life transitions — major changes that feel destabilizing
What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
EMDR is a structured process with eight phases, and we move at the pace that’s best for you. You are never alone in it, and you are never required to go somewhere that doesn't feel safe.
Phase 1–2: History and Preparation We'll start by understanding your history, identifying your goals, and building the coping tools you'll use throughout treatment. This foundation matters and we won’t rush it.
Phase 3–6: Processing Using bilateral stimulation, we'll work through targeted memories in a way that is contained and carefully guided. Many clients are surprised by how much can shift in a single session. While EMDR was developed around a standard protocol (which remains highly effective for single-incident traumas like car accidents), I have spent years expanding my skills through advanced trainings and learning adaptations that make the approach effective for a much wider range of experiences.
Phase 7–8: Closure and Reassessment Each session ends with stabilization so you leave feeling grounded. Between sessions and over time, we'll track the changes unfolding in how your body and mind respond to what once felt so overwhelming. We will notice shifts in the beliefs you hold about yourself and the world, and arrive at a place where you know something difficult happened, and also know that it is not happening now.
Why Work with Me
EMDR is a powerful approach and the experience of your therapist genuinely matters. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR works by reducing your natural defenses so you can access difficult memories and shift the core beliefs you've carried about yourself and the world. This makes the therapeutic relationship and the therapist's skill especially important. When choosing an EMDR therapist, it's worth asking how long they have been practicing EMDR and how frequently they use it with clients. Proficiency deepens significantly with consistent, ongoing practice. This is particularly true if the experiences you want to address have roots in childhood.
I completed my EMDR training in 2017 and became certified by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) in 2020. Since then, I have continued building advanced skills by providing EMDR therapy regularly, attending specialized trainings, and seeking consultation when needed. I also believe that preparation is everything. EMDR processing can move quickly, and it often connects to related memories from your past as your brain works to heal. Early in our work together, we focus on grounding and calming skills for you to use in-between sessions and during the reprocessing if needed. If childhood experiences are part of what we're addressing, we also develop internal resources that support the process. This preparation builds the trust and therapeutic alliance that make everything else possible and sets the stage for lasting change.
EMDR Therapy in Ocean, NJ — and Springfield, NJ
My primary office is located in Ocean, New Jersey, conveniently serving clients throughout Monmouth County including Asbury Park, Red Bank, Long Branch, Eatontown, and Shrewsbury. I also see clients at my Springfield, NJ office, which is easily accessible for those coming from Millburn, Summit, Westfield, Maplewood, and the surrounding Union and Essex County areas. Telehealth EMDR sessions are available for clients anywhere in New Jersey and New York.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
How is EMDR different from regular talk therapy? Talk therapy helps you gain skills and understand your experiences. EMDR works differently- it targets the way traumatic memories are stored in the brain and nervous system, which is why it can create change even when years of talking haven't been enough. I often combine both talk therapy and EMDR therapy with my clients so they can receive the maximum benefit.
How many EMDR sessions will I need? It varies. Some people experience meaningful shifts in a handful of sessions; others with more complex histories work in EMDR over a longer period. We'll assess together as we go.
Is EMDR only for PTSD? No. While EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, it is now widely used for anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, perfectionism, and many other concerns rooted in difficult past experiences.
Do I have to talk about everything in detail? No-one of EMDR's advantages is that you don't need to verbally recount every detail of a traumatic experience for processing to occur. Many clients find this a relief.
Is EMDR available via telehealth? Yes. I offer telehealth EMDR sessions for clients throughout New Jersey and New York using adapted bilateral stimulation techniques that work equally online.
