EMDR Therapy for Trauma in Bergen County, NJ
EMDR Specialized Trauma Treatment in Englewood, NJ Serving Bergen, Monmouth, Essex, Hudson & Somerset County In-Person and Via Telehealth
Trauma Doesn't Have to Define the Rest of Your Life.
You've tried to move on. You've talked about it. You understand it. But something in your body, your nervous system, your gut, still won't let go.
That's not weakness. That's trauma. And talking about it more isn't always the answer.
EMDR therapy works differently. It doesn't ask you to relive the past in detail or find the perfect words for what happened. It works directly with how your brain has stored the experience and helps it finally process, integrate, and heal.
At Clear Light Therapy in Englewood, NJ, Maya Golebiewski, LSW provides EMDR therapy for trauma, PTSD, and complex emotional wounds, in person in Bergen County and via telehealth across New Jersey.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro and now recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a first-line treatment for trauma and PTSD.
EMDR works by using bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds, while you briefly focus on a distressing memory. This process activates the brain's natural healing mechanisms, allowing traumatic memories to be reprocessed so they no longer carry the same emotional charge.
The result isn't forgetting what happened. It's that the memory loses its grip, the flashbacks, the body responses, the overwhelming emotions, so you can finally move forward.
Who Is EMDR For?
EMDR is effective for anyone whose past experiences are still showing up in their present life, through anxiety, avoidance, physical symptoms, relationship patterns, or a persistent sense that something is wrong even when things are objectively okay.
EMDR at Clear Light Therapy helps with:
Single-incident trauma, accidents, assaults, medical events, loss
Childhood trauma and emotional neglect
Complex PTSD and developmental trauma
Sexual trauma and interpersonal violence
Grief and sudden loss
Trauma from chronic illness or medical procedures
Relationship trauma and attachment wounds
Trauma co-occurring with anxiety or eating disorders
How Is EMDR Different From Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy asks you to think and speak about difficult experiences. For many trauma survivors, this approach has limits, you can understand your trauma intellectually and still feel completely stuck in your body.
EMDR bypasses the need to verbalize everything. It works at the neurological level, targeting how the brain has stored the traumatic memory, not just how you think about it. Clients often describe EMDR as the first therapy that created real change after years of talking.
Not sure what EMDR actually involves?
These short videos from leading mental health organizations and therapists explain what it is, how it works, and what to expect, so you can feel informed and ready before your first session!
Video 1: Introduction to EMDR Therapy
By the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). The official professional body for EMDR therapists worldwide. This is the most credible, authoritative EMDR explainer available, featuring real EMDR therapists discussing how the process works and what clients experience.
Watch: Introduction to EMDR Therapy
Video 2: What Is EMDR Therapy?
By Kati Morton, LMFT. Kati Morton is a licensed therapist with over 1.4 million YouTube subscribers. Her warm, accessible style makes this video perfect if you want EMDR explained in plain, human language, no jargon, no overwhelm.
Video 3: EMDR Therapy Session. What It Actually Looks Like.
By Kati Morton, LMFT. Ever wonder what actually happens inside an EMDR session? This video walks through the real experience, what a session feels like from the client's perspective, what to expect, and how the process unfolds. Perfect for anyone nervous about starting.
Meet Your EMDR Therapist: Maya Golebiewski. Maya Golebiewski is a Licensed Social Worker at Clear Light Therapy who specializes in trauma, EMDR, OCD, and complex emotional challenges. She trained at Rutgers University and holds certifications in interpersonal violence and trauma treatment, the ARC framework, and yoga and meditation instruction bringing a genuine mind-body awareness to trauma work that goes beyond traditional therapy.
Maya's approach is warm, steady, and collaborative. She believes healing requires feeling both safe and gently challenged and she integrates EMDR with ERP, ACT, and somatic awareness to support lasting recovery from trauma.
She works with children, teens, and adults including clients navigating trauma alongside OCD, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Our Approach to Trauma Treatment
We don't use EMDR in isolation. At Clear Light Therapy, Maya integrates EMDR with:
Trauma-informed CBT: understanding the connection between trauma, thoughts, and behaviors
ACT: building psychological flexibility and values-based living alongside trauma healing
ERP: for clients whose trauma has an OCD or avoidance-driven component
Somatic and mind-body tools: nervous system regulation, grounding, and body-based awareness
EMDR Therapy Is Available Across New Jersey
In-person EMDR sessions are available at our Englewood, NJ office in Bergen County. Telehealth EMDR is available statewide including: Bergen County, Ridgewood, Tenafly, Hackensack, Alpine, Saddle River, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Woodcliff Lake, Englewood Cliffs Monmouth County, Rumson, Red Bank, Colts Neck, Fair Haven, Holmdel, Marlboro Essex County, Short Hills, Montclair, Livingston, Maplewood, West Orange Somerset County, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Peapack-Gladstone, Bridgewater Hudson County, Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken
Free 15-minute consultation. Same-week openings. No waitlist.
Contact Us to Get Started
Frequently Asked Questions: EMDR Therapy for Trauma in New Jersey
Q: What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that uses bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements or tapping, while you briefly focus on a distressing memory. This activates the brain's natural processing system, allowing traumatic memories to be reprocessed so they stop triggering overwhelming emotional and physical responses. Recognized by the WHO and APA as a first-line trauma treatment. Available in-person in Englewood, NJ and via telehealth across all of New Jersey.
Q: What is EMDR used to treat?
EMDR is highly effective for:
PTSD and single-incident trauma accidents, assault, medical events
Childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and developmental trauma
Complex PTSD and attachment wounds
Sexual trauma and interpersonal violence
Grief and sudden loss
Trauma co-occurring with OCD, anxiety, or eating disorders
Relationship trauma and chronic stress
If painful past experiences are still showing up in your present life, through anxiety, avoidance, body responses, or relationship patterns, EMDR may be the right approach.
Q: How is EMDR different from talk therapy?
Talk therapy works through language and insight. EMDR works at the neurological level, targeting how your brain has stored the trauma, not just how you think about it. Many clients have spent years in talk therapy with significant insight but still feel stuck in their body and nervous system. EMDR is often described as the first therapy that creates real change after talking hasn't been enough.
Q: Is EMDR therapy available in Bergen County, NJ?
Yes. Maya Golebiewski, LSW provides EMDR therapy in-person at our Englewood, NJ office serving all of Bergen County including Ridgewood, Tenafly, Hackensack, Alpine, Saddle River, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Englewood Cliffs. Same-week openings available.
Q: Is EMDR available in Monmouth, Essex, Hudson, and Somerset County NJ?
Yes, via telehealth, which is effective for EMDR. We serve Monmouth County (Rumson, Red Bank, Colts Neck, Fair Haven), Essex County (Short Hills, Montclair, Livingston, Maplewood), Somerset County (Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Peapack-Gladstone), and Hudson County (Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken). Specialized trauma treatment, from wherever you are in New Jersey.
Q: Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail during EMDR?
No and this is one of the most important things to understand about EMDR. You don't need to describe what happened in detail or find the right words. EMDR works with the way your brain and body have stored the experience, not the verbal narrative of it. Many trauma survivors find this a relief, especially those who have struggled to talk about what happened or who don't want to relive it in detail.
Q: Can EMDR help with complex trauma or childhood trauma?
Yes. EMDR was originally developed for single-incident trauma but is highly effective for complex PTSD, developmental trauma, and childhood emotional neglect, experiences that don't have a single clear "event" but have shaped every aspect of how you relate to yourself and others. Maya's training in the ARC framework and interpersonal violence specifically prepares her for complex trauma presentations.
Q: How long does EMDR therapy take?
It varies. Single-incident trauma often responds in 6–12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma typically requires longer. EMDR is not meant to be indefinite , the goal is processing specific targets so you can move forward. Maya will give you a realistic picture of your timeline during your free consultation.
Q: How do I start EMDR therapy at Clear Light Therapy in Englewood, NJ?
Free 15-minute consultation, same-week openings, no waitlist. We'll talk through what you're experiencing and match you with Maya for trauma-focused EMDR care. In-person in Englewood, NJ or telehealth anywhere in New Jersey. Contact us here.
