EMDR therapy · Cranford, New Jersey
EMDR therapy in New Jersey: how it works, what it costs, how to start.
EMDR is a structured talk therapy for PTSD and trauma, recommended by the VA and Department of Defense PTSD guideline. Labyrinth Psychiatry Group offers EMDR with Christina Verrico, LSW, and new patients can ask for it now. Send a request or call 908-336-1187 to start.
Labyrinth Psychiatry Group · Published · Guidelines and studies read that day · Clinical review by Dr. Salvatore G. Savatta pending
At Labyrinth today
EMDR with Christina Verrico, LSW. New patients can ask now.
Christina Verrico, LSW, a licensed social worker on the Labyrinth team, has specialized training in EMDR for grief, trauma, depression and anxiety, as her bio says.
Labyrinth Psychiatry Group offers EMDR therapy with Christina Verrico, LSW, and is taking new patients for psychotherapy. The practice offers therapy in its Cranford office at 11 Commerce Drive and by telehealth; ask which fits you. Send a request or call 908-336-1187, and say you are asking about EMDR when the office calls back.
What EMDR is
A therapy that works on the memory itself.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed in 1987 to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The American Psychological Association describes it as a structured therapy in which you briefly focus on the trauma memory while experiencing back-and-forth (bilateral) stimulation, usually eye movements, which is linked to the memory becoming less vivid and less emotional (APA).
In a session you hold the memory in mind while following the therapist’s moving finger, a flashing light, or a tone that beeps in one ear at a time, for about 30 seconds at a time, and then talk about what came up. Toward the end you focus on a positive belief while holding the memory (VA National Center for PTSD).
The VA calls EMDR “one of the most effective types of treatment for PTSD.” Unlike some other trauma therapies, it does not use long exposure to the memory, detailed descriptions of the trauma or homework (APA).
The eight phases
What happens across a course of EMDR.
- 01
History-taking and treatment planning
You and the therapist choose targets: past memories, current triggers and future goals.
- 02
Preparation
The therapist explains EMDR, practises the eye movements or other back-and-forth stimulation with you, and teaches a calming exercise.
- 03
Assessment
You name the image, the negative belief, the feeling and the body sensation tied to the memory, and rate how upsetting it is from 0 to 10.
- 04
Desensitization
You hold the memory in mind during short sets of eye movements, taps or tones, until it is no longer distressing.
- 05
Installation
A positive belief you chose is strengthened, and you rate how true it feels from 1 to 7.
- 06
Body scan
You notice any tension left in your body while thinking of the memory, and it is processed the same way.
- 07
Closure
Each session ends with steps to leave you settled and safe, even if the memory is not finished.
- 08
Re-evaluation
The next session starts by checking what changed and what to work on next.
Phases as the American Psychological Association lists them. Processing one memory is generally completed within one to three sessions.
What the guidelines say
Recommended for PTSD. Promising, with less research, for depression.
| Condition | Source | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| PTSD | VA/DoD guideline, 2023 | Recommends EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure for PTSD (a strong recommendation), and recommends these therapies over medication. |
| PTSD | NICE guideline NG116 (UK), 2018 | Offer EMDR to adults with PTSD who come for help more than 3 months after a trauma that was not combat-related, typically over 8 to 12 sessions, more after multiple traumas. |
| PTSD | American Psychological Association, 2017 | Suggests EMDR, a conditional (second-line) recommendation. APA’s strongly recommended first-line therapies are CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure. |
| PTSD | World Health Organization, 2013 | Referral for CBT or EMDR “should be considered for people suffering from PTSD.” |
| Depression as the main problem | Dominguez 2021 (11 trials, 567 people; 10 used EMDR) | EMDR reduced depression symptoms by a large amount, but the authors say larger studies with robust methods are needed. The authors disclose income from training therapists. |
The four guidelines are PTSD guidelines; none of them covers anxiety or grief on its own. EMDRIA, the EMDR professional association, lists uses such as anxiety, grief and pain (EMDRIA). Ask your clinician how strong the research is for your situation.
How long it takes
The American Psychological Association says EMDR is typically given once or twice a week for a total of 6 to 12 sessions, and some people benefit from fewer (APA). NICE says typically 8 to 12 sessions, more after multiple traumas (NICE). The VA says about 3 months of weekly 50- to 90-minute sessions, and many people notice improvement after a few sessions (VA).
Session length
A typical EMDR session lasts 60 to 90 minutes. EMDR can be part of standard talk therapy, an add-on with a separate therapist, or a treatment on its own (EMDRIA).
How it can feel
You may feel uncomfortable when focusing on trauma memories. The VA says these feelings are usually brief, people tend to feel better as they keep going, and most who complete EMDR find the benefits outweigh the early discomfort (VA).
By video
Smaller VA facilities that do not offer EMDR may use videoconferencing to connect you with a clinician elsewhere (VA). EMDRIA says EMDR should only be offered by properly trained, licensed clinicians, and does not support “do-it-yourself” virtual therapy (EMDRIA).
Cost and insurance in New Jersey
No set price: sessions times your cost per session.
EMDR is a course of sessions, so the total is the number of sessions multiplied by what you pay for each one. With the typical 6 to 12 sessions the American Psychological Association describes, that is 6 to 12 copays or self-pay fees. This page does not quote a Labyrinth price; ask the office.
New Jersey law (P.L. 2019, c. 58) requires health insurance contracts issued in New Jersey to cover mental health conditions “under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness.” A plan cannot put tighter limits on mental health care, such as copays, deductibles, benefit limits or utilization review, than on substantially all other medical care. The law applies to contracts delivered, issued or renewed in New Jersey; if your coverage comes through an employer, ask the plan which rules apply to it.
Questions to ask your plan before you start:
- Is outpatient psychotherapy covered, and what is my copay or coinsurance per session?
- Does the therapist have to be in network, and does the plan cover sessions with a licensed social worker?
- Is there a visit limit, or do I need prior authorization for therapy?
- Does a 60- or 90-minute session cost more than a 45-minute one?
For how psychiatry and therapy visits are billed in New Jersey, see how much a psychiatrist costs in NJ.
EMDR and psychiatric care
Guidelines put trauma-focused therapy ahead of medication for PTSD.
The 2023 VA/DoD guideline recommends trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR over medication for PTSD (VA/DoD).
At Labyrinth, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners evaluate symptoms and manage medication. Read more about PTSD care and depression and anxiety care at the practice.
Choosing an EMDR therapist anywhere: NICE says EMDR should be delivered by trained practitioners with ongoing supervision (NICE). Ask where a therapist trained in EMDR and who supervises their work.
How to start
Your first steps at Labyrinth.
- 01
Send a request or call
Call 908-336-1187 or use the online request form, and tell the office you are asking about EMDR when it calls back. Keep health details out of the online form.
- 02
First sessions: history and preparation
Christina Verrico, LSW, takes your history, explains EMDR and teaches coping skills before any memory work (phases 1 and 2).
- 03
Processing sessions
Sessions follow the eight phases above. Ask how progress will be checked along the way.
EMDR at Labyrinth
Ask for EMDR therapy.
Call 908-336-1187 or send a request, and say you are asking about EMDR with Christina Verrico, LSW, when the office calls back. Office: 11 Commerce Drive, Cranford. Call 908-336-1187.
Request an evaluationQuestions
EMDR therapy in New Jersey: common questions.
Is EMDR an evidence-based therapy?
Yes, for PTSD. The 2023 VA/DoD PTSD guideline recommends EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure with a strong recommendation. NICE in the UK says to offer EMDR to adults with PTSD more than 3 months after a non-combat trauma. The American Psychological Association’s 2017 guideline gives EMDR a conditional recommendation. For depression without PTSD, a 2021 review found a large benefit but said larger studies are needed.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It depends on how many memories need work. The American Psychological Association says EMDR is typically given once or twice a week for 6 to 12 sessions, and some people need fewer. NICE says typically 8 to 12 sessions, more after multiple traumas. The VA says about 3 months of weekly 50- to 90-minute sessions, and many people notice improvement after a few sessions.
Does insurance cover EMDR therapy in New Jersey?
EMDR is a form of psychotherapy, so coverage follows your plan’s mental health benefits. New Jersey law (P.L. 2019, c. 58) requires health insurance contracts issued in New Jersey to cover mental health conditions under the same terms and conditions as any other sickness, with no tighter copays, deductibles, benefit limits or review rules. Ask your plan about copays, in-network rules, visit limits and prior authorization for therapy.
How much does EMDR therapy cost?
There is no set price. The total is the number of sessions times what you pay per session: with a typical 6 to 12 sessions, that is 6 to 12 copays or self-pay fees. This page does not quote a Labyrinth price; ask the office.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
In most cases, no. The VA says you will not usually be asked to talk about the details, but you will be asked to think about the trauma in session. EMDR has no homework between sessions.
Can EMDR be done by telehealth?
It can be delivered by video: the VA says smaller VA facilities that do not offer EMDR may use videoconferencing to connect you with a clinician elsewhere. EMDRIA, the EMDR professional association, says EMDR should only be offered by properly trained, licensed clinicians and does not support “do-it-yourself” virtual therapy.
Does Labyrinth Psychiatry offer EMDR therapy?
Yes. Christina Verrico, LSW, provides EMDR therapy at Labyrinth Psychiatry Group, and the practice is taking new psychotherapy patients. Therapy is offered at 11 Commerce Drive in Cranford and by telehealth; ask which fits you. Call 908-336-1187 or send a request online.